Grading Coins
Here at Numister we follow the 70 point scaled created by Dr. William Sheldon, however we are much stricter in our policies for grading coins than most coin grading services. On this scale, 70 is a perfect coin and 0 means the coin is barely recognizable.
- Mint State or Uncirculated Coins
- Mint State (MS) ranges from MS-60 to MS-70. Mint State coins have not been in circulation. An MS-70 coin is absolutely flawless with no tone, bag marks or misaligned die.
- About Uncirculated Coins
- About Uncirculated (AU) ranges from AU-50 to AU-59. About Uncirculated coins have very little wear on the high points of the coin and still retain their mint luster.
- Extremely Fine Coins
- Extremely Fine (XF or EF) ranges from XF-40 to XF-49. Extremely Fine coins have easily visible, but not excessive, wear and still retain some of the mint luster.
- Good Very Fine Coins
- Very Fine (VF) ranges from VF-30 to VF-39. Good Very Fine coins have light wear and virtually all of the details are still sharp.
- Very Fine Coins
- Very Fine (VF) ranges from VF-20 to VF-29. Very Fine coins have average wear and still retain a good deal of the sharpness from minting.
- Fine Coins
- Fine (F) ranges from F-10 to F-19. You can make out the date and mint mark on a Fine coin, as well as see the rim marks. The design may be very worn though.
- Very Good Coins
- Very Good ranges from VG-8 to VG-9. You should be able to decifer the date and mint mark and the rim of the coin should be visible.
- Good Coins
- Good ranges from G-4 to G-9. You should be able to decifer the date and mint mark and the rim of the coin should be visible.
- About Good Coins
- About Good coins are very worn coins, possibly smooth. You should still be able make out the date. About Good coins are graded as AG-3
- Fair Coins
- Fair coins are usually badly damaged, but you can tell it is a coin and what type of coin it is. These coins are graded F-2
- Poor Coins
- Poor coins are barely recognizable as a coin and are graded P-1
