Most useful U.S. grading guide?

[MTHead-migration]

NGC Grading Guide for Modern U.S. Coins?

PCGS Official Guide to Coin Grading and Counterfeit Detection?

Photograde?

Something not listed?

 

 

My list:

#1 is still Photograde.

A distant 2nd is PCGS Official Guide to Coin Grading and Counterfeit Detection.

Dead last is NGC's Grading Guide for Modern U.S. Coins.

[Bruceswar]

My Own 2 eyes..... If a mistake is made I want it to be all on me.. now as for learning to grade... a combo of all would be good

[James_OldeTowne]

The Official ANA Grading Guide, with all its shortcomings, is still the best.

 

James

[Hoot]

Here's a fabulous new guide, which represents the work of Coin Values over the last two+ years:

 

MAKING THE GRADE: THE TOP 25 MOST WIDELY COLLECTED US COINS

 

You can find it at this site.

 

In my opinion, it is far better than photograde and ventures into the realm of uncirculated grades, which makes it even more valuable when coupled with an additional reference that fully describes mint state grading.

 

Hoot

[RGT]

- NGC Grading Guide for Modern U.S. Coins?

I have this but never use it. I can't find the section for early type.

 

- PCGS Official Guide to Coin Grading and Counterfeit Detection?

This is a decent reference with some useful information on MS coins.

 

- Photograde?

This is great for circulated coins and I still reference it some times.

 

- Something not listed?

As James said, The Official ANA Grading Guide. If you are selling, get the latest edition. If you are buying, use an older edition.

 

I have all of the above and use the ANA guide the most (though I don't have the new gradeflation version). I reference Photograde for circulted coins and the PCGS guide occasionally.

[gmarguli]

- PCGS Official Guide to Coin Grading and Counterfeit Detection?

This is a decent reference with some useful information on MS coins.

 

The first edition is decent. The second edition blows.

[michael]

yes

 

for circ coins brown and dunn none better

 

pcgs grading guide

 

and also last but not least the jim halperin how to grade usa coins book

 

and last ana picture grading guide but it is totally useless without the top three books

[James_OldeTowne]

Whatever you use, I can tell you that there is NO guide that's of much use for early type coins, such as copper and Draped or Capped Bust coinage. Striking pecularities are unique to specific die-marriages, which results in inconsistent information in grading guides, as well as amazingly inconsistent results with grading services. Your best bet if you have early coins to grade is to become really good friends with a specialist!

 

James

[michael]

as james said as per the above with early coinage and actually any pre 1915 proof or biz strike coinage

 

it is all specialized and you got to know your coins with many yearts of experience which no books can provide you

 

it is just not so simple with books

 

but the books i listed is a small start

 

good luck

[Count_Erfit]

How about "Seller's Description?"

 

[Here]

Hey, you don't have the list right at all!!!!!!! You should of put

 

 

 

 

#1 is still Photograde

 

PCGS is next to last

 

NGC is 3rd

 

 

 

On something I'm attempting to grade for the first time, I go back to the Redbook descriptions. For a beginner like me it's as basic as you can get...I'm talking about circulated coins primarily. A fun note: I bought a microscope at the ANA SF Show and they are really fun! All my MS Morgans, even the 66 and 67 I have look like JUNK! under the scope. And the circulated ones look great simply because a blemish here and a nick there fits right in with their eye appeal without the scope. I haven't bought a MS coin in about 2 months.

 

 

 

Jerry