Dream book... does such a thing exist?

Rob85635 · November 15, 2003 2:15PM

I often find myself confused about grading coins (big surprise) and it is worse cause I'm a newbie.

I wish there was a book made that had obv/rev pictures of pcgs (or other reputable grading service) coins that showed every grade for each coin type. Now I know there is no way for old coins as there are no high levels for older coins, but stick with me a minute.

Example:

Page 1 Lincoln cents (1959 to date)

AG3 - pictures
G4 - pictures
VG8 - pictures
F12 - pictures
VF20 - pictures
VF30 - pictures
EF40 - pictures
EF45 - pictures
AU50 - pictures
AU55 - pictures
MS60 - pictures
MS63 - pictures
MS65 - pictures
MS70 - pictures

For my example it is irrelevant what year / mint mark the coins are, I just want a picture of a g4 lincoln, followed by a vg8 lincoln, etc. That way I can see the progressions from worse to best. Small explanations could say things like "the reason the VF20 is not a VF30 is because blah blah blah". I have plenty of books with text descriptions on how to grade, but there is only so much my frail mind can understand, pictures would really help. I even have some books with pictures but they are all very limited in what they show.

With each coin type having unique characteristics, a generic "VG8-Well worn with main features clear and bold although rather flat." description is just to generic.

So does such a book exist? If not can one of you all wise and knowledgable numismatists write one? I will buy it

Rob the Newbie

airplanenut · November 15, 2003 2:20PM

Check out the ANA grading guide- it's exactly what you're asking for

clw54 · November 15, 2003 2:21PM

Official A.N.A. Grading Standards for United States Coins.

It has photos and written descriptions for grading.

Rob85635 · November 15, 2003 2:22PM

Does it show the progressions I speak of? I just have so much to learn I really need all the help I can get.

Rob the Newbie

fountainheadgold · November 15, 2003 2:23PM

<< <i>Check out the ANA grading guide- it's exactly what you're asking for >>

fountainheadgold · November 15, 2003 2:25PM

<< <i>Check out the ANA grading guide- it's exactly what you're asking for >>

This is what you want, also if you join you will get a very helpful vidio on grading ms coins.

Rob85635 · November 15, 2003 2:27PM

Went to amazon and it allows you to see a few pages of the book. It does not seem to show photos of every grade, only a few photos of a few grades with written descriptions. I guess I am looking for a photographic book, a book with tons of pictures showing the progression from worse to best.

Rob the Newbie

clw54 · November 15, 2003 2:32PM

It doesn't have every photo for every grade, but it has a lot. You won't find separate photos for VF-20 and VF-30 Lincolns; there's a photo for VF, with descriptions for VF-20 and VF-30. There isn't a description for VF-35 either. It's a good book, although not perfect.

Skipper53 · November 15, 2003 3:54PM

I ordered a copy of A.N.A Grading Standards from Amazon and after three months
was told it would not be available.
Guess I'll just have to join ANA and get the grading video and magazine, too.

ps : as soon as I perfect my photographic skills and aquire a sample of
every coin in every grade, I'll be glad to publish a "Dream Book".
Until then.....

MrEureka · November 15, 2003 11:18PM

Why not put something like that online? You could constantly add new and better images of more coin types. People would be glad to contribute images. It would grow very quickly and become a great resource for everybody. BTW, don't expect PCGS or NGC to do this for you. I've suggested this in the past, but they were to busy to take on the project. Someone else will have to do it.

sinin1 · November 16, 2003 12:30AM

maybe someone like "Heritage" or "Teletrade" would be willing do donate their photos -

Heritage may even donate some space on their website as they do similar stuff like this

you could do many searches under their past auctions and find many/most/all of what you are asking for most series

Myriads · November 16, 2003 3:17AM

When I've wanted to see a good set of grading examples on a series that I'm not 100% sure of my skills on, I've been using Heritage and Teletrades past auction files as a online databank. You may have to poke about for a bit to find a grade that you like, but they are in there. Hit the 'key' dates for the lower grades.

If someone took the time to get proper permissions (Like uspatterns had for it's pattern refrence) and set up a series of each grade for each coin type it would be a very very valuable online tool. I'm amazed that no one has done it yet.

Myriads

Rob85635 · November 16, 2003 3:39AM

<< <i>Why not put something like that online? >>

That is a good idea, I can build the web page, I will think about it... I am a newbie so not sure I am qualified to do such a thing, but who knows.... hmmm....

Rob the Newbie

Dream book... does such a thing exist?

Comments

Leave a Comment