| When grading silver coins in your collection, there | | | | that AU-59 rated silver coins will look better than |
| are several things to understand about grading. | | | | MS-60 or basal condition silver coins that are |
| The main coin grading organizations determine the | | | | uncirculated. When you are buying proof coins, or |
| value and collectability of the coins you collect and | | | | any kind of coins, you want your collection to |
| your collection, overall. The Sheldon Scale is a | | | | contain the highest graded specimens in each of |
| generally accepted numerical grading system that | | | | these three categories. |
| the main grading organizations use to grade coins. | | | | In other words, you first need to determine |
| The scale ranges from the poorest rating of 1, | | | | whether your silver coins or the other coins in |
| (P1) to the perfect mint state of 70, (MS-70). This | | | | your collection are considered "circulated", "almost |
| range includes the barely identifiable date and | | | | uncirculated" or "mint-state uncirculated". From |
| mintmark on a 1 rating, to the mint-state perfect, | | | | there, the detailing and perfection is what affects |
| flawless, uncirculated rating of 70. | | | | the numerical rating and it is judged at 8X |
| Most of the highly desirable collector coins will | | | | magnification, so they need to be without scuffs |
| have a rating of MS-69 or MS-70, which are | | | | or any kinds of contact marks from coin counters |
| uncirculated specimens that appear perfect at 8X | | | | or other damages. |
| magnification. The numerical portion of the | | | | Using the Sheldon Scale, The ANA (American |
| Sheldon scale is preceded with lettering | | | | Numismatics Association) Grading Standards are |
| abbreviations that will indicate P for poor, FR for | | | | more detailed and they have a book that contains |
| fair, G for good, F for fine, VF for very fine, EF | | | | the grading of every type of coin. The NGC or |
| for extremely fine, AU for almost uncirculated, to | | | | Numismatic Guaranty Corporation offers a grading |
| MS for Mint State, which means uncirculated and | | | | process that includes a minimum of three |
| almost perfect. The one thing you have to | | | | professional coin grading experts examining each |
| understand about coin collecting is that there are | | | | coin in the database to assign a grade, using the |
| some situations where understanding the | | | | Sheldon scale. The PCGS or the Professional |
| difference between heavily circulated, almost | | | | Numismatists Guide is another grading service that |
| uncirculated and uncirculated can be misleading. | | | | has been rated a superior grading service and the |
| Each of the grading categories go from the worst | | | | ICG or Independent Coin Graders receive high |
| appearing to the best appearing coins and then | | | | marks on reliable grading of collector coins. |
| start over again. | | | | Before you purchase silver coins or start your |
| For example, uncirculated silver coins that are at | | | | collection, you need to understand the grading |
| the bottom level of the mint state category | | | | process to get the most valuable and most |
| might be ugly in comparison to the top numerical | | | | sought-after collector coins, whether they are |
| rating of an uncirculated or AU coin. Since the AU | | | | silver, gold, or the older, rarer coins for |
| coins run from 50 to 59, numerically, it is possible | | | | investment purposes. |