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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;medoraman, post: 1792704, member: 26302&quot;]I guess I will be a contrarian and say I believe everyone should learn to grade. We have compared notes on grading over the years Doug and I believe we grade similarly. We both learned how to grade ancients, and I believe we are for the better for it.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>I problem I would believe would come up would be the notion that a grade is a critical factor. Its not. I have chosen a gF over a VF numerous times. Grade is only a part of the decision on deciding which ancient coin you like best. Also a huge component is style, as is design completeness, and flan condition, etc etc.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>So yes, real grading should be learned by all, but at the same time they need to understand ancient coin collectors do not bow down on the alter of grading and sacrifice all unlike US numismatics. We simply use grade as an indication of its overall condition versus a theoretical perfect specimen, and use that information as a PART of our decision whether to buy or not.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>I remember Glenn Woods. Nice man, bought a couple of coins from him. He was a big &quot;condition census&quot; Franklin half guy before moving into Byzantine gold. I remember conversations with him, and he bragging this coin is &quot;condition census&quot; highest grade. He didn&#039;t like my response much, when I said &quot;Who cares? Its poor style, and I would take a gVF with a fine style over it any day&quot;. He thought I was a poor collector, I thought he was a misguided dealer. He never really &quot;got&quot; the idea that ancient coins are much more than some absolute grade figure. Desirablity of an ancient coin can never be summarized like that, its impossible.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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