| It is the practice of assessing a coin and assigning | | | | experience. As I said the grading is not |
| it a particular grade. As a collector of coins, you | | | | standardized, so there is no common standard |
| should never entirely trust coin grading services | | | | that can be used to grade coins. What there are |
| otherwise you could get thoroughly disappointed. | | | | though are some accepted methods of grading, |
| Not all coin grading services are equal. They are | | | | and this depends on some standards. This also |
| not standardized, so you will find that there are | | | | means that the grade you assign to a coin |
| some grading services that are inferior to others. | | | | depends on the scale used. |
| There are some top coin grader out there, but | | | | After a coin is graded, it carries the value |
| they are far and between and so aren't accessible | | | | assigned to that grade and different coins can |
| to everyone who might want to solicit their | | | | fetch different prices even if they are in the |
| services. | | | | same grade. Coin grading takes into account |
| If you are willing and patient enough, you could | | | | different factors such as luster, scratches, |
| teach yourself how to grade coins. This isn't hard | | | | abrasions, even the wear and tear it has |
| if you have the time to dedicate and the will to | | | | undergone. The unfortunate thing is you can find |
| learn. Some people will learn from beginning to | | | | that your coin has been graded too low or too |
| end, but you will find those people who will learn | | | | high, because different people will interpret |
| the basics in the beginning, enough for them to | | | | differently. So you can end up paying too much |
| get by, and then learn the rest through | | | | or getting too little for it when you sell it. |