Is the $30 one going to basically "include" the cheaper one? Or are they different animals? I already own: ANA Grading Standards for US Coins (Bressett/Bowers, 6th edition) PCGS Coin Grading and Counterfeit Detection (1st edition, 1997) Red Book Guide of Double Eagle Gold Coins (Bowers, 2004 edition) $30 - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0794836879 MAKING THE GRADE: Comprehensive Grading Guide for U.S. Coins by Beth Deisher (Author), William T Gibbs (Editor) $16.02 - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0794836879 Grading Coins By Photographs Spiral-bound by Q. David Bowers (I already know that Doug will say to buy both since one can never have too many books! ;-)
I own Grading Coins by Photographs and I have looked through Making the Grade. I like Grading Coins by Photographs but buy Making the Grade. It has a lot more meat to it.
Completely different animals. The Coin World book (1st one) only covers about 100 different coins (those deemed most popular) if memory serves. Whereas what I know of the 2nd it covers coins in general. Not this time. As I have said many times, trying to learn how to grade based on pictures is not only not a good idea, I think it is harmful to try and do that. And that goes for any photo-grade like book. The 1st book you mention though is a good one. They use older grading standards, in other words tougher than what it is used by the TPGs and more like the ANA standards. And yeah they show pictures, but they have good descriptions for each grade, and that's what counts.
What do ya'll think about "Modern Commemorative Coins" by Eric Jordan? It's a real slog to get through....requires math and stuff. A real fact-fest.
