Sheldon coin grading scale
The Sheldon Coin Grading Scale is a 70 point coin grading scale used in the numismatic assessment of a coins quality. It is used by nearly all major coin grading companies, the main two being NGC and PCGS. The scale was invented by William Herbert Sheldon.
Original Sheldon Scale (1949)
In 1949 the original scale was first presented in "Dr. William H. Sheldon's Early American Cents" titled "A Quantitative Scale for condition" as a way to grade Large cents the scale is known today as the Sheldon scale.[1]
| # | Grade |
|---|---|
| 1 | Basal State-1 |
| 2 | Fair |
| 3 | Very Fair |
| 4, 5, 6 | Good |
| 7, 8, 10 | Very Good |
| 12, 15 | Fine |
| 20, 30 | Very Fine |
| 40 | Extremely Fine |
| 50 | About Uncirculated |
| 60 | Mint State |
| 65 | Mint State |
| 70 | Mint State |
Adopted scale (1970s–present)
By 1953 the original Sheldon scale had become outdated, it was not until the 1970s however that the ANA chose to adopt the scale for use on all US coins.[2] The scale used today has taken the original Sheldon scale and added adjustments, additions, deletions, and modifications to it.[3][4]
Note: Some early American coin varieties are almost always found weakly struck in places, this does not bring the grade of a coin down and is normal for early coins.[5]
Circulated grades
| # | Grade | Grade code(s) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Poor | Never Abbr. | 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 | Never Abbr. | Some detail shows |
| 3 - 3.5 | About Good, Almost Good | AG | Readable lettering although very heavily worn. the date and design may be worn smooth. |
| 4 | Good | G, G4 | 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. |
| 6 | Choice Good | G+, G6 | Rims of the coin are complete peripheral lettering full. |
| 8 | Very Good | VG, VG8 | Slight detail shows, two to three letters of the word LIBERTY show with coins of this feature. |
| 10 | Choice Very Good | VG+, VG10 | Slightly clearer design features, five or possibly six letters of the word LIBERTY show with coins of this feature. |
| 12 | Fine | F, F12 | Some deeply recessed areas with detail, all lettering is sharp, The word LIBERTY is complete with coins of this feature but may be weak. Moderate to considerable even wear throughout the coin. |
| 15 | Choice Fine | F+, F15 | Slightly more detail in the recessed areas of the coin. |
| 20 | Very Fine | VF, VF20 | Moderate wear on the higher surface features. |
| 25 | Very Fine | VF25 | All lettering and major features are sharp, light to moderate even wear is seen on the surface and high points of the coin. |
| 30 | Choice Very Fine | Ch.VF, VF+, VF30 | All lettering and major features are sharp, light even wear is seen on the surface and high points of the coin. |
| 35 | Choice Very Fine | Ch. VF, VF+, VF35 | All lettering and major features are sharp, light even wear is seen on the surface and high points of the coin. Traces of mint luster may show. |
| 40 | Extremely Fine/Extra Fine | Ex. Fine, EF40 | Overall sharpness, light wear at the highest points of the coin, details of the coin are sharp. Traces of mint luster may show. |
| 45 | Choice Extremely Fine | Ch. Ex. Fine, EF45 | Slight overall wear at the highest points of the coin (examples being raised features), all the details are full and very sharp. Mint luster may show only in protected areas of the coin's surface (Such as between the star points). |
| 50 | About Uncirculated/Almost Uncirculated | AU, AU50 | Traces of wear at the highest points of the coin, at least half of the original mint luster remains |
| 55 | Choice About Uncirculated | Ch. AU, AU55 | Three-fourths of the original mint luster remains. |
| 58 | Choice About Uncirculated | Ch. AU, AU58 | Almost all of the original mint luster remains |
Uncirculated grades
Mint State most commonly refers to a coin's condition and is thus given a grade used in numismatics. It is given to a coin which was not used or has not been in circulation yet, and thus can be described "as new" or "Uncirculated".[3]
In modern-day United States numismatics, mint state coins are given a number from 60 to 70 inclusive, with 70 being perceived as a perfect coin with no visible blemishes. Coins with a lower grade (60-63), although unworn, may suffer from weak striking, bag marks and other defects that make them less attractive to the collector. Some early coins appear quite worn looking in mint state, due to striking problems or problems with the coin's Planchet or metal quality, while others today are unknown to be in uncirculated condition.[6][7] The terms Brilliant (Abbr: BU), Choice, and Gem have been used to describe Uncirculated grades. A Brilliant uncirculated coin can describe any coin over the grade of MS60. Choice Uncirculated is used for coins MS-64 and above, while Gem Uncirculated is used for coins graded MS65 and above.[8]
 |
Look up condition or state in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. |
| # | Grade | Grade code | Description[4] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60 | Mint State 60 | MS60 | Unattractive, dull or washed out mint luster may mark this coin. There may be many large detracting contact marks, 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 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 average luster and 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 mall patches of hairlines may show under low magnification. Noticeable light scuff marks or defects might 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 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 magnification. Noticeable light scuff marks may show on the high points of the design features. Overall quality is above average and overall 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 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 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 one more noticeable but not detracting mark. On comparable coins, one or two small single hairlines may show under 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 light 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. 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. |
Proof Coins
Like circulated grades, proof coins are graded on the Sheldon scale from 1 to 70. Proof coins graded 60 to 70 are mirrored to those of Uncirculated grades the difference being not made for circulation. Proof coins with the grade of Pr63 are sometimes called "Choice Proofs".[9] Proof coins that are below the grade of 60 and show signs of circulation or mishandling have been classified as Impaired Proofs, these are not included alongside circulated coins as they were never meant or issued for circulation in the first place.[10]
| # | Grade | Grade code(s) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 - 59 | Impaired Proof | N/A | Grades for impaired proofs mirror those for circulated grades. |
| 60 | Proof | Pr, Pr60 | Grade mirrors uncirculated grade. (See chart in above section) |
| 63 | Proof | Pr63 | Grade mirrors uncirculated grade. |
| 65 | Proof | Pr65 | Grade mirrors uncirculated grade. |
| 67 | Proof | Pr67 | Grade mirrors uncirculated grade. |
| 70 | Proof | Pr70 | Grade mirrors uncirculated grade. |
References
- ↑ James F. Ruddy. Photograde: Official Photographic Grading Guide for United States Coins. Retrieved 2013-06-24.
- ↑ Richard Giedroyc. The Everything Coin Collecting Book: All You Need to Start Your Collection ... Retrieved 2013-06-24.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "The ANA Coin Grading Scale". www.usmint.gov. Retrieved 2013-06-16.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "How United States Coins are Graded". www.pcgs.com/. Retrieved 2013-06-16.
- ↑ "Strike". www.coingrading.com. Retrieved 2013-06-16.
- ↑ "Grading Draped Bust Cents". www.ngccoin.com. Retrieved 2013-06-16.
- ↑ Ken Potter, Brian Allen. Strike it rich. Retrieved 2013-06-16.
- ↑ "Coin Grading Tutorial". coins.ha.com. Retrieved 2013-12-21.
- ↑ "What Are Proof Coins? What Should You Know About Them?". www.coinnews.net. 2007-09-14. Retrieved 2014-03-05.
- ↑ "Official ANA Definition of an Impaired Proof". coins.about.com. Retrieved 2013-06-16.