Coin grading

A coin's grade is generally determined by six criteria: strike, preservation, luster, color, attractiveness, and occasionally the country/state in which it was minted.

There are generally five main components which determine a coin's grade: strike, surface preservation, luster, coloration and eye appeal.

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 (BU).

Rim damage, nicks, polishing, cleaning, scratches and other forms of wear are considered factors in grading a coin.

Sheldon's 1 to 70 grading scale[clarify], included in his book Penny Whimsy, was originally devised for U.S. large cents but it is now applied to all series.

[10] For tiered fees, certification services grade, authenticate, attribute, and encapsulate coins in clear, plastic holders.

Depending on the company, various descriptors may be added, such as Full Bands for Mercury dimes, Full Bell Lines (FBL) for Franklin Half Dollars, or Deep Mirror Prooflike (DMPL) for Morgan dollars, and the coin's die variety may be noted.

[12][13] In 2007, the Professional Numismatists Guild (PNG), a US association of rare coin dealers, released the results of a survey of major coin dealers who gave their professional opinions about 11 certification services.

[14][3][4] Counterfeit NGC and PCGS holders have been reported, but significant measures have been taken by both services to remedy the problem, such as NGC's use of photographic verification for every coin certified and both services' employment of serial number verification and anti-counterfeiting features in their holders.