| Coin grading is the term used when a coin is sent | | | | small marks or scratches from normal wear will |
| to a specialist to determine the condition of a coin. | | | | exist. |
| Many times coin collectors have valuable coins | | | | Next in the coin grading scale is VF or Very Fine. |
| graded as a means of calculating their value and it | | | | One step down from EF, VF coins will show wear |
| helps them in the resale of a coin because many | | | | on the very fine details of the coin like feathers |
| serious collectors only buy professionally graded | | | | on an eagle or or hair on an individual on the coin. |
| coins. | | | | Down the scale is F, which stands for Fine. This |
| Currently there are three different organizations | | | | grade would indicate moderate to even heavy |
| that grade coins professionally and are accepted | | | | wear, yet the design elements are still in tact. |
| to be very reputable at what they do. The first | | | | VG or Very Good indicates a coin that is well |
| organization is called the Numismatic Guaranty | | | | worn, like a coin that has been in circulation for |
| Corporation or NGC for short and the other is | | | | quite some time. The design is still very visible, but |
| called Professional Coin Grading Service or PCGS. | | | | the fine details have mostly worn off. G refers to |
| The third is called ACCGS or American Coin Club | | | | Good, which is a coin that is heavily worn and the |
| Grading Service. All three of these organizations | | | | design is actually starting wear off in spots. |
| are respected as being the very best at | | | | Almost Good, or AG is the next down in the list |
| determining a coins condition based on a number | | | | and this represents a coin where the date is |
| of criteria. | | | | starting to wear off and this coin has been well |
| Between these 3 organization there exists a | | | | used for many years. It's possible that only parts |
| grading system which is generally accepted to be | | | | of any numbers on the coin are visible. |
| quite accurate. The first category for grading is | | | | Fair is the last real category in coin grading. This |
| called Mint State referred to as "MS". This would | | | | refers to a coin that has an incredible amount of |
| mean that the coin was not sent into circulation | | | | wear and may even be damaged. Coins that are |
| and is absolutely perfect. The grade of MS-70 is | | | | bent, have serious scratches or even notches or |
| perfect and grades like MS-60 or MS-65 mean | | | | holes in them would fit into this category. These |
| nearly perfect. | | | | coins can be purchased for very low prices and |
| The next category is "AU" or Almost Uncirculated. | | | | may make a good starting point for younger |
| This grade also has a number scale attached to it | | | | people just starting out in collecting coins. |
| starting at AU-50. After AU is XF or EF, which | | | | There is one last grade of coin, but this is for the |
| stand for Extremely fine with number scales | | | | absolute worst coin specimens. These coins are in |
| attached as well to indicate slight variations. This | | | | such bad shape that they will only sell for the |
| grade would be used for a coin where all the | | | | face value of the coin itself, with no collectible |
| various parts of the coin are perfectly visible, but | | | | value. |