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Basic grading standards for ANY coin, US or foreign (A Darkside reference that can help improve your
lordmarcovan
Posts: 45,415 ✭✭✭✭✭
Here are the general grading standards for ALL coins, US or foreign, quoted verbatim from the introductory section of the Krause Standard Catalog of World Coins.
I thought I would share this here since learning these basic standards for world coins helped me considerably in my grading of US coins. Having the grades expressed in percentages helped me visualize the differences between grades much better than some of the vague descriptions given in US grading guides like the ANA and Photograde books.
Sure, these grading parameters are basic, and very generalized. But they have to be, to cover the entire world's coinage! The nice thing about them is that they can be used for all coins and tokens and medals and such, as well. Obviously, where specialized grading standards exist for a particular series or type, those specialized standards would take precedence over these generalized ones.
But sometimes it's just nice to have the basics. I hope this helps some of you novice collectors, or folks who have been stumped on how to grade non-US coins, or things like commemoratives, that are not described in depth in any of the grading guides. This information won't help you much with Mint State coins, but like I said, here are the basics.
(Quoted from the User's Guide section of the Krause Standard Catalog of World Coins, 2004 edition).
For Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) grades there will be no visible signs of wear or handling, even under a 30-power microscope. Full mint luster will be present. Ideally no bag marks will be evident.
For Uncirculated (Unc.) grades there will be no visible signs of wear or handling, even under a 30-power microscope. Bag marks may be present.
For Almost Uncirculated (AU), all detail will be visible. There will be wear only on the highest point of the coin. There will often be half or more of the original mint luster present.
On the Extremely Fine (XF or EF) coin, there will be about 95% of the original detail visible. Or, on a coin with a design with no inner detail to wear down, there will be a light wear over nearly all the coin. If a small design is used as the grading area, about 90% of the original detail will be visible. This latter rule stems from the logic that a smaller amount of detail needs to be present because a small area is being used to grade the whole coin.
The Very Fine (VF) coin will have about 75% of the original detail visible. Or, on a coin with no inner detail, there will be fairly heavy wear over all of the coin. Corners of letters and numbers may be weak. A small grading area will have about 66% of the original detail.
For Fine (F), there will be about 50% of the original detail visible. Or, on a coin with no inner detail, there will be a fairly heavy wear over all of the coin. Sides of letters will be weak. A typically uncleaned coin will often appear as dirty or dull. A small grading area will have just under 50% of the original detail.
On the Very Good (VG) coin, there will be about 25% of the original detail visible. There will be heavy wear on all of the coin.
The Good (G) coin's design will be clearly outlined but with substantial wear. Some of the larger detail may be visible. The rim may have a few weak spots of wear.
On the About Good (AG) coin, there will typically be only a silhouette of a large design. The rim will be worn down into the letters if any.
I thought I would share this here since learning these basic standards for world coins helped me considerably in my grading of US coins. Having the grades expressed in percentages helped me visualize the differences between grades much better than some of the vague descriptions given in US grading guides like the ANA and Photograde books.
Sure, these grading parameters are basic, and very generalized. But they have to be, to cover the entire world's coinage! The nice thing about them is that they can be used for all coins and tokens and medals and such, as well. Obviously, where specialized grading standards exist for a particular series or type, those specialized standards would take precedence over these generalized ones.
But sometimes it's just nice to have the basics. I hope this helps some of you novice collectors, or folks who have been stumped on how to grade non-US coins, or things like commemoratives, that are not described in depth in any of the grading guides. This information won't help you much with Mint State coins, but like I said, here are the basics.
(Quoted from the User's Guide section of the Krause Standard Catalog of World Coins, 2004 edition).
For Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) grades there will be no visible signs of wear or handling, even under a 30-power microscope. Full mint luster will be present. Ideally no bag marks will be evident.
For Uncirculated (Unc.) grades there will be no visible signs of wear or handling, even under a 30-power microscope. Bag marks may be present.
For Almost Uncirculated (AU), all detail will be visible. There will be wear only on the highest point of the coin. There will often be half or more of the original mint luster present.
On the Extremely Fine (XF or EF) coin, there will be about 95% of the original detail visible. Or, on a coin with a design with no inner detail to wear down, there will be a light wear over nearly all the coin. If a small design is used as the grading area, about 90% of the original detail will be visible. This latter rule stems from the logic that a smaller amount of detail needs to be present because a small area is being used to grade the whole coin.
The Very Fine (VF) coin will have about 75% of the original detail visible. Or, on a coin with no inner detail, there will be fairly heavy wear over all of the coin. Corners of letters and numbers may be weak. A small grading area will have about 66% of the original detail.
For Fine (F), there will be about 50% of the original detail visible. Or, on a coin with no inner detail, there will be a fairly heavy wear over all of the coin. Sides of letters will be weak. A typically uncleaned coin will often appear as dirty or dull. A small grading area will have just under 50% of the original detail.
On the Very Good (VG) coin, there will be about 25% of the original detail visible. There will be heavy wear on all of the coin.
The Good (G) coin's design will be clearly outlined but with substantial wear. Some of the larger detail may be visible. The rim may have a few weak spots of wear.
On the About Good (AG) coin, there will typically be only a silhouette of a large design. The rim will be worn down into the letters if any.
Collector since 1976. On the CU forums here since 2001.
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Collector since 1976. On the CU forums here since 2001.
<< <i>Oh, well. It was good typing practice, anyway.
Somebody feeling unappreciated today?
Collector since 1976. On the CU forums here since 2001.
There's no quicker way to make a dud thread.
Collector since 1976. On the CU forums here since 2001.
<< <i>Yeah- I was trying to actually have some intelligent content in one of my threads (even if it was quoted from somewhere else).
There's no quicker way to make a dud thread.
Hey I know how it feels,so here's a
-Hayden
<< <i>Since I'm in en evil mood today and fanning the flames over there myself, I thought the least I could do was continue to help keep said intelligent content up top long enough for someone to find it. Kind of a yin & yang thing, you know?
so you're saying the rest is not intelligent content?
so you're saying the rest is not intelligent content?
Watch it now!!! I've caused quite enough trouble around here lately. Don't be getting me into trouble I didn't start (for once)