I attended the ANA National Money Show in Salt Lake City this weekend. It was a large show - over 300 dealer tables - of course all of the major coin slabbers were well representd. What I found scary was what I read in a brochure at the table
of a New Hampshire concern - I quote: "My firm is is the only numismatic firm specializing in upgrading rare coins for their clients. If you have an MS64 languishing in a 62 holder, someone is going to recognize that the coin is really a 64 - and take the profit. It might as well be you. The difference can be huge. I've upgraded AU58s to MS64s. You start with a coin worth $20 and end up with a $2,000 coin. Look: the grading services are wonderful aids for collectors, BUT PERFECT THEY AIN'T. They make mistakes and their standards change".

This tells me two things - it's all about the money and the entire grading system is so subjective that it really doesn't mean anything!

What a disaster this would be for our hobby....