SGC Grade Review Question
 

I have never submitted a card for a grade review before, but I discovered something the other day when I was researching some sales history. My question is this: If you submit a card to SGC for a grade review, and they decide that the card does in fact deserve a bump up in grade, does SGC keep the cert number the same?

The cert number in question is SGC 1293679-001 (from their old certs). It's for a T206 McGraw Portrait No Cap. Per VCP, it sold 10-5-12 in Goodwin auctions for $2,092 as an SGC 86 (7.5) with cert number 1293679-001.

Per VCP, an SGC 88 (8) with the EXACT SAME cert number sold on 6-1-14 in a Love of the Game auction for $2,640.

So, sometime in between those two auctions, someone must have submitted it to SGC for a grade review, and SGC decided to bump the grade a half a point to an SGC 88? Is there any other possible explanation for these 2 cards have the exact same cert numbers? I have attached pics of both cards, and have circled what I believe to be common markers proving they are the indeed the same card.

I am not sure what to make of this. I kind of like the fact that they keep the cert numbers the same so that you know it's grade was increased from an original lower grade. But does anyone know SGC's policy regarding how they handle this? Is there any other explanation that I am not thinking about?

I did a quick lay-over of the two images, and they seem to be the exact same sized card, so I doubt it was 'card doctored,' which is always something you have to think about.

Or another possibility is it was graded as 8 , but label as a 7.5, then send it back to reholder it as an 8

from their cert lookup, it was graded as a 8 in june 2012, which is earlier than the goodwin 7.5

SEARCHED AUTH CODE:
1293679-001
SET:
1909 Piedmont Cigarettes (T206)
CARD #:
SUBJECT:
Mcgraw, John
DESCRIPTION:
Portrait, No Cap
GRADED ON:
June 2012
GRADE:
8 NM, MT/88