MArk Salzberg to retire at the end of June 1 1

[Coinbuf]

Not surprising but another loss for NGC and the hobby in general.

Hot off the press

[MarkFeld]

Congratulations to Mark on his incredible career and achievements!

[Henri Charriere]

Blast from the past...

Q.A.:  I will be sure to let Ricky the Rooster 🐓  know a vacancy has developed in the upper tier.

The truth is there is little substitute for knowledge and experience.  His writings were truly informative and inspirational.  He will be sorely missed.

[RWB]

So now both NGC and PCGS belong to the blood suckers...?

[Walkerfan]

Congrats on an illustrious career.  

Does anyone know who his successor will be?

Edited June 15, 2023 by Walkerfan

[Zebo]

On 6/14/2023 at 9:18 PM, Walkerfan said:

Congrats on an illustrious career.  

Does anyone know who his successor will be?

I think he may have talked about that in his video interview recently. Link is now outdated.

A Conversation with Mark Salzberg

As CCG celebrates the milestone of 75 million collectibles graded, CCG Chairman and founder Mark Salzberg sat down with CCG’s Brittany McManus to share his extraordinary collecting journey and thoughts on the dynamic collectibles markets. The far-reaching conversation spans the chance encounter that piqued his interest in coins to CCG’s development as a global collectibles powerhouse. Watch the conversation  here.

[ldhair]

Congratulations to Mark. He will be missed. He and his team built a great company.  

[VKurtB]

On 6/14/2023 at 7:24 PM, RWB said:

So now both NGC and PCGS belong to the blood suckers...?

Both have for quite some time now.

[Henri Charriere]

On 6/15/2023 at 12:31 PM, VKurtB said:

Both have for quite some time now.

The gatekeepers of the numismatic community [I prefer to think] were elevated by popular demand. They engage in a symbiotic relationship with others of similar professional inclinations. The parasites require clever advertising and willing hosts. Some, unknowingly, may be in league with them but they don't last in a hobby where vigilant members shine a strong light on them. The longevity of the Mark Salzburgs and the late D.W. Lange are oftentimes overlooked. It is the duty of every member irrespective of area of concentration to maintain the integrity of the hobby whether by writing or raising the hue and cry.

[VKurtB]

On 6/15/2023 at 6:40 PM, Henri Charriere said:

The gatekeepers of the numismatic community [I prefer to think] were elevated by popular demand. They engage in a symbiotic relationship with others of similar professional inclinations. The parasites require clever advertising and willing hosts. Some, unknowingly, may be in league with them but they don't last in a hobby where vigilant members shine a strong light on them. The longevity of the Mark Salzburgs and the late D.W. Lange are oftentimes overlooked. It is the duty of every member irrespective of area of concentration to maintain the integrity of the hobby whether by writing or raising the hue and cry.

The problem is ownership’s motivations. Both firms are owned by private equity firms, aka bloodsuckers. 

[GoldFinger1969]

On 6/16/2023 at 10:00 AM, VKurtB said:

The problem is ownership’s motivations. Both firms are owned by private equity firms, aka bloodsuckers. 

Private equity are owners.  Nothing more, nothing less.  If you know of specific issues of mismanagement, tell us.

If the 2 TPGs had a spotless and meticulous track record because they put accurate grading over profits and now they are increasing the rate of grading and making errors and engaging in gradeflation, that would be noteworthy.  But as you know, that happened BEFORE the PE guys bought in.  

Edited June 16, 2023 by GoldFinger1969

[VKurtB]

On 6/16/2023 at 9:12 AM, GoldFinger1969 said:

Private equity are owners.  Nothing more, nothing less.  If you know of specific issues of mismanagement, tell us.

If the 2 TPGs had a spotless and meticulous track record because they put accurate grading over profits and now they are increasing the rate of grading and making errors and engaging in gradeflation, that would be noteworthy.  But as you know, that happened BEFORE the PE guys bought in.

But adding 10 point grading scale, doing PWCC marketplace, and now “pawnbrokering”, speaks to a desire to honor the numismatic field’s traditions, right?

[GoldFinger1969]

On 6/16/2023 at 10:16 AM, VKurtB said:

But adding 10 point grading scale, doing PWCC marketplace, and now “pawnbrokering”, speaks to a desire to honor the numismatic field’s traditions, right?

 Not familiar with the last 2 issues, but these don't really affect the core of TPG grading.

The reason for the acquisition was largely non-coins, NFTs and collectibles, and that has cooled MASSIVELY the last year or so.  I now understand that submissions for baseball card grading are down to 10 week turnaround from not accepting any more orders 2 years ago.

[VKurtB]

On 6/16/2023 at 9:45 AM, GoldFinger1969 said:

 Not familiar with the last 2 issues, but these don't really affect the core of TPG grading.

The reason for the acquisition was largely non-coins, NFTs and collectibles, and that has cooled MASSIVELY the last year or so.  I now understand that submissions for baseball card grading are down to 10 week turnaround from not accepting any more orders 2 years ago.

What is the firm doing about their “brand” in certifying coins? They’re diluting it with nonsense; that’s what they’re doing. Founders sell out to “investors” and everyone in the legacy hobby starts asking, “where are we going and why are we in this hand basket?” Maybe it really IS time for JA to ride into town on a white horse and save the field. And you know how critical I’ve been about him. 

Edited June 16, 2023 by VKurtB

[zadok]

On 6/16/2023 at 3:17 PM, VKurtB said:

What is the firm doing about their “brand” in certifying coins? They’re diluting it with nonsense; that’s what they’re doing. Founders sell out to “investors” and everyone in the legacy hobby starts asking, “where are we going and why are we in this hand basket?” Maybe it really IS time for JA to ride into town on a white horse and save the field. And you know how critical I’ve been about him. 

...questions with questions inside questions r often not easily answered, there r not always answers within answers...usually the best way to find an answer is find the common thread, in this subject its comes down to money and/or greed...the hobby was doing just fine before tpgs, sure they add some benefits but at what costs?...there is always some one trying to find a way to make money off of everything that includes buyers, coin certification was just a low hanging fruit begging to be plucked...who makes the money? obviously the tpgs n the dealers...founders always sell out to investors, there is money being left on the table n someone is going to go for it...as for the tpgs "brand", coins r a very small slice of the pie or the bottom line, but the bean counters want to extract all the beans that they can...other collectibles r the bigger slices of the pie, remember less than 3% of the total population even enter into collecting at any level n probably less than 1/2 of 1% r adults with disposable income, so corporate "brand" is far far down the totem pole...so unless there is some seismic catastrophic failure the collector is just along for the ride...the collector does not truly need the tpgs but as long as they think they do the investors will be there collecting the fruits....

[Henri Charriere]

If it is any consolation, EVERY ONE, prince or pauper, collector or not, will leave this world in exactly the condition he entered it.

[VKurtB]

On 6/17/2023 at 7:55 PM, Henri Charriere said:

If it is any consolation, EVERY ONE, prince or pauper, collector or not, will leave this world in exactly the condition he entered it.

Pink, wrinkled, and covered in what looks like 40-weight oil?