Coin grading

Coin grading assesses a coin’s physical condition, typically assigning a standardized grade based on wear, preservation, and appearance.

Sheldon coin grading scale: A 70-point scale used chiefly for grading United States coins, from Poor-1 to Perfect Mint State-70. It supplies the numerical framework used by most modern U.S. coin grades.
Coin wear: The loss or smoothing of a coin’s raised details caused by friction during handling and circulation. Wear is the primary evidence used to distinguish circulated grades.
Professional Coin Grading Service: A commercial company that authenticates and grades coins, then encapsulates many of them in tamper-evident holders. Its numeric grades and holders are widely used in the U.S. coin market.
Coin grading adjectival terms: Descriptive condition labels such as Good, Fine, and Uncirculated used to classify coins without a precise numeric score. These traditional labels provide a less granular alternative to numerical grading.
About Uncirculated: A coin grade category for pieces showing slight wear, often abbreviated AU. It marks the narrow boundary between slight circulation wear and uncirculated condition.
Coin striking: The process of pressing a design into a planchet between coinage dies. Strike quality affects how much detail a coin shows apart from its later wear.
Numismatic Guaranty Company: A commercial coin authentication and grading company that encapsulates graded coins. It is another major third-party service whose grades inform buying and selling.
Coin eye appeal: The overall visual attractiveness of a coin, including color, toning, and the balance of its marks. Two coins with the same grade can differ substantially in visual appeal.
Mint State: A grade category for coins that show no circulation wear, though their surfaces may have other imperfections. Mint State grades distinguish unworn coins by preservation and remaining visual quality.
Planchet: A prepared metal blank on which a coin design is struck. Planchet flaws can affect a coin’s grade without resulting from circulation.

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