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Good, fun read. I think putting a coin in the pocket with other coins should have been tried. Second, I would put the TPG name next to any stated grade in a picture caption, since that carries some weight.

 

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This was a most interesting and educational subject on the subject on grading. From my own personal experience as a coin collector, unless coins are of proof FDC, brightly uncirculated coins will always have some kind of blemish on them.
A question which can always be asked is, are near perfect coins mainly for investors only? I have always believed that to a true collector a coin is a coin, whether it is perfect or well worn. Although I have some near perfect coins in my collection, a circulated coin can get my imagination going by thinking about how it was used at the time, and the individuals who may have spent it.
Getting back to the subject of grading, to be quite honest it is never going to be an easy task, and I've been at it for a very long time. Over the years I've been to many coin fairs and have found that many dealers do not have a clue and seem to over-grade what they have to sell.
Because of my desire to learn more about grading coins, I recently acquired a publication titled; " The Standard Guide To Grading British Coins ", by Derek Francis Allen, published by Rotographic. This guide covers all British coins from
1797 to 1970, and I have found it an invaluable guide to help me have a better insight into the sometimes tricky subject of coin grading.
When you are a coin collector you are learning all the time, and sites like these are always going to be a big help.

 

Well said. I think it would benefit all us US collectors to read about the grading standards of other countries, especially if we collect world coins. That book sounds interesting. I'm always on the look out for interesting titles.

 

Thank you for your kind comment. As I also research coins as well as collect them, over the years I've amassed a large collection of books on the subject. When I make comments on future articles I will mention further titles of books if they are relevant to what the subject is saying.