Posted By:
Gilbert MainesNumismatics is a much older hobby than baseball card collecting. Documentation of the best condition coins and identification of their location is typically no mystery. Additionally, the coin grading standards are accepted and established.
Since our hobby is much younger, with some exceptions, we have not achieved the same level of certainty (in my opinion). Specifically, the grading of cards between today's nine and ten can be subdivided into tenths or greater breakdown. Additionally, buying near perfect specimens rated by PSA, SCG, GAI, etc. as 1 of 1, 2, 3 ... can be risky if suddenly several equivalent examples appear from private holdings.
Due to the above and related considerations, I feel it is a gamble to pay a premium for a card which may not have the actual grade rarity that current awareness indicates.
What do you think?