What are the grading terms for coins?

Coins in grades from the most worn (Poor) were described adjectivally in these progressive steps: Poor, Fair, Good, Very Good, Fine, Very Fine, Extremely Fine, About Uncirculated, and Uncirculated.

What is a good grade for a coin?

Non-collectors will often refer to their coins as being in “Good” condition; a coin grading Good is actually a very worn coin. Very Good (VG-8, 10): The coin will have medium to heavy wear, but some details will still be visible.

What is a high grade coin?

High grade…is the numerical designation out of “70” that means AboutUncirculated. Also called Almost Uncirculated-58 or AU/BU. There is the slightest wear on the high points, even though it may be necessary to tilt the coin towards the light source to see the friction.

What does FB mean in coin grading?

Full Bands
To qualify for NGC’s Full Bands (FB) designation, the two central bands (seen at the center of the coin) must show full separation (with a recessed area between them).

What is F12 Coin Grading?

Fine-12 (F12): This coin will have moderate to heavy even wear but will have bold design features. Very Fine-20 (VF20): You will find moderate wear on the high points of the design. All the major details are present.

Is it worth getting coins graded?

In nearly all situations, key date coins in uncirculated condition are worth having professionally graded; especially if you have multiple coins to submit. This will help to reduce the price that you pay per coin, when factoring in shipping and insurance expenses.

What is a poor coin?

P-run, or poor, is the lowest grade a coin can be graded. This is a coin that is just barely recognizable even though it has heavy wear and most of the detail has been worn away. At the upper end of the scale, this would be a circulated coin that has slight wear on the highest points of the coin.

What does it cost to grade coins?

In addition to the paid membership, you also pay a fee per coin. The more valuable the coin is, the more it costs to have it graded. Grading a common coin worth $150 costs $20. Grading a rare coin worth $50,000 costs $125.

What does DCAM mean in coin grading?

UCAM (“Ultra Cameo”) is used by the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC), and DCAM (“Deep Cameo”) is used by the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS).

How do you know if you have an uncirculated coin?

There are two major factors that indicate a coin is in uncirculated condition:

1. Mint luster. Coins that have never been in circulation usually exhibit a distinctive sheen or luster.
2. No trace of wear. One of the most obvious signs that a coin is uncirculated is the absence of wear or rubbing on the coin’s high points.

Which is better NGC or PCGS?

The Professional Coin Grading Services (PCGS) and the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) are rated as “Superior” by the Professional Numismatists Guild. ANACS graded coins generally trade at lower premiums than PCGS or NGC graded coins.