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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;TypeCoin971793, post: 2950731, member: 78244&quot;]The GTG threads have taught me a lot in what to look for in grading. Do they teach me the finer points? Not necessarily. Coins shows/clubs/shops do that when I talk to experts who know what they are talking about.</p><p><br /></p><p>Being exactly right with the slab does not mean one is superior grader. It just means that you agreed with that particular grader on that particular day at that particular time. I think being within one division of the grade is quite good since even the TPGs often disagree with themselves about what differentiates a coin between grade divisions. (Example, a coin is graded VF-30, so guesses between VF-25 and VF-35 are permissible.) The forums are usually honed into that range. This generally carries over to MS coins (some graded MS-64 coins are MS-65 and vice versa), but far less often and with more consequence in being wrong. I have found forum grading to be much more precise for MS coins (more people agree on a specific grade) as the stigma for being exactly right is so much higher.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>The US and Canada are pretty much the only countries that do micro-grading, so emphasis on one or both of these areas is to be expected. Since most of the students in those classes are collectors of US coins, then time is best allocated catering to their interests. </p><p><br /></p><p>For the finer points such as high points and strike characteristics, yes, they only apply to US coins. But learning how to detect luster breaks applies to all coins. As for the use of LIBERTY as a diagnostic, that is just grading one area. If you look at the overall wear of the coin (say for VF about 50% of the details are still there and no luster is present), you can apply that to any series.</p><p><br /></p><p>If you give me a 1789 2 reales and ask for a grade, I can tell you it is a certain level, such as VF. But if you ask me if it is VF-30 or 35, I could not say, as that is series-specific knowledge.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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