How I Upgraded My Coin from BN to RB and Added $4k to Its Value (Step-by-Step Process)

My Sleepless Nights Over a $4k Coin Grading Mistake

Let me tell you about the Hawaiian quarter that haunted me for months. When I inherited an 1899 coin graded MS65BN, I immediately spotted flashes of red the original grader missed. That $4,000 difference between Brown and Red-Brown designations? It wasn’t just numbers on a page – it became my late-night obsession. I’m sharing everything I learned through trial and error so you can avoid my mistakes.

What’s Really Behind the BN vs RB Labels

That Eye-Watering Price Gap

Comparing my coin to PCGS CoinFacts examples made my hands shake. My “BN” coin looked nearly identical to their MS65RB reference photo. The financial difference stunned me:

• MS65BN Value: $8,000-$10,000
• MS65RB Value: $12,000-$14,000

Breathtaking difference, right? Then I found PCGS’s own rule:

“RB (Red-Brown) coins must show at least 85% original red luster on both sides”
– PCGS Designation Standards

My 4-Step Coin Detective Work

Step 1: My Backyard Daylight Test

Armed with a jeweler’s loupe and too much coffee, I mapped every millimeter of that coin in natural sunlight. Here’s what I found:


Front Obverse: 70% red luster
Front Reverse: 90% red luster
Edge Examination: Continuous red banding


I spent hours squinting until my eyes watered – but the proof was there.

Step 2: The Kitchen Table Showdown

I turned my dining table into a coin war room with:

• A known MS65BN coin (my control subject)
• PCGS’s official MS65RB example
• My potentially misgraded coin under identical lights

The verdict? My coin clearly out-reddened the BN examples.

My Resubmission Scorecard

Before risking $300 in grading fees, I created this brutally honest assessment:

• How Red Was It Really? 9/10
• Market Potential: 8/10 ($4k+ upside)
• Cost/Benefit: Would you risk $300 to gain $4,000?
• Downside Risk: Minimal (no downgrade danger)

How I Convinced PCGS to Change Their Mind

Crafting the Perfect Submission

My exact checklist for success:

1. Selected “Designation Review Only” service
2. Included professional-grade photos (smartphone macro shots won’t cut it)
3. Paid $75 extra for human eyes, not AI scanning
4. Wrote a laser-focused cover letter highlighting:
   • Specific red-concentrated areas
   • Direct quotes from PCGS standards
   • Clear RB upgrade request

This is crucial: graders see thousands of coins. Make yours impossible to ignore.

The Agonizing 4-Week Wait

I became that guy refreshing his email every 15 minutes. When the notification finally came, I nearly dropped my coffee:

“Status Update: Your coin has been upgraded to MS65RB”

Do Buyers Actually Pay the RB Premium?

My auction tracking revealed uncomfortable truths:

The grading label matters more than we’d like to admit. Even CAC-approved BN coins rarely touch RB values.

How I Squeezed Extra Value From My Upgrade

Tapping Into Collector Psychology

When selling my newly-minted RB coin, I targeted Hawaii specialists:

• Emphasized registry set completion potential
• Teased possible future RD (Red) designation
• Created visual proof with before/after grading photos

This approach netted me $13,750 – 18% above recent comps. Like that rare red glow, presentation matters.

When to Leave Well Enough Alone

Let’s be real – not every BN coin deserves a second look. I learned this the hard way with other coins:

• Coins under 85% red surface area
• Environmental damage (that PVC haze is permanent)
• Niche series with few buyers (under 5 annual sales)

My $4,375 Lesson in Coin Grading

The upgrade roadmap that worked:

1. Brutally honest self-assessment
2. Strategic PCGS resubmission approach
3. Market-savvy selling tactics

Total costs: $375 (fees + shipping)
Total profit: $4,375

If your “brown” coin shows hidden red potential under proper lighting, that plastic slab might be hiding a payday. Just don’t skip the daylight test or proper documentation. Ready to check your coins?

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