Best Coin Grading Books

ExtraordinaryCoins

What are the best books on coins and grading? US or Foreign. List your top 5.

Thanks

pursuitofliberty

Welcome to the boards!

Just two overall grading books for me;


"The Bible" - The Official A.N.A. Grading Standards for United States Coins - publised by the A.N.A

and

"The New Testament" - Official Guide to Coin Grading and Conterfiet Detection - published by PCGS



after that I tend to us books concentrating on series and specialties to help with grading/attributing

DaveG

There's also Photograde, which is very good for circulated coins.

As for the PCGS book, there are two editions - get the first one, which is larger format (8 1/2" x 11"), which means the pictures are bigger.

There's a book for grading Canadian coins (Charleton) and the Spink book on British coins has some grading pages in it, as well, but that's all I know about for world coins.

JSsson

I have read the book that was put out and written by PCGS. I believe that book is the best text on the subject out there.

michael

brown and dunn for circ coins

second for circ coins is the ana grading guide the one just before the new one that just came out
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
for unc and proof coins and somewaht circ coins

pcgs grading and counterfeit detection guide the first edition with the glossy pages and killer photos on the glossy paper

how to grade us coins by j halperin

TheRaven

I use photograde & the PCGS guide.....

Thought the lastest ANA book is trying to change some grading on a few series, this goes for the red book as well.....

MadMonk

Halperins book on MS coins is also a good read, although some of it is basically covered in the PCGS book.

OKbustchaser

It really makes no difference any more...no one (including the TCPs) pays any attention to the published standards anyway.

Just follow the sheep and read the lable.

Edited to add...

If you actually DO want to learn something about grading then get Brown and Dunn plus a copy of Jim Ruddy's Photograde for circulated coins and a copy of the ANA guide for MS and an overall view.

291fifth

1964 "A Guide to the Grading of United States Coins" by Brown & Dunn.

sinin1

besides the previous, the video 'Grading Mint State Coins' is good

astrorat

The new Coin World "Making the Grade" is worth the read. It does not cover all the series, but the photos are good and it has up-to-date market standards for circulated coins.

Of course, the best book is the ANA Grading Standards, 6th edition!

Lane

Longacre

I use Photograde.

nwcs

The PCGS one is the best but they all suck compared to an in-life ANA grading course.

Conder101

<< <i>Thought the lastest ANA book is trying to change some grading on a few series, this goes for the red book as well..... >>


It does, stick to the 4th edition.

messydesk

Since grading books now reflect rather than define standards, that's somewhat of a tenuous question. I still have the hardbound ANA grading guide with line drawings in it. The drawings are clearer than any of the pictures in any of the recent ANA books. There's no room for "nuance," either, making it rather easy to make a call on circulated coins. Irrespective of whether the drawings reflect the current reality, it's a good book. The older Photograde with glossy pages, and contrasty pictures is also good. The recent ANA books have comparitively low resolution and low contrast photos. The new PCGS book is a major disappointment compared with the original. I'd have thought that they would have seen that in test printings before going forward with printing it on recycled romance novels. Good content, lousy printing. Must fix for third printing.

ScarsdaleCoin

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

From the editors of Coin World and Coin Values comes one of the easiest to use guides in determining and assessing a coins grade. Each coin series listed features high quality, full-color, detailed photos with grade descriptions and pinpoint areas to inspect. Design high points are highlighted to indicate areas of wear. Visual impairment severity levels are identified by color maps. Spiral binding means pages will lie flat and stand up to the rigors of everyday use.


This book retails for $25 plus S/H

If any of the members would like to buy a copy I will sell it for $20 bucks and that includes the shipping charges....

my gift to the board....pm if you want one!

robertpr

I'll give another nod to the FIRST edition of the PCGS grading guide. The second edition does contain the same information (very little changed) but is smaller and has lower quality photographs. The PCGS guide is very detailed and in-depth and is by far the best guide out there.

ExtraordinaryCoins

Thank you for all the suggestions.

Have a 1st PCGS a 6th ANA and a Photograde on the way.

The 1st PCGS has become collectible as it still sells at or above the original retail price.

construct

Good choices.

I learned to grade as a kid from the Brown & Dunn book. I found the line drawings very helpful.

The PCGS book (either edition) is my current favorite.

The controversy over the new ANA guide strikes me comes from its recognition of "market grading." They've done away with counting the letters in LIBERTY, and depending on the amount of the buffalo's horn remaining. I think that's for the best. You really do have to look at the whole coin.

Good luck. Get you a good, strong lamp and 5x loupe and you'll be all set.

numonebuyer

If you want to decide on the book by Halperin, check out The web page of the book