This book will make a great Christmas present for anyone on your list! Have a kid that you are trying to get interested in the hobby? Give them this book and let them learn the fundamentals. Have a friend that you are trying to share your passion for coins with? Give them this book, and let them see what you do. Or better yet, do you have a friend or family member who wants to support your hobby, and wants to get you a coin-related present, but you doesn't really know much about coins? Tell them to buy you this book for Christmas, and get one for themselves as well! Grading coins is the single most important skill for a coin collector to have! If you are new to the hobby and want to understand the terms that we use (such as "strike," "luster," and "wear"), I encourage you to read this book. If you have been in the hobby for a while and want a refresher, I encourage you to read this book. Or if you've been buying slabs but want to understand more about grading (maybe venture into raw coins with confidence?) - give this book a read! I go through each facet of grading and explain them in depth in easy to understand terms. There is plenty of science involved – but there is also an art to the skill of grading. This book will help you piece together each component: surfaces, luster, strike, wear, contact marks, and eye appeal. Beginners and advanced students of numismatics alike will learn something from The Art and Science of Grading Coins. Link: The Art and Science of Grading Coins
