It's time to tighten your grading standards.

291fifth · February 22, 2007 8:33AM

I have a reputation for conservative grading. That said, I think that many members of this forum need to step back and do several things:

1. Buy a copy of the ANA Grading Standards, 6th ed. book. Actually use it to grade your coins.

2. Pay much, much more attention to eye-appeal.

3. Learn to spot ALL types of cleaning from mild burnishing to bring out the high points to extreme whizzing. If you can't spot this type of thing, stop buying until you are able to.

If your local brick & mortar dealer or Sunday bourse dealer only has overgraded or problem coins to offer then it is time to find a new source.

The current coin market insists on conservatively graded, eye-appealing, original coins. Make sure that is what you are buying.

NumisOxide · February 22, 2007 8:39AM

Good points!

BigRed · February 22, 2007 8:55AM

Has the ANA grading book changed lately?Why the 6th ed.? I have one from 3 or 4 years ago, does it need replaced? How about the grading sections they put in trends each month they have big colored pictures for each grade with a commentary for each grade.

ziggy29 · February 22, 2007 8:56AM

<< <i>The current coin market insists on conservatively graded, eye-appealing, original coins. >>

Yes sir, more than I have ever seen. Quality has always been worth a premium, but the premium is getting larger and larger almost by the minute. It's getting to the point where very nice VFs are commonly selling for more than ordinary EF coins.

RedTiger · February 22, 2007 9:00AM

Don't forget to mention the many coins with questionable toning, especially those in top tier holders. Again, for newer collectors, pretty toners have almost always traded at a premium. Auction catalogs would highlight them. The old catalogs had very few spectacularly toned coins. A casual observer such as myself sees a lot more attractively toned coins offered for sale than five years ago. Most veteran collectors would agree with that observation. That means one of two things, that most of these pretty toners were hidden off market, even though they brought big money even twenty years ago, or that these toners are being made today, and more are being made with each passing day.

If a person can't tell the difference between MS64 and MS65, it is foolish for that person to shell out the extra bucks for the higher grade. Why? Because, the current market is chock full of maxed out coins, and many dealers are asking full retail and then some for these low end doggy coins. Many maxed out coins made it to the higher grade on the 5th try or the 10th try. Collectors that can grade won't touch these coins at retail prices. That leaves them for investor types or other folks that can't grade.

Collect what you like and enjoy the hobby. However, if dropping serious money, learn how to grade, and learn the market value for the coins you are interested in.

291fifth · February 22, 2007 9:06AM

<< <i>Has the ANA grading book changed lately?Why the 6th ed.? I have one from 3 or 4 years ago, does it need replaced? How about the grading sections they put in trends each month they have big colored pictures for each grade with a commentary for each grade. >>

Because the 6th edition is what is sold today in bookstores nationwide.