What Does Xq Mean In A Certification?

I just saw an abbreviation I did not know of that has to do with certs. This is what the cert says...

"With PF Graded 90XQ Cert"

But where it says "90XQ", what does the XQ mean? --Thanks.


-IBFS

It stands for eXtra Quality or eXcellent Quality or something like that. In your example, it would mean the stamp was graded a very high end 90. I think that only the Philatelic Foundation uses this; I have not seen it on PSE or PSAG graded certificates.

I'm going to say it's a typo. I just looked at the PSE website for grading and XQ is not mentioned http://www.psestamp.com/appendix.chtml

I think canadianphilatelist has got it right. They mention that a grade of 90 is for an XF (eXtra Fine) stamp. So it should probably read 90XF.

Rhett --- is CORRECT!

Thanks, Kevin. It is not a typo. To my knowledge, the XQ designation is only used on PF graded certificates. For clarity, if the stamp in question had been graded by the PF as XF 90 and was deemed to be worthy of the XQ designation, the grading wording on the actual certificate would be "PF GRADED XF 90 XQ". If it had been graded by the PF as XF 90 and was not deemed worthy of the XQ designation, the grading wording on the actual certificate would be "PF GRADED XF 90".

Rhett: Thanks for the info. I find it interesting that they actually distinguish between a grade of 90 and a grade of 90XQ. Since 95 (XF-Superb) is the next highest grade on their chart, can one assume the stamp doesn't quite meet the standards for XF-Sup but does exceed those for XF? In other words, it would represent sort of a "tweener" on their grading scale.
Added: Just realized that I was looking at the PSE site whereas you indicated that this is a PF term. But I would assume that they use similar scales in grading stamps.

JL, you are welcome. I am not sure why the PF introduced the XQ designation but I believe they are trying to distinguish the best examples of each grade. So, even though a stamp might definitely be a 90 and definitely not a 95 because of its centering, it may still have qualities such as vibrant color, freshness, full even perfs, etc. that set it apart from the typical stamp graded 90. I think your "tweener" term is apt as is my "high end" term. And yes, I believe that PF, PSE, and PSAG all use very similar criteria, methods, and software in their grading but, as is the case here with the PF's use of the XQ designation, there are nuanced differences among them. These differences are, in my estimation, minor and do not affect the comparability of stamp grades between the 3 services.

Rhett - YES...as I stated you are CORRECT!
I have seen plenty graded items....
I also have seen 2 exactly graded items be auctioned
back-to-back....and 1 item bring much more that the other.
Even tho both were graded the same.

Kevin, I know you have seen a lot more graded items than just about anyone has! I too have seen the auction phenomenon you describe; seeing it time and again led to an "aha" moment for me a while back where I realized that not all graded 90s, for example, are "created equally". There is definitely a range of quality within each grade level. I think the PF introduced the XQ concept to illuminate this point and to recognize those stamps that really are the best of their grade.

Coin grading uses something similar. The standards for the higher grades are very technical, but within those grades eye appeal can vary widely. Specimens with extra eye appeal will get a CAC sticker or a star on the "slab" or something along those lines.

Rhett....you are CORRECT again!
I agree with you.

I have always liked to think XQ stands for "Exquisite."

LOL - well, "exquisite" would also work! I am thinking now that the word the PF uses for the X in XQ is actually "eXceptional". So the PF phrase for their XQ designation is "eXceptional Quality".

Here is PF's discussion of grading:

http://www.philatelicfoundation.org...ess/grading/

I include the link because it is a few layers deep on their site. For those who don't want to click, there is no mention of XQ on that part of their site.

I did scratch my head at this statement:




I contrast that with a statement attributed to Robson Lowe, to the effect of, if you need to rely on a certificate when buying something, you should be collecting something else.

It is easy to say that when you are one of the world's great experts. I think he overstated it a bit, probably intentionally. There are some items that are just too tricky for us mere mortals.

But maybe there is something to what he (supposedly) said when you update it to include grading?





Or maybe not.

It sounds like this is similar to a teacher giving someone a B+ instead of a B.

But Cjd is right, he appears to have the right link to the place where it should be explained, but there is no mention of XQ or anything like it on that page. It is strange that, if they use this term regularly, it is not explained anywhere on their site.

On their page which explains their expertizing terms...

http://www.philatelicfoundation.org...izing-terms/

...there is no explanation of it either.




-IBFS