To determine the value of a coin, it must be graded. Whether that's done by a professional coin grading service or an experienced coin dealer, there is a set of standards to use. The American Numismatic Association ( ANA ) publishes these standards in The Official American Numismatic Association Grading Standards For United States Coins. You can purchase this book and it will help you grade your own coins, and make a preliminary coin appraisal.
Some of the general grading information from the ANA standards are listed below. For coin-specific grading standards you can refer to the ANA book, or use the links on the right to see examples of grading for selected US coins. If you have further questions about grading coins you want to sell, or for a free coin appraisal, please call one of our coin buyers toll-free at 888 380-6468.
You can get faster coin appraisal by sending us your coins. Please see the information on how to sell your coins.
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Coin Grading – Coin Appraisal
Coin grading is a shorthand way to describe the state of preservation of a coin;i.e., it is the amount of wear, or "damage," to the surface of a that coin. Thus, e.g., "EF-40" is shorthand for "All design elements show clearly. Traces of mint luster may still show ... etc." There is room for some subjectivity built into the ANA guidelines. But even experts in coin grading may differ in how they interpret the objective coin grading standards. This is important because as a coin gets into the higher coin-grading scores, the difference of moving up or down even one point can make a huge difference in a coin appraisal.
Here is an overview of the coin grading standards established by the ANA:
Proof coins are made in a separate manufacturing process from other coins at the US Mint. Proof coins are not intended for circulation. The mirrorlike finish of proof coins is more susceptible to damage from handling than are general, "business strike" coins.
PROOF-70
–
PROOF-60
PR-70
"The perfect coin. Has a very attractive sharp strike and surface of the highest quality for the variety. ... Eye appeal is attractive and outstanding. ... There are absolutely ... no defects."
PR-65
"... A few small, scattered contact marks, or two larger marks, may be present, and hairlines may show under magnification. ... A few spots may be present ..."
PR-60
"Unattractive, dull, or washed-out fields will exhibit little, if any, mirror-like characteristics. ... Copper coins may be dark, dull and spotted. ... eye appeal is very poor."
Mint state or Uncirculated coins are coins that are intended for general circulation – sometimes called "business strike" coins – but bear few, if any, signs that they actually were circulated. Unlike with Proof coins, there may be variations in the quality of a coin even before it goes into circulation, because of the quality of the mint "strike" or because of how it was stored before circulating ("bag marks," etc.)
MINT STATE-70
–
MINT STATE-60
MS-70
(Perfect Uncirculated*) "The perfect coin. ... No contact marks are visible under magnification. ... full, original color and luster."
MS-65
(Gem Uncirculated*) "Shows an attractive high quality of luster ... One or two small patches of hairlines may show. ... eye appeal is very pleasing."
MS-60
(Uncirculated*) "Unattractive, dull ... may be many ... damage spots, but no trace of circulation wear. ... Rim nicks may be present ... "
ABOUT UNCIRCULATED-58
–
ABOUT UNCIRCULATED-50
AU-58
"Very Choice About Uncirculated-58 The barest trace of wear ... [on] high points of the design. ... attractive eye appeal ... nearly full luster."
AU-55
"Choice About Uncirculated-55 ... small patches of wear are visible on the highest points ... Eye appeal and surface are above average."
AU-53
"About Uncirculated-53 Noticeable spots of wear on several high points. ... Luster is diminished."
AU-50
"About Uncirculated-50 ... traces of wear on many of the highest parts ... many [have] some of the original mint luster ..."
EXTREMELY FINE-45
–
EXTREMELY FINE-40
EF-45
"Choice Extremely Fine-45 Has light over-all wear on the coin's highest points. All design details are very sharp. ..."
EF-40
"Extremely Fine-40 ... excellent overall sharpness. Traces of mint luster may still show. ..."
VERY FINE-35
–
VERY FINE-20
VF-35
"Choice Very Fine-35 ... light overall wear with minor blemishes. ... All details show clearly."
VF-30
"Choice Very Fine-30 ... design details on the highest points begin to soften, but all lettering and major features are bold."
VF-25
"Very Fine-25 Entire surface shows light signs of wear ... Some of the minor details blend into the design."
VF-20
"Very Fine-20 Moderate noticeable wear ... details are beginning to flatten. ... free of serious blemishes, erosion, nicks, or scratches."
FINE-15
–
FINE-12
F-15
"... moderate, even wear through the surface. Entire design is bold and clear ..."
F-12
"Moderate to considerable, even wear ... All lettering is visible ... but may show only parts of the letters. ..."
VERY GOOD-10
–
VERY GOOD-8
VG-10
"Even wear throughout the entire coin. ... Some of the letters ... are readable."
VG-8
"Well worn. ... major features are visible in outline form without center detail. ..."
GOOD-6
–
GOOD-4
G-6
"Heavily worn ... no major blemishes. ... Rim is very weak but basically complete."
G-4
"... major design elements are visible ... Rims may be incomplete in spots."
ABOUT GOOD-3
AG-3
"Very heavily worn ... The date is barely readable. Rims merge into the lettering."
FAIR-2
F-2
"Most of the design details are worn completely smooth. ... Rims are flat or missing. ... serious ... defects."
POOR-1
P-1
"Only the basic coin type is identifiable. Date and mintmark ... must be readable. ..."
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COIN GRADING EXAMPLES
This beautiful 1882 Trade Dollar received a Proof-66 grade.
This rare Isabella quarter has been graded MS-65. Grading scored this 1794 flowing hair half-dollar as VF.
. You can purchase this book and it will help you grade your own coins, and make a preliminary coin appraisal.
