By Mark Ferguson for COIN VALUES

As rare coin prices in general have risen during this 5-year-old bull market trend we’re still in, prices have differentiated those coins that are solid for a grade or considered premium quality (PQ) from those coins that barely make a grade, or are even considered to be overgraded.

Demand has been unprecedented during this time, leaving the vast majority of coins on the market picked over because they are considered low quality for their grades.

Some collectors, and even some dealers, who are relatively new to the scene have trouble recognizing coins that are solidly graded. However, “old school” collectors and dealers, and those who’ve educated themselves about grading standards, are having a very difficult time finding coins they consider acceptable.

A common belief among dealers and collectors is that over the years, Professional Coin Grading Service and Numismatic Guaranty Corp., which have each been grading coins for more than 20 years, have practiced “gradeflation,” a loosening of grading standards, in order to entice more business (submissions). The belief some hold is that submitters have been receiving higher grades from one service, forcing the other to loosen its standards.  Read Full Story

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