Welcome to PCG Grading

Grading Scale

Coins We Grade

Grading is a way of determining the physical condition of a coin. The grade of a coin goes a long way in determining the coin's value.

Grading Scale Of Coin

GRADING - assessing, grading, identifying categories of degree of conservation of coins.

A coin's exact condition is absolutely paramount in determining its value. In other words, the better a coin's condition or grade, the higher is its value. After grading, coins are placed in a special airtight box known as 'Capsule'. Coins which are forgeries or imitations, and ones that have been artificially enhanced by polishing or artificially toned, along with coins that have been repaired or enhanced by tooling will not find their way in PCG holder.

A packaged and graded coin is beyond doubt beneficial for a collector. Certainly for every beginner numismatist who does not want to be exposed to unnecessary risks and disappointment, both in terms of the conservation status of the coin and its authenticity, needs to get his coin graded. The packaging of the coin ensures safe long term protection and preservation of the coin within.

PCG accepts all types of coins relating to all currencies for grading and authentication.
PCG grades most of the world coinage, Mint error coins and world coins from 1600 to present.

Grading procedure & packing of coins usually requires 1 week time, depending upon the quantity of coins.

#	Grade	Grade code(s)	Description
1	Poor	PO	Clear enough to identify, date may be worn smooth with one side of the coin blanked. Coins that are very badly corroded may also fall under this category.
2	Fair	FR	Some detail shows
3	About Good, Almost Good	AG	Readable lettering although very heavily worn. The date and design may be worn smooth.
5	Good	G	Rims of the coin are slightly worn, design is visible, but faint in areas, with many parts of the coin worn flat. Peripheral lettering nearly full.
10,15	Very Good	VG	Slight detail shows, with two to three letters of the word LIBERTY showing in coins with this feature.
20,25	Fine	F	Some deeply recessed areas show detail. All lettering is sharp. The letters in the word LIBERTY show completely in coins with this feature, but may be weak. Moderate to considerable, but even wear throughout the coin.
30,33,35,37	Very Fine	VF	Moderate wear on the higher surface features.
40,43,45,47	Extremely Fine/Extra Fine	EF	Overall sharpness. Light wear seen at the highest points of the coin. Details of the coin are sharp. Traces of mint luster may show.
50,53,55,57	About Uncirculated/Almost Uncirculated	AU	Traces of wear at the highest points of the coin. At least half of the original mint luster remains.
58,58+	Choice About Uncirculated	AU	Almost all of the original mint luster remains

Grade

Grade code(s)

Description

Poor

Clear enough to identify, date may be worn smooth with one side of the coin blanked. Coins that are very badly corroded may also fall under this category.

Fair

Some detail shows

About Good, Almost Good

Readable lettering although very heavily worn. The date and design may be worn smooth.

Good

Rims of the coin are slightly worn, design is visible, but faint in areas, with many parts of the coin worn flat. Peripheral lettering nearly full.

10,15

Very Good

Slight detail shows, with two to three letters of the word LIBERTY showing in coins with this feature.

20,25

Fine

Some deeply recessed areas show detail. All lettering is sharp. The letters in the word LIBERTY show completely in coins with this feature, but may be weak. Moderate to considerable, but even wear throughout the coin.

30,33,35,37

Very Fine

Moderate wear on the higher surface features.

40,43,45,47

Extremely Fine/Extra Fine

Overall sharpness. Light wear seen at the highest points of the coin. Details of the coin are sharp. Traces of mint luster may show.

50,53,55,57

About Uncirculated/Almost Uncirculated

Traces of wear at the highest points of the coin. At least half of the original mint luster remains.

58,58+

Choice About Uncirculated

Almost all of the original mint luster remains

#	Grade	Grade code(s)	Description
60	Mint State 60	MS60	Unattractive, dull or washed-out, mint luster typify this coin. There may be many large detracting contact marks (bag nicks), or damage spots, but absolutely no trace of wear. There could be a heavy concentration of hairlines, or unattractive large areas of scuff-marks. Rim nicks may be present, and eye appeal is very poor. Copper coins may be dark, dull and spotted.
61	Mint State 61	MS61	Mint luster may be diminished or noticeably impaired, and the surface has clusters of small contact marks throughout. Hairlines could be very noticeable. Scuff-marks may show as unattractive patches on large areas or major features. Small rim nicks, striking or planchet defects may show, and the quality may be noticeably poor. Eye appeal is unattractive. Copper pieces will be generally dull, dark and possibly spotted.
62	Mint State 62	MS62	Impaired or dull luster may be evident. Clusters of small marks may be present throughout with a few large marks or bag nicks in prime focal areas. Hairlines may be very noticeable. Large unattractive scuff-marks might be seen on major features. The strike, rim and planchet quality may be noticeably below average. Overall eye-appeal is generally acceptable. Copper coins will show a diminished color and tone.
63	Mint State 63	MS63	Mint luster may be slightly impaired. Numerous small contact marks, and a few scattered, heavy marks may be seen. Small hairlines are visible without magnification. Several detracting scuff marks or defects may be present throughout the design or in the fields. The general quality is average, but overall, the coin is rather attractive. Copper pieces may be darkened or dull.
64	Mint State 64	MS64	Coin has good, overall average luster and even strike for the type. Several small contact marks in groups, as well as one or two moderately heavy marks may be present. One or two small patches of hairlines may show under low, (3-4x) magnification. Noticeable, light, scuff marks or defects may be seen within the design or in the field. Attractive overall quality with a pleasing eye appeal. Copper coins may be slightly dull.
65	Mint State 65	MS65	Coin shows an attractive high quality of luster and strike for the date and originating mint. A few, small, scattered, contact marks, or two larger marks may be present, and one or two small patches of hairlines may show under (5x+) magnification. Noticeable, light, scuff marks may show on the highest points of the design features. Overall quality is above average and eye appeal is very pleasing. Copper coins have full luster with original or darkened color.
66	Mint State 66	MS66	Coin has above average quality of strike and full original mint luster, with no more than two or three minor, but noticeable, contact marks. A few very light hairlines may show under (6x+) magnification, or there may be one or two light, scuff marks showing on frosted surfaces or in the field. The eye appeal must be above average and very pleasing for the date and originating mint. Copper coins display full original or lightly toned color.
67	Mint State 67	MS67	Coin has a sharp strike with full, original luster, May have three or four very small contact marks and a single, more noticeable, but not detracting mark. On comparable coins, one or two small single hairlines may show under (6x+) magnification, or one or two partially hidden scuff marks or flaws may be present. Eye appeal is exceptional. Copper coins have lustrous original color.
68	Mint State 68	MS68	Coin has a sharp strike with full original luster, with no more than four, lightly-scattered, contact marks or flaws. No hairlines or scuff marks show. Copper coins have lustrous original color. Eye appeal is exceptional.
69	Mint State 69	MS69	Coin has a sharp strike with full original luster, with no more than two small non-detracting contact marks or flaws. No hairlines or scuff marks are visible. Eye appeal is exceptional.
70	Mint State 70	MS70	The perfect coin, as minted. Has no trace of wear, handling, scratches or contact with other coins from a (5x) magnification. Coins in this grade are almost non-existent in older coins with very few examples known. Copper coins are bright with full original color and luster. Eye appeal is exceptional.

Grade

Grade code(s)

Description

Mint State 60

MS60

Unattractive, dull or washed-out, mint luster typify this coin. There may be many large detracting contact marks (bag nicks), or damage spots, but absolutely no trace of wear. There could be a heavy concentration of hairlines, or unattractive large areas of scuff-marks. Rim nicks may be present, and eye appeal is very poor. Copper coins may be dark, dull and spotted.

Mint State 61

MS61

Mint luster may be diminished or noticeably impaired, and the surface has clusters of small contact marks throughout. Hairlines could be very noticeable. Scuff-marks may show as unattractive patches on large areas or major features. Small rim nicks, striking or planchet defects may show, and the quality may be noticeably poor. Eye appeal is unattractive. Copper pieces will be generally dull, dark and possibly spotted.

Mint State 62

MS62

Impaired or dull luster may be evident. Clusters of small marks may be present throughout with a few large marks or bag nicks in prime focal areas. Hairlines may be very noticeable. Large unattractive scuff-marks might be seen on major features. The strike, rim and planchet quality may be noticeably below average. Overall eye-appeal is generally acceptable. Copper coins will show a diminished color and tone.

Mint State 63

MS63

Mint luster may be slightly impaired. Numerous small contact marks, and a few scattered, heavy marks may be seen. Small hairlines are visible without magnification. Several detracting scuff marks or defects may be present throughout the design or in the fields. The general quality is average, but overall, the coin is rather attractive. Copper pieces may be darkened or dull.

Mint State 64

MS64

Coin has good, overall average luster and even strike for the type. Several small contact marks in groups, as well as one or two moderately heavy marks may be present. One or two small patches of hairlines may show under low, (3-4x) magnification. Noticeable, light, scuff marks or defects may be seen within the design or in the field. Attractive overall quality with a pleasing eye appeal. Copper coins may be slightly dull.

Mint State 65

MS65

Coin shows an attractive high quality of luster and strike for the date and originating mint. A few, small, scattered, contact marks, or two larger marks may be present, and one or two small patches of hairlines may show under (5x+) magnification. Noticeable, light, scuff marks may show on the highest points of the design features. Overall quality is above average and eye appeal is very pleasing. Copper coins have full luster with original or darkened color.

Mint State 66

MS66

Coin has above average quality of strike and full original mint luster, with no more than two or three minor, but noticeable, contact marks. A few very light hairlines may show under (6x+) magnification, or there may be one or two light, scuff marks showing on frosted surfaces or in the field. The eye appeal must be above average and very pleasing for the date and originating mint. Copper coins display full original or lightly toned color.

Mint State 67

MS67

Coin has a sharp strike with full, original luster, May have three or four very small contact marks and a single, more noticeable, but not detracting mark. On comparable coins, one or two small single hairlines may show under (6x+) magnification, or one or two partially hidden scuff marks or flaws may be present. Eye appeal is exceptional. Copper coins have lustrous original color.

Mint State 68

MS68

Coin has a sharp strike with full original luster, with no more than four, lightly-scattered, contact marks or flaws. No hairlines or scuff marks show. Copper coins have lustrous original color. Eye appeal is exceptional.

Mint State 69

MS69

Coin has a sharp strike with full original luster, with no more than two small non-detracting contact marks or flaws. No hairlines or scuff marks are visible. Eye appeal is exceptional.

Mint State 70

MS70

The perfect coin, as minted. Has no trace of wear, handling, scratches or contact with other coins from a (5x) magnification. Coins in this grade are almost non-existent in older coins with very few examples known. Copper coins are bright with full original color and luster. Eye appeal is exceptional.

MS	60–70	Uncirculated
AU	50, 53, 55, 58	About Uncirculated
EF	40, 43, 45, 47	Extremely Fine
VF	30, 33, 35, 37,	Very Fine
F	20, 25	Fine
VG	10, 15	Very Good
G	5	Good
AG	3	About Good
FA	2	Fair
PR	1	Poor