Australian-Coins Forum

Numismatic Discussion => Coin Chit Chat => Topic started by: kchan1111 on November 04, 2015, 09:53:48 AM

Title: How can you tell when PCGS graded a coin?
Post by: kchan1111 on November 04, 2015, 09:53:48 AM
Given a certification number, say 30155486. How can you tell (if you can at all) when it was graded by PCGS?

http://www.pcgs.com/Cert/30155486.html

You can guess by the look of the slab, and the cert number which are assigned sequentially I was told. But other that that how can you tell?

Is there some higher (paid I assume) subscription service that provides the info?

Thanks.
Title: RE: How can you tell when PCGS graded a coin?
Post by: markn on November 04, 2015, 11:26:38 AM
You can only tell from the style of slab.  The numbers are sequential within an order but assigned randomly in blocks between orders.
Title: RE: How can you tell when PCGS graded a coin?
Post by: kchan1111 on November 04, 2015, 12:49:54 PM
Quote from: 'markn' pid='81301' dateline='1446598598'The numbers are sequential within an order but assigned randomly in blocks between orders.

Thanks Mark.... but not sure I totally understand that. So 3 orders A, B and C submitted at the same time each with 1, 10 and 6 coins would have what numbers?

The 10 coins in B and 6 in C would be sequential. But the coins in A, B and C will be unrelated to each other?
Title: RE: How can you tell when PCGS graded a coin?
Post by: purplepennyhunter on November 04, 2015, 02:16:13 PM
Yes, this is also because they may be graded at different times ie one a regular sub and one a modern have different turnaround times.
Title: RE: How can you tell when PCGS graded a coin?
Post by: kchan1111 on November 04, 2015, 05:32:03 PM
Ah I see. Why don't they just assign the next number available as each coin get graded?

:huh:
Title: RE: How can you tell when PCGS graded a coin?
Post by: JeffH on November 04, 2015, 05:43:26 PM
Maybe you should ask them that. I suspect none of us knows -could be a good reason or, maybe, no reason at all as that is just the way they have always done it.
Title: RE: How can you tell when PCGS graded a coin?
Post by: Unicorn on November 04, 2015, 05:51:29 PM
Quote from: 'kchan1111' pid='81297' dateline='1446593028'Given a certification number, say 30155486. How can you tell (if you can at all) when it was graded by PCGS?

http://www.pcgs.com/Cert/30155486.html


With the one above, right clicking on the image and selecting properties returns a created date of 11/04/2015, so for ones with images that may give an indication.
Title: RE: How can you tell when PCGS graded a coin?
Post by: ausproofs on November 04, 2015, 06:35:36 PM
Quote from: 'Unicorn' pid='81310' dateline='1446621689'
Quote from: 'kchan1111' pid='81297' dateline='1446593028'Given a certification number, say 30155486. How can you tell (if you can at all) when it was graded by PCGS?

http://www.pcgs.com/Cert/30155486.html


With the one above, right clicking on the image and selecting properties returns a created date of 11/04/2015, so for ones with images that may give an indication.

Genius :wavemulticolor:
Title: RE: How can you tell when PCGS graded a coin?
Post by: kchan1111 on November 04, 2015, 09:02:02 PM
That's today's date! 11/04/2015
Title: RE: How can you tell when PCGS graded a coin?
Post by: Unicorn on November 04, 2015, 09:14:28 PM
It is if your PC was set to US date.

Try this one of Trout's for another example:

http://www.pcgs.com/cert/32957491 (http://www.pcgs.com/cert/32957491)

Hmmm ...... even though Trout's one comes up at 23/10/2015 on my PC, if you then click to the larger image it comes up as 11/04/2015 too?

Perhaps it's the date the page was first rendered ...... off to the think tank again.
Title: RE: How can you tell when PCGS graded a coin?
Post by: kchan1111 on November 04, 2015, 10:32:00 PM
That would be the time stamp for when the image was written to your local disk after downloading from their website. :)
Title: RE: How can you tell when PCGS graded a coin?
Post by: Unicorn on November 04, 2015, 10:36:29 PM
Yeah, bugger it, loading from the cache (hence the Aus date eh).

Oh well, back to the drawing board. :blush:
Title: RE: How can you tell when PCGS graded a coin?
Post by: kchan1111 on November 04, 2015, 11:09:33 PM
Yep - good try though. :)

I guess you can say, with a fair amount of confidence, that coin #10000000 is graded much earlier than #30000000.
Title: RE: How can you tell when PCGS graded a coin?
Post by: trout on November 05, 2015, 02:56:04 AM
The only way you can tell with any certainty is if you have sent the coins yourself to PCGS.
As Mark said the only other way is to go by the style of the holders to see roughly when the coin was graded.
Title: RE: How can you tell when PCGS graded a coin?
Post by: runway on November 07, 2015, 11:13:03 PM
Wondering why this is an issue?
Title: RE: How can you tell when PCGS graded a coin?
Post by: markn on November 08, 2015, 08:58:45 AM
Quote from: 'runway' pid='81418' dateline='1446900183'Wondering why this is an issue?

One reason is that there's a perception that PCGS's grading standards were tougher back in the 1990's and earlier 2000's.  Being able to identify coins in older slabs allows for someone to find coins that might potentially upgrade if re-submitted to PCGS.
Title: RE: How can you tell when PCGS graded a coin?
Post by: runway on November 08, 2015, 09:49:38 PM
One reason is that there's a perception that PCGS's grading standards were tougher back in the 1990's and earlier 2000's.  Being able to identify coins in older slabs allows for someone to find coins that might potentially upgrade if re-submitted to PCGS.
[/quote]
I heard some people break open their slabs and resubmit for purpose of a higher grade but why bother?
Title: RE: How can you tell when PCGS graded a coin?
Post by: ausproofs on November 08, 2015, 10:13:32 PM
Quote from: 'runway' pid='81446' dateline='1446981578'One reason is that there's a perception that PCGS's grading standards were tougher back in the 1990's and earlier 2000's.  Being able to identify coins in older slabs allows for someone to find coins that might potentially upgrade if re-submitted to PCGS.
I heard some people break open their slabs and resubmit for purpose of a higher grade but why bother?
[/quote]

Some that I can think of....

1. Upgrade their registry sets.
2. Make some money. ( 1954 Florin in MS 64 worth $450 vs MS 65 for $4000)
3. Get a thrill ?
Title: RE: How can you tell when PCGS graded a coin?
Post by: purplepennyhunter on November 09, 2015, 04:31:23 PM
Quote from: 'markn' pid='81422' dateline='1446935325'
Quote from: 'runway' pid='81418' dateline='1446900183'Wondering why this is an issue?

One reason is that there's a perception that PCGS's grading standards were tougher back in the 1990's and earlier 2000's.  Being able to identify coins in older slabs allows for someone to find coins that might potentially upgrade if re-submitted to PCGS.

They may also get a plus grade.
Title: RE: How can you tell when PCGS graded a coin?
Post by: kchan1111 on November 09, 2015, 10:04:00 PM
I wasn't thinking about something nearly as adventurous as cracking open a slab and resubmitting. :D But hey that sounds like a good idea!

I was interested in how often a new top pop gets graded. So I was going to write a bit of code to pull down the data on every coin from the PCGS website from #00000001 to #3xxxxxxx (however many they are up to these days). i.e. just scrape the pages for each one. For example http://www.pcgs.com/cert/30000000

I am also looking at Collectors Universe (CLCT) as a stock. It might be interesting in working out how the business is doing. For example, they are throwing a lot of money into China, how many coins have they graded there for example. So that sort of information might ne helpful. The company does provide quarterly data on number of coins graded and the amount insured, as well as segment revenue in their 10-Q.
Title: RE: How can you tell when PCGS graded a coin?
Post by: runway on December 07, 2015, 10:29:40 PM
Are there more Australian authorised PCGS dealers than this list?
http://www.pcgs.com/Dealers/Default.aspx?cc=AU&rn=2&mn=7&c=44
Title: RE: How can you tell when PCGS graded a coin?
Post by: purplepennyhunter on December 08, 2015, 07:16:08 AM
Quote from: 'runway' pid='82293' dateline='1449491961'What relevance is that to this topic?
Title: RE: How can you tell when PCGS graded a coin?
Post by: trout on December 08, 2015, 08:52:40 AM
Quote from: 'purplepennyhunter' pid='82297' dateline='1449521168'
Quote from: 'runway' pid='82293' dateline='1449491961'What relevance is that to this topic?

I personally think the OP's question is a valid and interesting one .
There are all sorts of reasons why collectors would like to know When a particular coin was graded and encapsulated.

The issue of the earlier coins having a chance of being harshly graded and may upgrade is but one of them and has been covered in earlier posts.
There is also the issue with the earlier Copper coins in the older non airtight slabs .
Some of these that were graded RD have toned and may not in fact warrant that designation any more is another reason to want to know.
There is the issue of counterfeit slabs, The older slabs are easier to fake.
Maybe some collectors don't like the idea of having the different generations of slabs mixed up in their collections.

These are but a few of the reasons why I think this particular thread has "Relevance" on this numismatic site.
I am also of the opinion that the only "Stupid Question"  is the question not asked :ok:
Some of the more experienced collectors may think than a particular question is irrelevant, but to the people that ask the question it IS important and they should be politely given the information even if Certain individuals consider the question petty.

None of us were born as numismatic experts and we all thirst for knowledge regardless of how expert we are, So the best way to get the answers we seek is to simply ask.
Our members try to share their knowledge by answering a question to the best of their ability and Scorning the "Relevance" of any members answer to a question is counter productive and rather rude IMHO :angel:
Title: RE: How can you tell when PCGS graded a coin?
Post by: purplepennyhunter on December 08, 2015, 09:26:23 AM
Bought this only because it was in what they call a "rattler" slab which means it was slabbed 1986-1989. One of the first slabs by PCGS.
(http://www.australian-coins.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10002/Img4391-small.jpg)
Title: RE: How can you tell when PCGS graded a coin?
Post by: trout on December 08, 2015, 09:30:55 AM
QuoteBought this only because it was in what they call a "rattler" slab which means it was slabbed 1986-1989. One of the first slabs by PCGS.

Those "Rattler" slabs are collector pieces now , nice pick up :good: