When (or in what circumstances) you should get a coin professionally graded.Why you should have an understanding of grading coins.This is both a philosophical question and a practical matter. Graded coins come sealed in protective plastic slabs. They are the industry standard and provide a great deal of useful information about the coin grading system on their respective websites.Įxample of a gold double eagle coin graded About Uncirculated 58 by NGC. The two leading coin grading companies are Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) and Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS). Of course, the informal grading you do yourself is no replacement for professional third-party certification. This will immensely improve your enjoyment of the coin collecting hobby. With enough time and experience, you can become a skilled coin grader yourself. It can also be helpful to have some examples of a particular coin design in-hand. These are helpfully included in most coin collecting guides that focus on specific coin series, such as those published by Whitman Publishing. The best way to get an accurate sense for the grade of a coin is to use reference images. But if you want to be able to cherrypick raw (ungraded) coins, you will need a keen eye for grading coins yourself. Sure, you could exclusively buy coins that are already professionally graded. In fact, it's important for you to do so if you want to be a successful collector. The blog makes the excellent observation: “Half science half art, the skill of grading coins can be learned with time and use.” With this in mind, you can learn how to grade coins yourself. A coin may be rejected for grading if it is badly damaged, as well. Authentication is part of the grading company's job. First and foremost, a coin will not be graded if it is deemed inauthentic-i.e. There are a few reasons that a third-party grading service might refuse to assign a grade to a coin, however. They will also attribute any special varieties to the coin that apply. Then the final grade you receive will be an average of their individual grades. In most cases, multiple experts will evaluate a coin and assign it a numerical grade in their expert opinions.

Under magnification, the flaws in a coin's condition can become much more apparent. It also helps reveal if the coin has been 'doctored' or manipulated by cleaning, dipping (also called 'whizzing'), or tooling.

It allows the grader to accurately evaluate the amount of wear on the coin's design, as well as determine that it is authentic. Numismatic experts working at coin grading companies will view a coin under 5x magnification. You can read more about the history of coin grading by following the link to an excellent article from Hubert Walker and Charles Morgan of CoinWeek. Most of the coin's design is flat and barely visible, but can still be identified.Īlso note: within the Mint State grades (MS60 to MS70), some platforms will also use adjectival grades to describe the condition of these coins. Much of the coin's design is completely worn away. Some of the coin's design is completely worn away. In addition, any alterations to the surface of a coin such as cleaning, tooling, or 'dipping' in a new layer of metal will also dramatically detract from its overall condition.Īlways remember that in numismatics (coin collecting), cleaning or otherwise manipulating the surface of a coin is considered a cardinal sin.Ĭoin shows little to no signs of wear an uncirculated coin.Ĭoin shows only slight wear and has full details.Ĭoin shows minor wear on highest points of design and has complete details.Ĭoin shows moderate wear and has nearly complete details.Ĭoin design shows considerable signs of wear but letters and numbers are clear.Ĭoin shows softness and considerable wear throughout the design.Ĭoin shows considerable softness, even on design details along the rim. This could be scratches, stains, or any other damage. It also removes the coin's original mint luster.Īside from wear, the condition of the coin may also be affected by any distracting marks. This causes the details of the major design elements to appear to fade away. Coin designs become worn through contact and use as money. The amount of wear on a coin's design is the main factor that determines a coin's condition, and therefore its grade. This visual comparison will help you see the difference between coins of different grades.

Gainesville coins photos