Why Should Your Coins Be Graded?
Graded Quarter
A Quarter Slabbed and Graded
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Grading Coin Standards
Coin grades are based on a scale of numbers up to seventy. A grade of seventy indicated a “perfect” coin, and such a coin is rare. Usually, coins are not graded for all seventy values. I have never seen a grade of five, six, or seven. In fact, the grades are often given for certain numbers, and they are associated with a value. MS in front of the number indicates mint state, and PF indicates proof, a special strike.
The grades often used are
AG-3, almost good
G-4, good
G-8, very good
F-12, fine
VF-20, very fine
EF-40 or XF-40, extra fine
AU-50, about or almost uncirculated
MS-60 and above are all uncirculated.
Occasionally, a value in between, such as MS-55, appear, indicating it is an exceptional piece, but cannot be elevated to the next level.
The proof coins use the same numbers, although most are uncirculated. Proof grades below PF-65 are rare.
Letters or words added change the value. First strike means the coin was struck on a particularly sharp, new die. Deep Cameo (Ultra Cameo) or DCML (deep cameo, mirror like) is self explanatory. Burnished refers to a burnished finish. In the case of some quarters the word silver is needed on those that are silver. Reverse proof indicates the image is mirrored and the field is not. And there are reverse cameo coins. Another is PL, which means proof like.
Other words that can be found are details, indicating the coin would have the grade indicated if not for the problems, such as scratches, blemishes, or other damage, and cleaned or improperly cleaned are words that you should dread. Normally, cleaned or improperly cleaned coins are not graded, but can be marked authentic.
There Are Two Sides
Remember, coins have two sides. One side may be in excellent shape, but the other may require a details notation. Generally, both side of a coin should wear together due to use. But a scratch will be on one side only.
Finding the Standards
The grading for all United States coins can be found in the Red Book, A Guide Book of United States Coins by R. S. Yeoman.
The Red Book also exists for Canadian coins.
Difficulty in Finding Standards for Foreign Coins, except Canadian Coins
Foreign coins, especially commemorative coins, are difficult to find the grading standards for. Fortunately, grading services are able to handle foreign coins, but you may pay a premium.
Why Do You Need to Know the Grade?
Coins can often jump in value from one grade to the next. It is not uncommon to see a coin listed with just a few dollars of value difference from MS-4 to MS-63, then soar for MS-65 with a major jump in value. Once the jump happens the next grade change also will usually have a similar, or even greater, jump.
The problem is that this jump in value too often occurs in the uncirculated grades. What is the value of a MS-64 coin if the book price for an MS-63 is twenty dollars, but the stated value of the MS-65 coin is three hundred dollars? Certainly the MS-64 coin is worth less than the MS-65 coin, but more than the value of the MS-63 coin. But, where in the range does the true value lie? And, even grading services can err, so how certain is the grade?
Add to this the consideration that even after a coin has been placed in a slab and graded, the grade can change. Before being slabbed the coin was possibly exposed to the environment, and environmental damage can remain undetectable for years.
Grading Coins by PCGS
Graded Silver War Nickel
Silver War Nickel, Reverse
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Graded Silver War Nickel
Graded Silver War Nickel, Obverse
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Top Coin Grading Services
There are many coin collectors who insist the coin be graded by either PCGS, often considered the best, or by NGC, which has an affiliation with the American Numismatic Association. There are others that do an adequate job of grading, but if the intent is to one day sell the coin, the opinion of your future customers must be considered.
Another grading service, ANACS, was actually the first. It was established to provide certification of authentication of coins. Counterfeit coins are a problem, and the service was a way to say that a coin was indeed authentic.
Unfortunately, coin grading services charge a fee, and that fee can become higher than the actual value of some coins. The fee may be based on the coin’s value, and whether it is a United States coin or not. Foreign coins cost more to have graded.
Splitting Hairs for Uncirculated Coins
Grading is subjective. Some grades differ by how sharp the letters in a word are. What happens if only one letter is weak? And, what determines if the lettering is sharp? In fact, in some cases the next grade occurs if the lettering is sharper. What does sharper mean?
When splitting hairs between mint states of uncirculated coins, the exact result can often be argued one grade either way. Professional graders do a credible job, at least those at the top grading services do, but they can make a subjective call when things are close. After all, there is no MS-66.5 grade.
Adding a Level of Assurance when Selling or Insuring
Grading services add to the assurance of the stated grade. However, realizing that errors can and do occur, and that coin grades can change over time even for slabbed coins, always look at the coin carefully yourself, whether buying or selling.
Commemorative Coins
Commemorative coins are different, one from the other. To set a standard regarding the letters in the word “liberty” in a headband simply will not do. Here, determining the standards is extremely difficult.
Fortunately, most commemorative coins are at least uncirculated. And, as is the case with other uncirculated coins, the grades are difficult to determine, so a professional opinion may the best course of action. Or, the coin can remain ungraded, for the cost of grading it may outweigh the increase in value the grading brings.
PCGS Coin Grading
Use Pictures for Insurance Purposes
If you insure your collection be certain to have pictures. Your opinion as to the grade will carry little weight without something to back it up. If a graded the coin was graded by a dealer before selling it to you, keep the invoice and the image of where the grade was written down. Often dealers add the grade to the cardboard of a 2 X 2.
If your coin is slabbed by a reputable third party grading service, record the serial number. That should allow you to prove when the coin was graded, and that it was in your possession after that time.
Grading Services Do Not Address All Problems with Coins
Grading of a coin does not change for toning. Some toning enhances the value of a coin. Other toning is hideous and lowers the value of a coin.
A second problem not considered is "milk spots," those blemishes that occur at the mint. They detract from the beauty of a coin, but since they occur in minting they are not considered defects to a grading service.
Comments
Blackspaniel1 (author) on May 18, 2015:
Those new RCM coins are amont the best in the world. Canada has an excellent mint. If you keep the mint packaging grading is not likely to be worth the cost unless the coin is graded as perfect, which few are.
Anthony Godinho from Ontario, Canada on May 18, 2015:
Informative article on grading coins. I knew they were graded, but didn't really know the methodology. I've got a good collection of coins that were passed on to me by my dad, but have been adding to my collection as well. Off late, I've been buying special edition coins from the Royal Canadian Mint.
Blackspaniel1 (author) on February 23, 2015:
If you find an honest dealer your grading problems are over. The dealer will usually do it for you.
Jackie Lynnley from the beautiful south on February 23, 2015:
I always wanted to get into collecting and I have a few but nothing like a real collector. There is much more to it than meets the eye and I guess I am not will to do all that but still of interest to read about. Thanks for sharing. ^+
Blackspaniel1 (author) on February 22, 2015:
Grading whether it is professional or done by the collector, is a large part of the value of the coin.
Mary Norton from Ontario, Canada on February 22, 2015:
This is often the conversation I would hear from a friend who is a serious collector but I need understood much of it. Now, I have some idea of what grading is. Thanks.
