Restricted versatility as a coin grading
reference guide, basically limited to assessing condition of circulated
coins. To that end, Photograde depicts approximately 1000 black
and white coin photos, representing the obverse and reverse of every major
United States coin, in grades ranging from About Good (AG-3) to About
Uncirculated (AU-50). Very little treatment of Uncirculated or Proof
coins. When Photograde first hit the market in 1970, it
revolutionized the approach to coin grading. Nowadays, its practical
role is to serve as a complement to some of the newer coin grading guides.
Photograde is readily available from
Amazon at a reasonable cost.
"An essential reference for coin grading.
Features more than 1,000 coin photographs, many enlarged to show important
details to help you determine the grade of every series of U.S. coin in
conditions from About Good to Proof 70. Includes dictionary of grading
terms and more. 224 pages softbound."
Every major type of United States coin, beginning in 1793, the first year
of regular production, continuing through the 1950s, is represented in
Photograde.
Circulated conditions, ranging from About
Good (AG-3) to About Uncirculated (AU-50) are photographed for every coin
type, both obverse and reverse. State-of-the-art technology was
employed at the time the photos were taken, but this falls considerably
short of our capabilities today.
Helpful descriptions, specific to coin type,
accompany every photo pair.
Chapter 1 adeptly defines the concept of
coin grading, encompassing numerical grades and other important
considerations.
Chapters 2 and 3 relate the evolution of
coin grading and the advent of the commercial grading services.
A number of characteristics act as modifiers
to a coin's grade. Ruddy covers these aspects in moderate detail.
Coloration, toning, sharpness, and aesthetic appeal are just a few of the
topics raised in this regard.
No photos on MS Uncirculated coins.
That is to say, an important segment of today's coin market is omitted
from the core content of Photograde. There is scant treatment
of Proof coins. The usefulness of Photograde, then, is
relegated to the grading of coins in worn condition. The promo material
indicates the book helps determine grade up to Proof-70. Perhaps I'm
overlooking something, but as I browse through my copy, I can't find
anything of substance to help me grade anything beyond the 60 point level.
To close out the book, Ruddy dispenses
advice on the handling, storing, displaying, and retoning of coins.
There's enough information, albeit just barely, for the reader to become
somewhat familiar with these issues.
There are a few coin grading books in print
today that clearly outshine Photograde. There are quite a few USED
editions of Photograde available at Amazon, so if you can pick up one for
a few bucks, go for it That's what I did.
Photograde should NOT be your primary
reference to coin grading, but as a sidekick publication, used
intermittently within the boundaries of circulated coinage, it merits an
OK.
Table of Contents announces 13 chapters. The chapter titles are
descriptive, with good sub-headings to help understand the book's content.
The book's structure is designed well enough
to function as a quick reference guide.
The quality of the black and white photos is
only "so-so", when compared to our capabilities today. To be fair,
the images in Photograde are indeed helpful, and the accompanying
descriptions are instructive. That's why that after all these years,
copies of Photograde are still flying off the shelves.
Other than the coin photos, there are very
few other visual aids. This makes it more difficult to conceptualize
some of the advisory points (e.g. how to handle a coin), plus it's sorta
boring to read.
Remarkable reference on coin grading.
All crucial aspects of determining a coin's grade are explored, presented in
clear and concise language. Nearly half of the book is consumed
describing vital information for grading individual series of US coins.
Official Guide to Coin Grading and Counterfeit Detection also
provides tips on how to spot fakes. The overall rating is held back,
due to a large number of black and white photos that fail to adequately
spotlight the imperfections pointed out by the authors. Still, we
believe this is the most valuable book available today on the topic of coin
grading, well worth the NEW price of $14 at
Amazon.
"This is the second edition of an
indispensable reference work for all numismatists. Included in this
work are precise descriptions and digital images of grading standards used
by PCGS (Professional Coin Grading Service) graders. Each series of US
coins is described in detail. Also included is an all-new section on
grading the U.S. State Quarters. Other chapters provide the
fundamentals of counterfeit detection and side-by-side comparisons of
oft-faked coins. Tips for handling and storing your collection, and
recognizing "doctored" coins fill other chapters. 416 pages, softbound."
The Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) assembled the numismatic
grading experts required to produce Official Guide to Coin Grading and
Counterfeit Detection. It is indeed a marvelous work. In
1986, PCGS was one of the first (some will say THE first) to pioneer the
concept of a third party (i.e. neither a buyer or seller of coins) grading
service. That they remain in business today at the pinnacle of the
coin grading business bears strong witness to the credibility of
Official Guide to Coin Grading and Counterfeit Detection.
The primary objective of Official Guide
to Coin Grading and Counterfeit Detection is to publish a detailed
account of coin grading standards. The process of grading a coin and
the techniques and nuances employed in doing so are demystified.
Also, strong emphasis placed on spotting phony coins (counterfeits,
alterations, etc.).
The attributes of coin grading -- marks,
luster, strike, toning, and eye appeal -- and other factors are introduced
superficially in Chapter 1. Subsequent chapters go on to closely
examine these attributes. Every conceivable term associated with the
art (or science?) of coin grading is explained in clear, concise language.
The steps a coin passes through upon
entering the PCGS grading process are detailed. The universally
respected PCGS grading standards, based on the traditional 70 point scale,
are outlined. For instance, the differences between an MS-63 and
MS-64 coins are spelled out, in terms of marks, strike, luster, and eye
appeal. In one of many achievements, Official Guide to Coin
Grading and Counterfeit Detection lifts the fog on one point
differences separating Mint State coins.
Unfortunately, not many good photos
accompany the excellent written descriptions, and many of those that do
fail to demonstrate the conditions the PCGS authors are attempting to call
attention to. Good photos are central to the content of grading
manuals, and because Official Guide to Coin Grading and Counterfeit
Detection stumbles somewhat here, we can't award a Five-Star Content
rating to this otherwise deserving reference. For instance, the
photos on page 12, presented to illustrate the result of toning, do very
little to convey the message The photos accompanying the grading
standard descriptions (especially the Mint State stuff) are only
marginally helpful.
Very fine section describing the various
elements entering into a coin's grade, and how these elements arrive at a
composite score. The interrelationship of these factors are
complicated, but Official Guide to Coin Grading and Counterfeit
Detection does a superb job dissecting each component, evaluating
their impact on overall grade. Very comprehensive, but not tedious
or boring.
The heartbeat of the book is the grading
guidelines for individual coin series, from half cents through double
eagles and commemoratives. This includes an all-new section on the
50 state quarter program. The framework for the guidelines are
expressed in terms of wear characteristics for circulated coins, and for
Mint State examples, the familiar marks, luster, strike, and eye appeal
come into play. Things to be on the watch for while grading Proofs
are likewise presented. This portion of the book is comprised of 200
pages (about 48% of the entire book).
Every coin type and metallic composition
require unique approaches to grading, and Official Guide to Coin
Grading and Counterfeit Detection does the best job I've ever seen to
describe all these crucial grade determinants. Many years of
valuable grading experience are condensed into the pages of this book.
The book is topped off by an 86 page section
instructing readers on how to recognize counterfeits and alterations.
All the old tricks are laid bare, exposed for all to see through magnified
photos of genuine and fake coins. Here, the photos achieve their
intended effect. Little escapes the gaze of PCGS
experts.
Since the first edition of Official Guide
to Coin Grading and Counterfeit Detection was published in 1997, the
book has risen to become one of the most consulted numismatic references
in the world (to wit, the relatively high ranking on Amazon). The
second edition, published in 2004, is basically a compact retooling effort
of the first, to facilitate ease of transportation (as in coin shows).
After sifting through the pages of the ANA's
copy of Official Guide to Coin Grading and Counterfeit Detection, I
decided this is one publication worthy of inclusion in my personal
numismatic library. The book's promoters boast that if a coin
collector can afford to purchase only one numismatic publication, then
this should be it. Given the criticality of grading and the high
value of Official Guide to Coin Grading and Counterfeit Detection,
this claim has some validity.
The
Table of Contents specifies the book's contents concisely and effectively.
Descriptive chapter titles with sub headings allow the reader to spend
only a minute or two to reasonably comprehend the breadth of the material.
The Index is equally useful.
Two print columns per page. Topics
easily demarcated by larger, bold headings. You won't get cross-eyed
when you dive into this book.
A 16 page center section, printed on glossy
coated paper stock, displays excellent color photos. Some of the
photos were taken under high magnification, utilizing superimposed arrows
to highlight described imperfections. These are highly conducive to
understanding the techniques of coin grading experts. Official
Guide to Coin Grading and Counterfeit Detection would have earned a
Five-Star SPR rating had more photos of this quality been included.
Overall the Style, Presentation, and
Readability of Official Guide to Coin Grading and Counterfeit Detection
rate very high. It is a superbly crafted reference.
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