close window

A range of grades are used to describe the condition of coins. Valuation of a coin is impossible without a sound knowledge of the grading of coins. For this there is no real substitute for experience. Since the majority of the coins we offer are from nations around the globe, we felt it prudent to provide, in addition to the grading scale used in the United States, the grading methods of a nation other than the U. S. The following is a guide to the United Kingdom grading scheme used for the U.K. and some other nation's coins. Please note that this differs in many respects from US grading systems. For the U. S. Grading Scale click here

Poor: Inscriptions worn off, date illegible, only outline of design visible. Such coins are generally of no value to a collector.
Fair: Date and denomination legible, type recognisable. Very little detail visible.
Good (G): (sometimes Mediocre) Inscriptions and date considerably worn but legible.
Very Good (VG): Considerable wear over the whole coin, and high spots worn through. Coins in this or the previous grades are really only collectable if extremely rare.
Fine (F): Worn over whole area, but only the highest spots are worn completely through.
Very Fine (VF): Detail clear, but obvious evidence of limited circulation. High spots worn but detail remains. Traces of mint lustre may linger amongst the letters of the inscription.
Extremely Fine (EF): Slight wear on high spots on close inspection, and all other detail clear and sharp. Much mint lustre may remain.
Uncirculated (Unc): No wear, although it is possible for the design not to be fully struck up in the minting process. There may be bag abrasions. Older coins may be tarnished or toned.
Brilliant Uncirculated (BU): Usually implies full mint lustre, in other words no toning or tarnish.
Proof: Not a condition, but the coin has been struck using specially prepared dies and polished blanks, and the minting process has been carried out usually twice with extra pressure to ensure the die is filled. Normally the fields are highly polished, with the design matte, however matte proofs where the whole coin is matte are known (for example all the 1902 GB proofs), and sometimes even the design is polished. A characteristic of proof coins is that they have very sharp edges because of the high pressures used to ensure that the metal flows into all details of the design.

Many coins fall in between grades, so terms such as 'nearly VF', 'good VF', 'gem BU' are encountered.


U.S.Coin Grading Method
PO-1 Identifiable date and type
FR-2 Mostly worn, though some detail is visible
AG Worn rims but most lettering is readable though worn
G Slightly worn to complete rims, flat detail, peripheral lettering
VG Design worn with slight detail
F Some deeply recessed areas with detail, all lettering sharp
VF Definition of detail, all lettering full and sharp with high points flat
EF Detail is complete with some to most high points slightly flat
AU-50 Full detail with friction over most of the surface, slight flatness on high points
AU-58 Full detail with only slight friction on the high points
MS/PR-60 No wear. May have many heavy marks/hairlines, strike may not be full
MS/PR-61 No wear. Multiple heavy marks/hairlines, strike may not be full
MS/PR-62 No wear. Slightly less marks/hairlines, strike may not be full
MS/PR-63 Moderate number/size marks/hairlines, strike may not be full
MS/PR-64 Few marks/hairlines or a couple of severe ones, strike should be average or above
MS/PR-65 Minor marks/hairlines though none in focal areas, above average strike
MS/PR-66 Few minor marks/hairlines not in focal areas, good strike
MS/PR-67 Virtually as struck with minor imperfections, very well struck
MS/PR-68 Virtually as struck with slight imperfections, slightest weakness of strike allowed
MS/PR-69 Virtually as struck with minuscule imperfections, near full strike necessary
MS/PR-70 As struck, with full strike
GV Government issue price

In addition to the scale presented above, additional suffixes are described below and added to some grades in certain series (particularly the Morgan Silver Dollar) to expand on the numerical grade.

Reverse 2: Parallel top arrow feather, concave breast
Reverse 3: Slanted top arrow feather, convex breast
Reverse 4: Double mint mark 1878 Doubled tail feathers
1880 CC, 80 over 79
1880 CC, 8 over high 7
1880 CC, 8 over low 7

For a listing of VAM variations we have used, click the following Top 100 List.