Do you know how to grade without looking at a grading guide?

291fifth · February 25, 2007 4:51AM

I have found that collectors of foreign coins are very good at this. US only collectors are not.

Louis · February 25, 2007 4:52AM

BS !!!

DennisH · February 25, 2007 4:54AM

I believe it is a life-long process that never ends.

I'm getting better all the time, and I look forward to continued improvement.

Type2 · February 25, 2007 4:55AM

ricko · February 25, 2007 4:56AM

Those that study and practice become proficient.. those that buy plastic, do not.

Cheers, RickO

combatmailman · February 25, 2007 4:57AM

PerryHall · February 25, 2007 5:00AM

<< BS !!! >>

mcheath · February 25, 2007 5:02AM

xf45

NumisOxide · February 25, 2007 5:04AM

<< Do you know how to grade without looking at a grading guide? >>

Depends on the series. I'm pretty confident in grading seated halves and other seated coinage because thats been my area of interest for over 4 years.

p8nt · February 25, 2007 5:05AM

I can grade between XF and MS68 almost exactly the same as the top TPGs. However, anything lower than XF and I'm just guessing.

percyb · February 25, 2007 5:07AM

Sounds like stereotyping.

Mercury10c · February 25, 2007 5:07AM

<< Do you know how to grade without looking at a grading guide? >>

Yes, just look at the number on the holder.

DickyBetz · February 25, 2007 5:08AM

I never look at a grading guide.

perfectstrike · February 25, 2007 5:09AM

Grade lots of US coins that aren't in the grading guides, like commems. Grading a specific series takes lots of practice.

David

BlindedByEgo · February 25, 2007 5:40AM

Yes, on most series. Expensive circulated coins are still worth more research and possibly a trip to a grading guide for additional information.

For most coins running to a grading guide to figure the difference between a VF25 and an EF40 is just silly.

09sVDB · February 25, 2007 5:53AM

If it's a series that I have collected for a long time yes. If not no.

Wolf359 · February 25, 2007 5:57AM

<< I have found that collectors of foreign coins are very good at this. US only collectors are not. >>

BS !!!

Of course it's complete BS. The top coin collectors are US collectors, always have been.

DennisH · February 25, 2007 6:04AM

"Traditional" foreign coin grading only involves what, four grades? That makes it a whole lot easier than Mr. Sheldon's approach.

jdimmick · February 25, 2007 6:36AM

I very rarely ever use a grading guide. Once in a great while, I will reference check specifics as to detail of what a typical example with a specific grade portrayed in the guide looks like. More so if its a coin in lower grades that are infrequently encountered. Also, becuase more people grade by detail alone, I have to know what others expect to see when selling on line raw.

jim

speety · February 25, 2007 9:10AM

What's Grading.

O yeah, and US coins rule

leothelyon · February 25, 2007 3:31PM

Recently, I berated a seller about a coin he was selling because it was likely overgraded and his reply was, "what makes you think that you know more then NGC or PCGS? I didn't take the time to answer that because my point wasn't going anywhere. But I would have liked to have said, "I have several more years of experience with this series than they do, that's why!

Leo

skier07 · February 25, 2007 3:37PM

I think a grading guide is helpful for coins we're unfamiliar with. I believe I have a few two centers. Without a grading book
I can roughly grade the coin. But unless I look at the book how do I know how many letters on the motto or how complete the motto
is to differentiate one grade from the other.

Bruce

oldcameoproofsguy · February 25, 2007 3:46PM

I can poorly grade US and Foreign coins equally.

thisnamztaken · February 25, 2007 7:06PM

<< If it's a series that I have collected for a long time yes. If not no. >>

Ditto!

Trime · February 26, 2007 12:55AM

Grading is pattern recognition.

mgoodm3 · February 26, 2007 1:03AM

Why do you need to, the grade is right on the label?

GoldenEyeNumismatics · February 26, 2007 8:27AM

i never use a grading guide when I grade US coins

SeaEagleCoins · February 26, 2007 8:42AM

With the coins I most enjoy and have the most experience...Buffalos, Walkers , Morgans...I don't need a guide anymore...I did use it "in the beginning". I'm getting much better with Bust coins but still need a little guidance there.

Added note...I often find that I will see a coin as one grade one day and another grade on another day. Does that happen to anyone else? Does that happen with "professional" graders?

Define an "expert" ...a person who used to be PERTinent...

Do you know how to grade without looking at a grading guide?

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The more qualities observed in a coin, the more desirable that coin becomes!

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