davidt3251 >>>I wonder if one of the causes for this malaise is NGC's stricter grading standards.<<<
I don't think so. If you follow collectors of American coins many do not think too much of CMC's. I for one have scaled purchases of CMC's big time. I'll keep what I want but do not wish to purchase anymore. I believe there are many numismatics that agree with me. JMHO
Look, I don't know your personal circumstances, everyones is different.
The US CMC market is a graded coin market. Buyers of OMP CMCs are suffering under NGCs more strict grading. Buyers have lost a lot of money on sheets where they are supposed to be 69-70, not 68 and 69. You buy them based on 69-70 and when you sell you book a loss.
I am not the only one. That practice is driving people away from the business, plain and simple.
If people are making money they are happier with their investment. Suddenly sellers want more for 69s and buyers won't pay up. The same coin is now graded 68 but sells at a discount because the instability of NGCs grading practices has driven out bidders in general. When the primary grading service goes from 84% grading 69 to 60%, that's an unreasonable 30% drop. (these statistics were posted on CCF recently). I don't think that's change instills confidence, I think a market that acts like it doesn't know what its doing will attract a lot of 'newbie' investors. Thanks NGC. /sarc
Its just like the stock market. The government and brokers play with the indexes, sure Google and Tesla do well, but stocks outside of the index door poorly. Its a thin market. Retail has disappeared.