The curious evolution of SGC grading

[Pat R]

Here's a recently graded T206 with a pin hole and a pencil mark that looks like someone tried to erase that received a 1.5.

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[drumback]

Well, when I made the call, I was passed along to one of the graders, who quite clearly stated that a pinhole was ALWAYS an automatic grade of 1. No exceptions. Just passing along what I was told.

[jakebeckleyoldeagleeye]

Personally I'd rather have a card with a small pin hole than one's that's graded with a noticeable crease.

[Smarti5051]

I agree that the "pinhole" seems like a pretty arbitrary automatic downgrade to 1 (or even 2). I have seen some beautiful cards with the unfortunate pinhole that present so much better visually than a "4" with 85-15 borders, discoloring, and muted colors. Sometimes, the pinhole is so unnoticeable you only know it is there because the card looks like a "7" but is in a "1" holder.

[rhettyeakley]

I would rather have a card with a crease than an actual hole in the card.

[BobbyStrawberry]

Originally Posted by drumback

Well, when I made the call, I was passed along to one of the graders, who quite clearly stated that a pinhole was ALWAYS an automatic grade of 1. No exceptions. Just passing along what I was told.

This seems to be evidence for what many of us have suspected is going on there lately–their graders have been instructed to toughen the grading standards. It would be nice if they let their customers know this as well...

[G1911]

I thought it was supposed to be a pinhole = a grade of 1. Here's the McFarland, older slab (I don't recall the details of each generation as I crack all my graded cards out of their tombs, but it's not a recent one). There is a pinhole that goes all the way through at the top between the laurels, and another at bottom below the "r" in his last name. Even if there was some exemptions or certain eye appeal pinhole cards reaching a 1.5 or 2 instead, I'm surprised it would be this one in that category, or any card that clearly has 2. There is heavy corner wear, a light corner crease, a notch in the bottom middle. This card would (or, should) be a 3 at best without the pinholes.

[Kidnapped18]

Originally Posted by G1911

I thought it was supposed to be a pinhole = a grade of 1. Here's the McFarland, older slab (I don't recall the details of each generation as I crack all my graded cards out of their tombs, but it's not a recent one). There is a pinhole that goes all the way through at the top between the laurels, and another at bottom below the "r" in his last name. Even if there was some exemptions or certain eye appeal pinhole cards reaching a 1.5 or 2 instead, I'm surprised it would be this one in that category, or any card that clearly has 2. There is heavy corner wear, a light corner crease, a notch in the bottom middle. This card would (or, should) be a 3 at best without the pinholes.

FYI this McFarland was graded in June 2015.

[bounce]

the 1914 cracker jack cobb in heritage this weekend had pinhole(s), and it was an SGC 2

[hcv123]

pin hole or staple hole = automatic "1".

I agree with previous post that it is RIDICULOUSLY arbitrary that card with a hole which has a larger percentage of original cardboard than say many cards with paper loss or badly rounded corners each of which receive potentially better numerical grades. See attached scan for ridiculous imo.

[icurnmedic]

Originally Posted by bounce

the 1914 cracker jack cobb in heritage this weekend had pinhole(s), and it was an SGC 2

As stated 2 pinholes..That being said, looked like 3 grades higher or better otherwise.