...was published on page 6 and continued on page 16 in this weeks Edition of Numismatic News (January 9, 2001)

"WHY GRADING CONFUSES"

I've followed with interest the letters concerning coin grading. I picked up a couple of my numismatic publications and looked through the ads and listed all
the different grades for Brilliant Uncirculated (BU). Here are the "grades" for various coins actually advertised in the publications.

Uncirculated, BU, nice BU, gem BU, premium quality BU, superb BU, select BU, original BU, choice BU, top-quality BU, brilliant white BU, very select BU, brilliant fully struck BU, brilliant flashy BU, and finally BU with flashy surfaces.

Is there any wonder there is so much confusion on coin grading?

My advice? Be very cautious. One good thing about this grading system is that you will never need to worry about a coin being overgraded because you will never be able to comprehend the grading system.

Doug Sampson Tiffin, Ohio

Another reader's letter was published in the same issue as follows.....

WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?

Having the Industry Council for Tangible Assets (ICTA) and other interested groups/individuals meet to discuss the grading of coins seems strange.

Where have these groups/individuals been while "processed" coins from the (sunken) U.S.S. Central America and burnished coins from the U.S. Mint have been pushed as "uncirculated"? Is it better to close the barn door after the horse has left?

And pray tell, what is a "professional numismatist or dealer"? Is this a person who has been in business for "x" number of years, or has he/she passed some type of test, or what?

Perhaps it will do the hobby good for someone to look at potential problems and suggest solutions. Then again, we may see little or no progress.
Robert D. Hatfield, Taylor, Michigan