Here are the grades of the coinology learning curve
Grade 1 — You learn to SEE the COIN. Actually SEE the COIN. Not a similar coin, not more or less the coin, not sort of the coin. You learn to actually SEE … you get the idea.
Grade 2 — Here you learn the difference between bright and dark.
Grade 3 — In this grade, you learn the difference between a bright, shiny coin and a GEM grade coin.
Grade 4 — You learn how to magically “swipe”, or “deal out” a search “hand”, much as a roulette dealer would handle chips.
Grade 5 — You learn how to thoroughly search a “hand”.
Grade 6 — You learn which coins it is safe to discard into the “return to circulation” box.
Grade 7 — In this grade, you learn what to look for in dark coins before discarding them.
Grade 8 — Now you need to know which coins are worth looking at, meaning they have a high degree of probability of sporting a doubled-die, re-punched mintmark, doubled mint-mark or other peculiarity which makes them more collectible.
Grade 9 — Here you will learn to “read” a coin’s value before you even “search” it with a loupe.
Grade 10 — In this grade, you learn how to use the 10x jeweler’s loupe to “search” a coin, meaning to inspect it closely to see any micro-details such as die-doubling or other errors.
Grade 11 — At this level, you are ready to learn the process of discernment, in which you make yourself able to see ahead of time what a coin will turn out to be, whether heads or tails up.
Grade 12 — This is the grade where you learn how to move coins around with verve and skill, to manipulate individual coins and piles of coins.
Grade 13 — At this grade, you’ll need to acquire the skills to properly and correctly identify a coin in such a way that others can understand what you’ve indicated. You learn the correct placements of all entries on a flip.
Grade 14 — High-Grade Coin Handling is the specialized concentration of this level of learning. You acquire the skills to “discover” a high-grade coin and guide it without further harm into a receiving system, whether flip, slab or capsule.
Grade 15 — This is the grade where you start learning how to prepare your coins for market, both person-to-person and on eBay, or just on your own website, if you prefer, as I do on mine. To see how I do it, click here.
Grade 16 — How to use eBay to “read” the current coin market.
Grade 17 — How to slant your coin sales to the current market demand. This involves back-story and storyline, sexiness and eye-appeal issues.
Grade 18 — Coins & History. A basic course in coin history and historical coinage.
Grade 19 — American Coin History & Collection.
Grade 20 — Early American Coin History & Collection.
Grade 21 — Ancient Historical Coins 101, an introduction to ancient coinage.
Grade 22 — Ancient Roman Coinage, Republic, Empire and Late Empire.
Grade 23 — Ancient Jewish Coinage, concentrating on Hasmonean & Herodian.
Grade 24 — Ancient Greek Coinage, primarily high-grade silver and some bronze.
Grade 25 — Medieval & Crusader & Danubian Celtic coinage.
Grade 26 — Assessment.
Grade 27 — Advanced Zen Practices, Past Lives Memory Recovery Through Coinology, & Post-Grad Academy Level Courses for professional coinology coaches.
Keep in mind that all along the way, you’ll be running special Orbs to improve your odds and make the experience much more open and Zen.