How To Grade Your Coins

Table of Contents:

Guide to Understanding Your Coins 

• How to Get Started 

• How to Inventory Your Coins 

• How to Handle Your Coins 

• How to Identify Your Coins 

• How to Grade Your Coins 

• How to Sell Your Coins 

• How to Store Your Coins 

Grading coins is one of the most important and sometimes trickiest step of determining your coin's value. Whether your coins are already in holders or still loose, learning the basics of grading will help you avoid being underpaid or misled.

What Is Coin Grading?

Coin grading is the process of evaluating a coin’s condition or state of preservation, which strongly affects its market value.

• Grading is subjective, especially between grades that are close together.

• A coin’s mint year or rarity doesn’t affect the grade — just the condition.

The Standard Grading Scale: Sheldon Scale (1–70)

Grade Description Notes

MS60–70 Mint State (Uncirculated) No wear; MS70 = perfect

AU50–58 About Uncirculated Very light wear on high points

XF40–45 Extremely Fine Light wear; sharp details

VF20–35 Very Fine Moderate wear; clear major features

F12–15 Fine Heavier wear; main features still visible

VG8–10 Very Good Well worn; outlines visible

G4–6 Good Heavy wear; rims merging into fields

AG3 About Good Date readable, barely

PO1 Poor Barely identifiable

Coins Already in Holders: How to Assess

Slabbed/Certified Coins (NGC, PCGS, ANACS)

• These coins are professionally graded — trust the grade if it’s from a top-tier company (PCGS or NGC).

• You can verify the grade online using the coin’s certification number.

  • Protect that information when posting photos/images online.

    • Block/blur the certification number.

    • Block out the certification bar code.

Coins in “Uncertified” Holders

• May have dealer grades that are optimistic or inflated.

• Treat with caution; re-grade yourself or get a second opinion if you’re planning to sell.

How to Grade Your non-slabbed Coins

Examine Under Good Lighting

• Use soft, indirect light. Natural daylight or LED works well.

Use Tools

• A 5x–10x magnifying glass or loupe

• A soft cloth or felt pad underneath

• Optional: digital scale or caliper (for comparing weight/thickness)

Inspect Key Areas

Look for wear on:

• High points (e.g., cheekbones on a portrait, eagle’s breast on U.S. coins)

• Fields (flat backgrounds)

• Rims and legends (lettering clarity)

Ask:

• Are all details sharp and crisp? (Uncirculated)

• Are only the highest points worn? (AU)

• Are major design elements fading or smooth? (VF or below)

Compare to Photo Guides

Use reference images:

• PCGS Photograde – Compare your coin to high-resolution images for each grade.

• NGC Coin Explorer – Offers grading images and descriptions by coin type.

Professional Grading Services

If your coin appears to be:

• In Mint State

• Rare or valuable

• Possibly undergraded or unverified

  • ...you may want to send it to a grading service:

Trusted Grading Services:

• PCGS (Professional Coin Grading Service)

• NGC (Numismatic Guaranty Corporation)

• ANACS (Oldest U.S. grading service)

Fees range from $20–$75+ per coin. Best for coins worth $100+.

Common Grading Mistakes to Avoid

• Mistaking toning (natural discoloration) for damage — it’s often desirable.

• Assuming shiny = uncirculated — cleaning can make a coin look shiny but ruin its grade.

• Overgrading: This is common in raw collections or dealer packaging.

• Undergrading rare coins due to inexperience.