No subject is more important to the rare-coin collector or investor than grading. Learning to grade the right way can save you hundreds or thousands of dollars. In this second edition of his award-winning book, Q. David Bowers has written a unique set of step-by-step grading instructions for every U.S. coin, from half cents to double eagles. He explains the evolution of grading standards, how to "read" a coin's surfaces, expert techniques, smart buying tips, aspects of today's marketplace, and more. This detailed, insightful text is combined with hundreds of high-resolution color photographs to help you grade your entire coin collection. Book jacket.