PCGS Guide to Grading and Counterfeit Detection by Scott Travers and John Danreuther
There
are, in my opinion, 4 books so essential to collectors and experts
alike that they provide the cornerstones of coin collecting knowledge.
These would be: A Guidebook of United States Coins, the "Red Book",
Photograde, Cherrypickers' Guide to Rare Die Varieties of United States
Coins, and The PCGS Guide to Grading and Counterfeit Detection.
Walk
in to any operating coin shop in America and you will find 3 if not all
4 of these books on owner's desk and they will be heavily used.
Very
seldom is a reference book written that impacts the hobby as much as
these 4 have but Scott Travers' and John Danreuther' "PCGS Guide to
Grading and Counterfeit Detection" is without question a reference
worthy of inclusion in this rare breed.
The
PCGS Guide lays out the whys, whats and hows of United States coinage
in extraordinary detail. It begins by defining what a coin is, how to
handle and store them. Then the book switches gears and goes from
interesting to absolutely fascinating.
In
order to learn to grade coins, one must first understand the language
of grading. What each term means within the context of grading so that
an accurate grade can be assessed. So a complete coverage of terminology
begins first.
PCGS
has been the leading TPGer for many years. Their standards are some of
the most respected in the hobby. Many of the top dollar coins have been
graded by PCGS because of the general respect for their opinions.
With
this book you can learn PCGS' grading standards from them. It's like
taking a course in grading, but in the form of a book that you can
re-reference over and over again.
The
material covers copper coins, nickel coins, silver and gold. This book
is like a teacher in that it not only describes the standards in detail,
but shows photographs of the grades for some of the most popular series
in US coinage including classic commemorative Half Dollars.
Problem
coins are also discussed. There are photo examples of "thumbed" Morgan
Dollars, different types of toning including artificial toning, what
hairlines look like on proof coins, alterations and other coin doctoring
methods. The guide also covers the proper colors for grading red and
red brown copper coins,
Now
if this were all that this book had to offer, then I would say it is
worth twice it's price, but this is really only half of the story.
The
counterfeit detection section of the book is absolutely invaluable. If
you buy coins, this book will likely pay for itself in the mistakes it
saves you from making.
The
PCGS Guide starts by explaining the different types of counterfeits:
cast, spark-erosion, electrotypes, transfer dies, and modern forgeries
and alterations. Side by side photographs illustrate the counterfeit and
the real thing. You can finally see what the experts have learned to
look for. The actual diagnostics of not only the genuine articles, but
what the tell tale signs of the fakes are.
This
is an education previously only available to those who had someone to
teach them about coins. Someone who was willing to show you things hour
after hour and coin after coin and better yet, be accurate with
everything that they say. A mentor that up until now so few of us have
been lucky enough to find.
An
education in United States coins and their grading would be an apt
description, and this book is a 400 level college course. Easy to
understand and clear in it's language, The PCGS Guide to Grading and
Counterfeit Detection is not only a must have reference but an all
around good read. I find myself oftentimes just reading through it
because the information is interesting.
If
you buy coins, this book will pay for itself over the course of your
purchases. An investment that pays dividends for years to come.
Often
times I discourage people from investing in coins. Invest in books, I
always say. This book is an investment in your coins that I can heartily
endorse.