Coin grading is the standardized process of evaluating a coin’s condition and assigning it a numerical or descriptive grade based on the Sheldon Coin Grading Scale. This scale, ranging from 1 to 70, provides a common language for collectors, investors, and dealers to assess a coin’s quality and determine its value.
Here’s a breakdown of common coin grading terms and their meanings:
These grades describe coins that have been in circulation and show various degrees of wear.
- PO (Poor – 1): Barely identifiable; heavily worn with minimal details visible.
- FR (Fair – 2): Heavily worn, but the date and type are barely discernible.
- AG (About Good – 3): Heavily worn, but date and lettering are readable.
- G (Good – 4, 6): Heavily worn with the design visible but faint in areas.
- VG (Very Good – 8, 10): Very worn, but all major design elements are evident.
- F (Fine – 12, 15): Moderate to considerable even wear, but the entire design is bold.
- VF (Very Fine – 20 to 35): Moderately worn, with some finer details persisting.
- EF or XF (Extremely Fine – 40, 45): Light wear at the highest points; details are sharp, and traces of mint luster may show.
- AU (About Uncirculated – 50 to 58): Slight traces of wear on the highest points; at least half of the original mint luster remains.
These coins show no signs of wear from circulation and are graded based on factors like luster, strike quality, surface preservation, and eye appeal.
- MS (Mint State – 60 to 70): Coins struck for circulation that have never been used publicly and retain their original luster and design detail. Grades within this range (MS-60 to MS-70) reflect varying degrees of contact marks, luster, and strike quality, with MS-70 representing a “perfect coin” with no imperfections visible under 5x magnification.
These coins are struck in a special format for collectors.
- PR or PF (Proof – 60 to 70): Indicates a proof coin with grades mirrored to those of Uncirculated grades, but the coin was not made for circulation.
- Impaired Proof: Proof coins that show signs of circulation or mishandling.
- SP (Specimen): Describes a coin that is superior to normal currency issues but falls short of the definition for actual Proofs.
- Plus Grades (+): Denote a superior specimen within the XF45 to MS68 grade levels.
- Details Grades (e.g., VF Details, UNC Details): Assigned to genuine coins with surface problems that prevent a numeric grade.
Important Note: Coin grading can be subjective, and even experts may disagree on the grade of a given coin. Reputable third-party grading services like PCGS and NGC provide more objective and consistent grading assessments.
What do the letters mean in coin grading?
This changed to the letter grading system beginning with the lowest grade – Basal State (also Poor (PO)), then continuing Fair (Fr), About or Almost Good (AG), Good (G), Very Good (VG), Fine (F), Very Fine (VF), Extremely Fine (EF), Almost or About Uncirculated (AU), Uncirculated (Unc) and up to Brilliant Uncirculated …
Is xf better than au?
Extremely Fine (XF/EF-40, 45): Light wear, mostly on the highest points. Some of the original lustre is visible. About/Almost Uncirculated (AU-50, 53, 55, 58): Signs of wear on less than 50% of the design, and at least 50% of the original lustre.