What do you all think about the idea in the title? Maybe I should take my spare change and learn to grade it that way I can start my grading adventures. Have any of you done it this way? If so, tell us a little bit about your experience with it and how it helped you become the grader you are today. BNB
In today's world you can learn a lot about the circ grades of moderns but that's about it. And you'll see some MS examples. But again only for moderns. When I first started learning how to grade you could get almost anything in change if it was minted in the late 1800's and on. Of course the 1800's stuff was far less common, but IHC's, Barber coinage, Liberty nickels, Morgans - you'd run across all of it from time to time. So it was a worthwhile effort. Not so much today.
I think it's a great way to start. Get an understanding of that and move on to different types. I'm still learning after 40 years.
Thanks and I think it sure beats breaking out my certified coins out of the holders just so I can get a closer look with the 5x..
I am not so sure the word "naked" was much used back on 1950's teevee. That word might be okeh. I think you should draw the line if the word is spelled "nekkid". (Been reading alot of Benchley lately)
Grading may be done 95% by eye, but looking at your change with a stereo microscope is 95% of the fun. Get one!
i have to agree if you cant tell the grade by the modren coins how can you tell or grade the old ones just my thought i know how tell the old irish half crown and other irish coins well i think i can dave
After you can grade them, you can put them in 2x2's and put them in a ziplock bag and post it on ebay. If you are lucky, your $4.56 in graded pocket change will bring you $25-$30.00+ shipping from some passer-by. Happy trolling.
Never hurts to practice. And it might help in the long run, but each type of coins have different characteristics that will have to be learned. One thing I found that helped me was getting some specific books on the coins I was interested in - then getting a few graded coins(different grades). I am still by no means an expert, but I think it helped me to improve.
Sounds like a good idea BNB. I'm sure you'll be able to get the circulated grades down pretty easily with some practice (good through AU). When you start working on the uncirculated grades, it gets hard to determine the line between an MS64, MS65, MS66, MS67, etc. When you pull some examples from change that you think might be an MS65 or MS66 or whatever, I'd then bring those with you to the next major show you attend and compare your graded coins with certified examples in to see how your grading matches up with the third party graders like PCGS and NGC. Also, if you're going through change, might want to pick up a copy of the Cherrypicker's Guide to look for varieties that might be worth something. You'll need the 5x or 10x for many of the varieties though.
I'm a really lousy grader of coins of any type or age. So what I've learned to do over the years is to just say all my coins are either G, F, Unc or Proofs. That is the way it used to be when I was a kid and I just never grew out of that. What is nice about this system is I'm always waty to low so my coins are really worth a lot more than I think they are, maybe. Since I don't plan on ever selling them, makes little difference.
I do the same thing. The Sheldon scale is a little too whimsical for me. I use AG/F, G, F, VF, XF, AU, UNC, BU and proof.
