Grade Your Coins
To the novice, it might seem like one coin is as good as the next. However, that's just not the case. To determine value of coins of the same type, grading is performed. Basically, grading is the process that determines the condition - and the value - of the coin being looked at. The grade of a coin can wildly affect its value. Years past, Dr. William Shelby devised the 0-70 scale system for grading coins.
Today, this code is combined with letters to create a great coin grading scale that anyone can follow. In the remainder of this article, I am going to share with you nine different grades for coins. We will start with the best possible grade and work our way down from there.
The best possible grade is MS, which means Mint State. Actually, the MS grade has a numerical range from 60 to 70. An MS coin is perfect in every way and uncirculated. You don't find MS-70 coins, you buy them - if you can. The majority of MS grade coins you will see are MS-65. If you turn on your TV, there's probably a coin selling show that will have MS grade coins.
Next up is AU. Almost uncirculated (AU) coins typically have very light traces of wear on them. One thing is for sure. The novice will have trouble determining if the coin is AU-50, AU-55, or some other grade. Here's a tip. Find the highest point on the coin (the part that sticks out the most) and look for wear. That will be your guide.
Below the AU grade is the EF grade, which means extremely fine. The EF coins have slightly more wear. Keep in mind that grading is a precise process. EF grade coins are very striking.
Very Fine coins (VF) have even more wear than the EF grade coins, but they are still great to look at. VF grade coins have sharp features, and light wear. It's one step above the change you have in your pocket.
Fine coins are basically pocket change. These coins still resemble their mold, but they have worn details. Perhaps you have seen a worn coin from the 1960's. If the coin is really showing some wear, it can be downgraded to Very Good (VG). The rims of the coin will still pop, but the coin has miles on it.
Should the coin be fairly worn, but the mint marking is still visible; it's Good (G). Below Good is AG (Almost Good). The AG grade coin has excessive wear, and features like the date might be partly missing. Fair (F) coins are in miserable shape. They might even have holes in them or be misshaped. Finally, there is the Basal State coin, which is basically a worthless coin.
Source: Jake Truman
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