Alpha Term
|
Numeric Term
|
Alpha – Numeric
|
Common Usage
|
Basal
|
0
|
B0
|
N/A
|
Poor
|
1
|
PO1
|
PO1
|
Fair
|
2
|
FR2
|
FR2
|
About Good
|
3
|
AG3
|
AG3
|
Good
|
4-6
|
G4-G6
|
G4
|
Very Good
|
7-10
|
VG7-10
|
VG8
|
Fine
|
11-19
|
F11-19
|
F12
|
Very Fine
|
20-39
|
VF-20-39
|
VF20-30-35
|
Extremely Fine
|
40-39
|
EF-40-49
|
EF40-45
|
Almost Uncirculated
|
50-59
|
AU-50-59
|
AU50-55-58
|
Mint State
|
60-70
|
MS60-70
|
MS63-64-65
|
Business Strike Terms
|
|
|
|
BU
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Brilliant Uncirculated
|
Proof Like
|
58-70
|
PL58-70
|
PL65
|
Deep Mirror Proof Like
|
60-70
|
DMPL60-70
|
DMPL64
|
Proof Only Terms
|
|
|
|
Proof Like
|
60-70
|
PL60-70
|
PL65
|
Proof
|
45-70
|
PR45-70
|
PR67
|
Cameo
|
60-70
|
Cam60-70
|
Cam65
|
Special Proof
|
58-70
|
SP58-70
|
SP65
|
Deep Cameo
|
60-70
|
DCAM60-70
|
DC66
|
Ultra Cameo
|
60-70
|
UltraCam60-70
|
UltraCam68
|
Special Finishes
|
|||
Special Mint Set
|
60-70
|
SMS
|
SP66
|
EU
|
60-70
|
Enhanced Uncirculated
|
EU69
|
Matte
|
55-70
|
Matte (SP, PR)
|
SP67 Matte
|
Satin
|
55-70
|
Satin (SP, PR)
|
SP67 Matte
|
Burnished
|
60-70
|
MS69
|
SM69
|
Every coin has a condition and this condition is determined by a grade point system from 1-70. A coin with a condition of 1 is the least grade a coin can get, but still be identifiable as a certain coin, and a score of 70 is the highest grade a coin can get. The worst condition a coin can obtain is Basal State, which means, you can tell it was a coin but not what type.
Along with the number grades, coins grades are designated with an acronym i.e. About Good is written as AG3 and uses the number 3 on the number grade scale, Good is written as G4 and involves the number range 4-7 on the number grade scale. It may sound confusing, at first; but further down I will list the grades, their symbols and number ranges for each letter grade.
While looking at price guides you will see some of these symbols for grading like FR, PR, AG, G, VG, VF, XF AU and MS. All of these acronyms stand for certain words or phrases that describe the condition of coins. They encompass a universal system that is used by price guides, dealers and experts to identify and figure the values of coins based on their grade.
Not everyone will agree on the grade of a particular coin and one must watch out for unscrupulous sellers that over-grade or leave out other problems a coin may have like scratches, corrosion, cleaning, etc. (I will discuss problems a coin may have later.)
Below is a guide to the many grading words and phrases including their acronym symbols and number grades. Most, universally, use the symbols in the right hand column.
So as not to confuse the reader PR can also mean Proof, but will be followed by a number 60 or higher. One example is the 1895 Morgan Dollar, and it can have a grade of PR60 which means Proof 60. Also, PF can be used to designate a proof coin and NGC used PF, PCGS uses PR.
The list below will help you understand each grading term or code better.