How do you really know the true psa population?
 

In this crazy day and age of T206 uncommon back frenzy, how do you really know what the exact population is of that rare back? So many people advertise in auctions that their card is "1 of 1", or "the highest graded example" of that back. What is unknown is how many examples may be in the dreaded "unknown back" category. Any help on this subject would be greatly appreciated.....

You will never know the true pop of a rare back because PSA did not keep track of the backs when they first started grading. (I don't think SGC did either.) As you said, the "Unknown Back" comprises of a lot of cards.

You have to count the hundreds of broken slabs I have in a big box in the basement!

3rd party grading is a complete joke!

ok guys...who's holding out...who's got the crystal ball? I know someone must have one? Or maybe a time machine...time machine? Anyone? Delorean maybe?

Maybe the aliens know?

lol

Peter- wtf???? DID ANYONE TELL YOU THAT YOU ARE A GENUINE D***

Well so sorry Kevin...but ask a ridiculous question...what do u really expect to get?

I bet the aliens do know.

Hey peter- i forgot your ass was frozen while you were ice fishing....my bad

Gosh I hope so! I have a friend...who's coming to look for work near me who is from mexico...maybe he'll know?

I think I may need some kind of app to understand that one Kevin?

By the way pete, a cycle 350 psa 4 common for $400?? My god, you're too good to us! What a bargain, I want it!

Can we retitled this thread to the Kevin and Peter cat fight?

Larry, please, call him petey...he prefers that

+1 ;)

I think the only way we will know what backs the t206 unknowns are, would be if PSA offered a free grading of a T206 card with every T206 unknown submitted. I believe with the right advertising from them while running the special for a whole year, i would say whatever is left in the unknown after that is probably cards that were broken out or crossed over. They really need to overhaul all t206's and list the subject and factory numbers too. Lets not forget the t205's either.

Gary,

SGC beat PSA to this by years and years. Not sure why people always lump SGC in with this problem every time the issue is discussed?

It was PSA that completely missed the boat on this.

Here is an early SGC-graded T206 I sent in myself a dozen years ago...they were recording and slabbing T206 based on backs:

Hi Dan
 

I don't necessarily believe the concept of third party grading is a joke, however I absolutely believe its implementation has been a joke or worse.

For third party grading to work right, you need really knowledgeable graders, consistent standards, a fee structure that allows the company to make a profit while allowing sufficient time to evaluate each card properly (and resources to hire really knowledgeable graders), and an organizational structure absolutely free from influence or conflicts of interest. While I wouldn't be as negative as Glyn, I don't think we have seen this realized yet.

+1. Very well said, Peter!
Val