What is Coin Grading?

Coin grading is the process of evaluating a coin’s condition to determine its market value and overall collectibility. A higher-grade coin often commands a higher price. Grading helps collectors and dealers communicate a coin’s quality clearly and consistently.

To see how your coin compares, try the PCGS Photograde™ tool. It’s free to use and offers photo comparisons for almost every U.S. coin type.

Raw vs. Slabbed Coins

  • Raw coins are loose, ungraded coins stored in flips, tubes, or albums. Their grade is estimated by the owner or dealer and can vary.
  • Slabbed coins are professionally graded and sealed in tamper-proof holders by third-party services like PCGS or NGC. These offer a higher level of trust, especially for valuable or rare coins.

PCGS & NGC

The two most trusted grading services in the U.S. are:

  • PCGS (Professional Coin Grading Service) – Known for strict standards, strong resale value, and secure slabs.
  • NGC (Numismatic Guaranty Company) – Offers consistent grading, special labels, and is widely accepted.

Both use the Sheldon Scale and offer coin verification through online databases.

Understanding the Sheldon Scale

The Sheldon Scale ranges from 1 to 70, with 70 being perfect. The higher the number, the better the condition. Grading includes factors like luster, strike, surface preservation, and eye appeal.

Breakdown by Grade

Mint State (MS) / Proof (PF)

  • MS/PF-70 – Perfect coin, no visible flaws under magnification.
  • MS/PF-65 – Strong eye appeal with minor imperfections.
  • MS/PF-60 – No wear but noticeable marks or dull luster.

About Uncirculated (AU)

  • AU-55 / AU-50 – Tiny wear on highest points, full details remain.

Extremely Fine (EF/XF)

  • EF-45 / EF-40 – Light wear, all major features visible.

Very Fine (VF)

  • VF-30 / VF-20 – Moderate wear; details clear but flattened.

Fine to Good

  • F-12 – Heavy wear but design is mostly intact.
  • VG-8 – Major details are worn but still identifiable.
  • G-4 – Very worn; outline of design remains.
  • AG-3 – Barely identifiable; rims worn into fields.

Ungradable Coins

Some coins are “details graded” or not graded at all due to:

  • Cleaning or harsh damage
  • Environmental corrosion
  • Holes, graffiti, or bent surfaces

These coins can still have value, especially if rare, but they are not assigned a Sheldon number.

Tips on Grading & Eye Appeal

Use natural light or a coin lamp for inspecting details.

Compare your coins to graded examples online.

Be cautious with coins labeled “gem” or “choice” by sellers — they’re subjective terms.

A clean, attractive coin with good luster can sometimes be worth more than a technically higher-graded coin with poor eye appeal.

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