My parents are cleaning out the junk from under their house and found some of my old coin books. Mostly red books from 2002-2010, but there was this coin grading guide that I didnt even know I had. Printed in 1965 I thought it was interesting since it pre dates the big TPGs of today and has no numerical grading. It even has some Canadian cents and nickels Apparently condition is very important with coins I think my favorite part of this back side is where it says "with this new book all doubt has been eliminated.." lol.
Ah, the one with photographs, for the collectors with big library budgets. The rest of us had to make do with the one that just had line drawings for each grade. Edit: Brown and Dunn, of course. And you can still get it from Amazon...
Wow, very nice!!! I love looking at this stuff! Thank you so much for sharing! I am super new here, and just stumbled across your forum.
I have the 1960 copy (17th Edition) of this book. It cost me 25c at my high school library book sale. Chris
Interesting. It only seems to have one level of F, VF, and XF, as well. Does it even have AU? How many levels of MS? I wonder when things like Ch. VF, etc. were added....
As collectors, we used all of the designators Poor to Brilliant Uncirculated. All guides didn't have illustrations of all grades. We didn't use any numbers it was VF, EF or it wasn't. I started collecting seriously in 1948.
Gad Inspector43, I started being born in 1949, one year after you started collecting! But, that's in part the great thing about numismatics, if you catch the bug, it is enjoyable at all ages. Mark
Yes, it hooked me. My Aunt gave me an 1883 NC and an 1885 Liberty nickel. The 1885 was listed at $5 and I was in for life.
Probably, just one level. Levels of MS none but it may have Uncirculated and Brilliant uncirculated. EAC used some finer distinctions but for the most part most of the hobby didn't use the levels split levels of Fine, VF, XF etc until the ANA grading guide came out in 1978.
So "Brilliant Uncirculated" used to actually mean something? I've always thought it was an attempt at a sleight of hand or a diversion from the truth or something devious.
Any coin that has never been in circulation is technically Uncirculated. BU was interpreted as meaning that it had few if any bag marks, scratches, clouding, etc. That was they way we looked at it in the way back days.