Technical grading of coins

Veteran collectors observe that U.S. coin grading standards have tightened or loosened over time.

Which observation is correct depends on what type of grading you’re talking about: “technical grading” or “market grading.”

A beginning collector might feel that whole books devoted to points about grading every U.S. coin series, in addition to the basic general terms such as Good or Very Fine, should indicate a well defined, fixed system, in which “standards” are just that because they are immutable.

Yes, veterans agree, there is a divide between “technical grading” and “market grading” and a use of other terms that are less defined.

Read the full article.