Old thread locked grading coins

Old thread wouldn’t let me post. Ok so here is my standing. I’m big into collecting sports cards. Have been my whole life. I know what to look for in a card. I know what makes one valuable. Having a card graded adds a small amount of value to the card but more importantly it protects the card.
My son isn’t into cards he likes coins. So my thought was along the lines of cards. When I asked the question about what to look for in a coin and grading. Figured that grading would make it slightly more valuable as well as protecting the coin from any damage that would potentially bring the value of the coin down. If my son wants to collect coins and spend his money on coins. I’d like to know what we need to be looking for as well as protecting his investment.
I have been reading articals and watching videos from PCGS as well as NGC. I’m learning what I can as fast as I can. Thought asking here would help.

 

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What's the thread copy and paste it here.

 

Thank you so much for all that info. Yeah the other thread went way out there. Thank you all for all the help. So I have another question. Everyone is saying grading the coins is a skill learned of many years. Are there any small books we could carry to help in identifying grade ranges? PCGS has a photograde app to help guide. Also should we stick to a certain coin type say old cents

 

I would recommend the PCGS Photograde Web site or Mobile App.

Any type you like is fine. Although I wouldn't start out with a very expensive type. If you like Classic coins, my suggestion would be to start out with a series with a low average cost per coin, such as Morgan and Peace dollars or the Liberty Walking Half Dollars.

 

Yes!! The Redbook..... Os absolutely an invaluable resource to new and seasoned collectors alike. It does cover the basics of grading for each denomination ever produced by the US mint. Often you can find a year old version at an overstock type outlet for near nothing. I used my 1976 RedBook until just this year when my failing eyesight demanded a new large print version.

 

Indian cents may be a good starting point. Always popular, not too expensive for the most part, and relatively easy to grade in circulated condition.

 

This is where I'm at. Although my son goes for the Peace and Liberty Walking Half dollars, I'm sticking with the Morgans. Picked up two recently at a nice ( I think) price at a local antique mall that was having a 25 percent off sale.

 

Thank you guys for the info I’m assuming you mean this book. Me and my son talked and he wants to start with pennies. So we will start there.

 

Yes sir. That is every coin collectors bible.

 

Harumph...harump... to start with, those are cent coins, Britain has pennies. Eh, who cares what you call them really. Cents (or pennies) are a great way to get started, many are available from circulation and from dealers junk bins. Lots of interesting takes on it and you can always move into Indians, Flying Eagles and large cents. A word about grading and encapsulation. Unlike sports cards, coins are pretty tough. I could drop a cent 100 times on a hard surface and you couldn't tell it (although one hit on an uncirculated or proof might be disastrous). For circulated specimens, little protection is necessary and inclusion in a flip or 2x2 foldover is the most usually required. Leave off certification till you know a bunch more and if you want any slabs, buy them, don't submit them. Welcome to you and your son to a new and interesting pursuit.

 

Maybe so, but saying "a cent for your thoughts" just doesn't have quite the right ring to it.

 

Oh yeah, that's just your two cents worth...

 

It does take experience and practice to learn. Looking at as many graded coins as you can helps.

The other thing is the PCGS YouTube page has a bunch of grading videos from them where they give some solid information. It’s not as good as their grading course but it’s like a crash course of it

 

That’s what videos I’ve been watching baseball21. Which is where I found the photograde app and asked about it. So me and my son will start with a cents lol

 

You have received a lot of of great information from some of the best in the business. An additional learn to grade resource are classes given by the American Numismatics Association. The ANA has grading classes in the summer at their headquarters in Colorado and at conventions (Philadelphia this August). Both you and your son should become regular readers of this site. I’m very happy to hear that your son shows an interest in coin collecting. Welcome to the hobby and CT, happy collecting!

 

"I didn't get a harrumph out of that guy" lol

 

After reading another thread that dealt with TPGs and CAC, I thought I should go ahead and buy at least one book that is devoted to grading so that I can practice my assessment skills. Doug mentions the ANA manual above in post # 8, but I am wondering if this is too much of a book for my basic needs. I am thinking nomenclature with lots of photographic examples would be most helpful. I don't think I'll ever go beyond dabbling in just a few USA coin types, nor do I ever plan to sell any of the coins I've collected ever since I was a boy in the 1950s. @physics-fan3.14 referred to another book in a post, one that I had seen mentioned in this forum before, Poe's The Art and Science of Grading Coins.

Long before I decided to post on this thread that already existed, I had done an Amazon search and came up with a bewildering number of books, all that looked like they might do the trick. I was taken with the title of one of these, Bowers' Grading Coins By Photographs, thinking that by title alone this one might serve my initial needs well. Interestingly, the Bowers book and the ANA manual that @GDJMSP endorses are recommended together by Amazon.

I'm quite sure that all of these would be helpful, but I am not looking for information overload, just something that can help me with nomenclature that provides examples. Thanks.