If you're interested in becoming a serious coin collector, you need to know how to evaluate coin grades. First and foremost, you must identify a few critical points. The country of origin, the date, and the mint mark are all indicators which you should scrutinize. For some coins--particularly those minted in foreign countries or long ago--it may be difficult to identify the denomination precisely. You need to figure out whether any coins in your collection were altered or counterfeited in some way. Given the value of exceptionally rare coins, it's not surprising that unscrupulous chemists have occasionally applied their craft to counterfeit coins. Techniques to pick out the real deal include identifying telltale scratches on the obverse and reverse sides of coins, working with an expert to verify certain historical markings, and actually doing chemical analyses. It helps to specialize. You might choose only to collect coins of a certain grade. Perhaps you want to collect coins from around the world and get tokens from as many countries as possible. Perhaps you only want to collect a certain denomination of coin, such as the half-dollar or 25 cent piece. The more parameters you give yourself, the easier it will be to get creative within those parameters. Attending coin auctions is a good way to educate yourself. Mail-in coin dealers don't have to pay for overhead and so may be able to assist you with better pricing. Before you plunk money down for a rare coin or sell such a coin at auction, make sure to have it evaluated by an expert, so you don't sell yourself short. | 
