"PGA" (Professional Grading Associates) - New? PhotoCert company???

Picked this up today from a dealer who has been holding it for me for most of the summer...



We don't think it was a captive grader for Hamilton Mint, because they're not located in Florida.


Anybody got clues???

 

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Since they issued a grade for both sides, more like ANAC ( see below). the "registered to " by ANACS was the person who submitted it. Florida was a hot bed for such grading companies in the early 90s. There is a URL of old holders/companies other than the still major ones, but I don't have it handy here.

 

It's not listed in Conder's book... unless I'm going blind.

 

Just the Professional Golf Association branching out.

 

Actually, I had thought of that...

Remember back when the wrestling WWF had to change their brand because WWF (the wildlife foundation) sued them for trademark infringement? Trademarks aren't just a name (say, oh, Apple or Macintosh), but a name and a class or classes of goods/services. So Apple Macintosh and Macintosh Apple don't conflict. So it would depend on which class(es) the Golf people had registered.

In fact, I don't think PGA the grading service was around long enough to matter...

The only other PhotoCert I've seen which uses Polaroid materials was one of the International something or others (I don't have a photo available) and that was the square SX70 material not the traditional Polaroid 4.25 x 3.375 size.

 

No it isn't in the book, and I don't have it listed in my notes for the second edition. So this is one I haven't seen before. The style would seem to indicate that it is from the early 1980's. I'm impressed. It's rare for a early company that I haven't seen to show up anymore.

The photocertificate that used the Polaroid images were the first two generations of INS. International Numismatic Society, one of the oldest certification companies and one the oldest grading services.

 

I have INS Polaroid of a Seated dollar. The Photo toned from grey to brown.

 

I have an INS too... also toned a bit brown. I think that's the colorfastness (not) of some Polaroid films.


The plot gets more interesting... look at this section of the reverse



Note the red arrows - there are TWO paper stickers (the entire assembly is in a sealed bag, so for obvious reasons I'm not going to open it).


There is a copy of an old Polaroid document that tells how to read the date codes here: tityrus.free.fr/polaroid/integral/Polaroid-FilmCode.pdf

But it seems to be from the late 90s. From this, the 3rd letter should be a "W" (Waltham), but it's not. Or an "M" (Queretaro, Mexico), but it's not. And Scotland wasn't open yet and used longer codes. However if this predates Mexico (anyone know when the plant opened), there would have been no reason to specially mark the only plant they had.

The 2nd and 3rd letters/numbers could be Os, 0s or Cs and the last one certainly looks like another '5' just a little faint.

 

This is not to be confused with PGA: Professional Grading Authenticators who is showing up everywhere lately and is not credible. They don't even have a web site so I believe they are a sham used by the online auctioneers to boost their paddle prices.

 

Bet the PGA golfers are pissed.

 

Pretty sure you are correct. They quote PCGS price guide prices as the attractant and then the coins sell for 1/10th that (which is more in line with 2-3-4-5 grades lower).

Not to mention the alliteration...

Boston Banker
Dallas Dealer
Florida Financier

 

Though I like the coin the plastic packaging is a bit cheesy...LOL

 

Seems to be centered around a large Texas auction house....had bought a few that looked good that I sent out to a known grading service and all came beck with either a greatly reduced grade and/or details issues. Not trustworthy IMHO! I will now "Run & Hide" from this grading service.

 

I’ve been a collector for 65 years and I’ve never heard of them. Best to run and use the top known grading company’s.
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