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Grading coins has evolved over
the years to join the Adjectival grades with the Sheldon 70-point
coin grading scale. The Sheldon Scale 70-point system has become
the standard coin grading system for modern coins. We are not
coin grading experts and use the simpler American Numismatic
Association grading standards that recognizes 11 grades for circulated
coins.
Circulated
Coins
For circulated coins
the grade is primarily an indication of how much wear has occurred
and generally does not take into account the presence or absence
of dings, scratches, toning, dirt and other foreign substances
(though such information may also be noted).
AU-58 (Choice
About Uncirculated) -
very choice about uncirculated: just traces of wear on a coin
with nearly full luster and no major detracting contact marks
AU-55 (Good
About Uncirculated) -
small traces of wear visible on the highest points
AU-50 (About
Uncirculated) - very
light wear on the highest points; still has at least half of
the original mint luster
XF-45 (Choice
Extremely Fine) - all
design details are sharp; some mint luster remains, though perhaps
only in "protected areas"
EF-40 (Extremely
Fine) - slightly more
wear than a "45"; traces of mint luster may show
EF-30 (Good
Very Fine) - light even
wear on high points, all lettering and design details are sharp
VF-20 (Very
Fine) - most details
are still well defined; high points are smooth
F-12 (Fine) - major elements are
still clear but details are worn away
VG-8 (Very
Good) - major design
elements, letters and numerals are worn but clear, but the whole
coin is still significantly worn.
G-4 (Good) - major design elements
are outlined but details are gone; for some series the date may
not be sharp and the rim may not be complete, the coin overall
is heavily worn.
AG-3 (About
Good) - heavily worn;
date may be barely discernable, although some spots may be worn
out.
Fair-2 or
FR-2 (Fair) - Type and
date are barely discernable, but otherwise the coin is damaged
or extremely worn with major portions completely smooth.
P-1 (poor) - filler or cull - barely recognizable,
most major portions completely smooth
Uncirculated
Coins
Coins with no wear
at all are referred to as uncirculated or in mint state (MS).
Grades from MS-60 to MS-70 in one point increments are used for
mint state coins. Criteria include luster; the number, size and
location of contact marks; the number, size and location of any
hairlines, and the quality of the strike and overall eye appeal.
MS-70 (Mint
state perfect uncirculated) - is as perfect as a coin gets, considered "perfect uncirculated".
All coins MS-60 and higher are Mint State coins. It is worth
noting that Proof is not a grade, but a type of coin.
MS/BU (Mint
State/Brilliant Uncirculated) -
some coins have a BU added to the uncirculated MS noting their
brilliant shiny and luster. This designation does not have a
numeric rating as it can be anywhere between MS-65-MS-70.
MS-60 (Mint
State Basal) - coins
are uncirculated but typically have bag marks, scratches and
dings from being produced and shipped in large mints bags.
 Some
Examples of Graded Coins - Morgan Silver Dollar
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