Pinholes-Grading

[calvindog]

Originally Posted by Leon

That is certainly one of the best looking "poor" cards in the hobby. I tried to argue with SGC, on the T5 above, that their written grading standards say a 30 can have a pinhole. I think they need to change their written definition to reflect the best a card with a pinhole can receive is a 20.

Thanks. What's difficult to understand is that when you get down to all the 10/1 grades that can encompass a card completely beaten to crap all the way up to the above Cobb. As Leon points out, how can a 10 look this good -- especially when so many 20s, 30s, etc. can't even compare? Maybe such a pin-holed card should instead receive a special qualification like ST, OC, etc? Collectors oftentimes view a 10 as a 10 no matter what the card looks like as they're too concerned about resale value instead of what the card actually looks like. Maybe a "PH" qualifier would solve that.

[ethicsprof]

Originally Posted by calvindog

Thanks. What's difficult to understand is that when you get down to all the 10/1 grades that can encompass a card completely beaten to crap all the way up to the above Cobb. As Leon points out, how can a 10 look this good -- especially when so many 20s, 30s, etc. can't even compare? Maybe such a pin-holed card should instead receive a special qualification like ST, OC, etc? Collectors oftentimes view a 10 as a 10 no matter what the card looks like as they're too concerned about resale value instead of what the card actually looks like. Maybe a "PH" qualifier would solve that.

well said, Jeff.
I'd like to see the PH qualifier ASAP.
best,
barry

[Fred]

Yeah, what Lichtman said.

I've seen quite a few SGC10s or PSA1s that look really nice but have been hammered due to a pin hole or some other issue that isn't too noticeable. I'd gladly buy a beautiful card with a small pin hole at the "2" price rather than purchase a thrashed "2" at the "1" price.

[Beatles Guy]

I'm glad to pay pin hole prices for otherwise beautiful, tough cards. I got a '52 high number the other day that could have been a 6 without the pinhole. Still a great card.

[dabigyankeeman]

I got a Ruth Kashin with a pinhole and you can make out where a thumbtack was, and it got a "1" grade. The rest of the card is beautiful.