The Official Guide to Coin Grading and Counterfeit Detection Edition #2 (Official Guide to Coin Grading and Counterfeit Detection)

Rating:
Summary: 4.7 Stars for this must have book.
Review: Please note: This book was released only last month so I'm not sure how relevant the reviews below are. I bought this at ANA's unveiling and must say that I believe that if you are going to buy one and only one book on US coins, this is the one that you must buy. It is great because it is chockablock full of utterly usable and vital information on all of the things that you are interested in when it comes to grading coins and indeed in determining whether you are dealing with true coin of the realm or a counterfeit. What makes this particular edition particularly cogent is its section on the State Quarters with photos to help with grading states MS-60 and above. This book also has an excellent section on Commemoratives which is a big help. Not all of the photographic plates are in color which is a shame because the black and whites are of absolutely no use when used to demonstrate the difference between an MS-67, and MS-66 and an MS-65: the photos are just not intense enough for one to really be able to see the flaws the editors are attempting to point out. There are color pictures which are a great help in making this comparison but they are reserved, predictably, for high end gold coins. My major beef with this and indeed all coin books to date is that the lowly, unloved Jefferson Nickel gets short shrift. Yep, barely two pages of commentary and no really great photographic grading aids. This is an especially jarring ommission in light of the newly released so-called Peace Nickel which, ironically, was launched at the same time as this book. Anyway, but for the grainy black and whites and the unforgivable nickel ommission, this book rates Five Stars. Buy it in any event.

Rating:
Summary: 4.7 Stars for this must have book.
Review: Please note: This book was released only last month so I'm not sure how relevant the reviews below are. I bought this at ANA's unveiling and must say that I believe that if you are going to buy one and only one book on US coins, this is the one that you must buy. It is great because it is chockablock full of utterly usable and vital information on all of the things that you are interested in when it comes to grading coins and indeed in determining whether you are dealing with true coin of the realm or a counterfeit. What makes this particular edition particularly cogent is its section on the State Quarters with photos to help with grading states MS-60 and above. This book also has an excellent section on Commemoratives which is a big help. Not all of the photographic plates are in color which is a shame because the black and whites are of absolutely no use when used to demonstrate the difference between an MS-67, and MS-66 and an MS-65: the photos are just not intense enough for one to really be able to see the flaws the editors are attempting to point out. There are color pictures which are a great help in making this comparison but they are reserved, predictably, for high end gold coins. My major beef with this and indeed all coin books to date is that the lowly, unloved Jefferson Nickel gets short shrift. Yep, barely two pages of commentary and no really great photographic grading aids. This is an especially jarring ommission in light of the newly released so-called Peace Nickel which, ironically, was launched at the same time as this book. Anyway, but for the grainy black and whites and the unforgivable nickel ommission, this book rates Five Stars. Buy it in any event.

Rating:
Summary: Easy to understand
Review: This book gives an excellent overview of the coin grading and the attempts to artificially alter coins to enhance their apparent value. The book is organized in essay format, with good flow between chapters. Numerous diagrams make this an easy read. As might be expected in a general work, some aspects of the work deserve a more complete treatment than they receive here. This is a good read, and a worthwhile introduction. I am not a "coin person", but I found this quite diverting.

Rating:
Summary: Easy to understand
Review: This book gives an excellent overview of the coin grading and the attempts to artificially alter coins to enhance their apparent value. The book is organized in essay format, with good flow between chapters. Numerous diagrams make this an easy read. As might be expected in a general work, some aspects of the work deserve a more complete treatment than they receive here. This is a good read, and a worthwhile introduction. I am not a "coin person", but I found this quite diverting.

Rating:
Summary: This is a wonderful informational book!! :)
Review: This is a real good book I would recommend for anyone. There is a whole lot in this book to explore. Sometimes I almost think it is WAY TOOOOO BIG!!! But it isa wonderful book, and it is at a WONDERFUL price here!! Pick it up! It is a good book!