Best Grading Guide Book

Any opinions on the best, or a better Grading Guide book? I looked at Amazon and they had a couple listed, but want to see if there was a consensus among any of the esteemed community of CT.

This was what I found on Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&ke...ooks&hvadid=2323825499&ref=pd_sl_53xt4ciuqx_e

 

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I have seen The Official ANA Grading Standards for United States Coins recommended several times on this forum, though I also hear that Photograde is quite good.

The ANA Standards, from my personal experience has been pretty handy, though the spiral binding is occasionally a pain in the rear when turning pages or attempting to close the book, though even this is a pretty minor complaint on my part.

 

I like this, http://www.whitmanbooks.com/Default.aspx?Page=81&ProductID=0794827012 , and this, http://www.whitmanbooks.com/Default.aspx?Page=81&ProductID=0794819109 , the one you mentioned is also good, http://www.whitmanbooks.com/Default.aspx?Page=81&ProductID=0794819931 .


LouieLot

 

A little piece of advice. While it is very important to understand the concepts of grading, and buying books is mandatory in this education, you can't learn grading from any book. Let me say that again...YOU CAN'T LEARN TO GRADE IN ANY BOOK OR ON ANY WEBSITE. There is no substitute for looking at coins in first-tier holders in your own to hands.

 

I prefer:

http://www.amazon.com/Official-Amer...=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1261055991&sr=1-3

 

I use the ANA, "the one that Frank has listed". Also Photograde. Another GREAT option is to log into HA.COM and search for coins there. The photos are great and most are PCGS or NGC so you know they are least close.

 

Gotta question about this photograde. Is this the same photograde that
Paul Sims talks about in his coin catalog? I'm curious because in my experience, most of his Premium Quality Brilliant Unc. coins are AU..
I don't know if the problem is photograde or Paul Sims...

 

Just bought the ANA book, and I find it to be helpful for my own coins, and it seems like it will help my grading skills.

 

.....the books are great but this site is also helpful.

http://www.pcgs.com/Photograde/

.....here's another one.

http://coinauctionshelp.com/US_Coin_Grading_Guides.html

 

That is a good source, thank you :high5:

 

.....here's another one.

http://coinauctionshelp.com/US_Coin_Grading_Guides.html

 

Thanks for all the suggestions and information. This helps a lot.

 

Leadfoot and GJMSP have the right idea, but you have to do more than just buy the book and look through it once. You should annotate it with which years are weaker struck than other, years when Lincoln master hub was re-engraved, and other touch ups on coins, to be able to come to a decision on grade due to wear. Weak strikes confuse many gradings. A high % of grading success will take time and effort, so don't expect it to come overnight.

Jim

 

http://www.coingrading.com/

 

I have the # 3 book The ANA Grading Standards for United States Coins 6th edition. good details and information. -O)

 

"Grading Coins by photographs" by Q. David Bowers (ISBN 0794827012) is a MUST for your numismatic research library.
Steve