The Art and Science of Grading Coins Paperback – September 6, 2013

I’ve been collecting coins for a long time before grading. Back then it was and it still is very subjective. This book gives pictures and you start understanding where the coins start wearing “high spots “ which helps in determining grades. This book is a great reference aid for learning the long road of how to grade coins accurately. Even now with coins being graded and encapsulated coins can grade the exact same grade yet certain coins have greater eye appeal and strike whether bright white or toned coins that look superior compared to others in the same grade. This also affects prices. If a collector knows the coin is well struck the price guide may not be reflective of how much a Peace Dollar will cost with an awesome strike. Remember don’t get distracted by stickers “green” beenies or the holders inserts concentrate on the coins not the holders! I have a registry of Peace Dollars and this series is known for weak strikes. Some times grader’s have to give technical grades because the coins are obviously uncirculated but have a very weak strike caused mainly by worn out dies. I have looked at hundreds and maybe more trying to find coins in the grade I’m collecting while still trying to find good strikes on the obverse and reverse. It can get very tiring looking at MS-65+ to MS-66 coins with one side looking great only to find normally the reverse is weakly struck. It’s definitely a labor of love and you want exceptional coins for the registry and the fact someday the coins will be sold. Good luck and happy hunting!

I highly recommend this book for all beginner and most intermediate coin collectors. Jason Poe is a physicist and long time coin collector, who shares his knowledge and experience in this book. Basically, a collector has to be able to grade a coin in order to put a price on it. The grade depends on wear, luster, marks, eye appeal, and strike. Poe discusses how to evaluate these important aspects in an organized method, and near the end of the book pulls it all together into a systematic method. Along the way, the collector will learn about processes of die preparation and coin production, as well as things that are done to coins that affect their grade and value, such as cleaning and other alterations. This book is a fine companion to standard grading guides such as the ANA's or Photograde because it explains "why" coins look the way they do. Add a copy of Roger Burdette's "From Mine to Mint" to these and a beginning collector will have the start of a reference set that will serve them well for years. Some may be critical that the photo illustrations in the book are black and white, but they actually tie in well to the text and successfully illustrate the points that Poe is trying to make.There is a useful discussion of the Sheldon Grading scale and also of "market grading," and a glossary at the back of the book . At less than $20, this book is an excellent value.

I wish I had found this book a couple years ago, as it provides an easy to read and succinct explanation of how coins are graded. I am now more able to accurately grade my coins. The explanation about die states helped me understand how people know if a coin was struck late in the die's life; the chapters on strike and luster have helped me differentiate wear versus a weak strike. My only criticism of the book is that all the pictures, except those on the cover, are in black and white. At times I struggled to see what the teaching point in the picture was since there was no color. Other than that, I highly recommend this book.

Or at least it should be the second right after the Red Book. This book does an excellent job of teaching what to look for and what the characteristics are of the metals used to create coins. I highly recommend it.

Great book for its technical but Kindle version leave a big void.. My hope Kindle would have done a much better job showing the photos allowing the reader to expand and zoom these pictures. The author has worked hard to show the reason and attributes of their conclusions only to not be seen the readers. If these would have been well done I would have rated this a 5. I would not recommend Kindle version for the novice.

Purchased on Kindle. Great knowledge for coin collectors.

Excellent and easy read!! Thanks for the research time put into this book.Bud

Yes, Finally a book on grading focused on something other than Morgan's. Lots of info relevant to Franklins half dollars.