ANA Summer Seminar - Grading Course Feedback?

C0inCollect0r

Hi all,

I am thinking about signing up for the summer seminar and was wondering how useful people have found the Grading Courses that are offered?

Also, I am not exactly clear on which course I can take - I would ideally like to "place into" either the intermediate or advanced courses, as I would imagine the Beginner course will be largely if not entirely a review. Is there any way to do this or is it not possible?

Along similar lines, which course do you think would be most appropriate if I probably accurately grade about 35% of coins the same grade as PCGS and probably 75% within 1 point.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Halfhunter06

If you want to take grading SIGN UP NOW!! Those classes fill up very quickly. Ive done all 3: Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced. Basic was good, it taught me alot, Intermediate was mediocre, but Advanced with Bill SHamhart was AWESOME!! Best course I ever took there and would never mind doing it again.

edix2001

Yah, they fill up quickly.
I think that any old course at Summer Seminar would be fine since the overall experience is the ultimate value.

Halfhunter06

i signed up for Advanced grading this year again, but i am taking it the first session. Second session I am signed up for Counterfeit detection

tightbudget

I'd take advanced grading. I managed to take advanced grading without taking the beginner course, so I imagine it's possible to jump right in. Don't know anything about intermediate grading as it's something new.

C0inCollect0r

Thanks for the replies guys.

I guess I'm just wondering also: after the "Advanced" course, did you guys feel like you could accurately grade close to PCGS consistently? I guess my concern is just that I (like many of us) am on an especially tight budget right now, and would really need to feel like I could significantly improve my grading abilities to be able to justify the expense.

edix2001

Heck, if you want to judge your grading skills at summer seminar, just pull a chair up next to Ken Bressett during lunch and ask him if he agrees with your opinion of the Morgan dollar you're holding. Or maybe ask John Kraljevich between classes, or my buddy, Ricardo Tallavas, during dinner, or Mike Ellis at the Lunar Lounge. It's one big sharing event!

bidask

Do you think the 2 day CAC course being offered will be the ultimate advanced course?

sinin1

I am curious if you are accurate to PCGS standards for copper/nickel/silver/gold/ in MS/proof/matte and satins - beasically in everything? or a couple of series?

I spent a couple days in Portland and learned alot - but have much more to learn - n ot sure when I will be able to take a couple weeks

C0inCollect0r

That's a good point - I'm certainly not knowledgable on all series. I mainly collect classic silver coinage (Seated, Barber, Walkers, Morgans, Peace, etc.) - I don't have as much experience with gold or copper and could not grade those coins as consistently. I guess my main goal is to be able to grade classic silver to the best of my ability given that that is what I primarily collect.