Grading

We use the English grading system which ranges from Poor – FDC as follows:

  • Poor –
  • Fair –
  • Fine – (F)
  • Very Fine – (VF)
  • Extremely Fine – (EF)
  • Uncirculated – (UNC)
  • Brilliant Uncirculated – (BU)
  • Fleur De Coin – (FDC)

Sometimes the grade is modified by the following prefixes:

  • Abt – About (very slightly below the stated grade)
  • G – Good
  • N – Nearly
  • + – Slightly better than
  • – Grade is between
  • / – Obverse grade before and Reverse graded after

Authenticity

All modern proofs are FDC and cased with certificate of authenticity unless stated otherwise.

Slabbed coins

These coins are contained in a hard plastic case. Most are graded independently by American companies.

  • The Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS)
  • The Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC)
  • Independent Coin Graders (ICG)
  • ANACS

They conform to US grading standards which ranges from MS-0 to MS-70 where VF begins at MS-20, EF at MS-40, AU atMS-50 and Unc at MS-60. There is also an English company which slab coins with a range from 1-100.

Abbreviations

  • b/ms – Bag Marks
  • cld. – Cleaned
  • CD – Clear date
  • cor. – Corrosion
  • cr/m(s) – Crease Marks(s)
  • dty. – Dirty
  • e/b(s) – Edge bump(s)
  • e/k(s) – Edge knock(s)
  • h/l(s) – Hairline(s)
  • hm – Haymarking
  • m/m(s) – Mount Mark(s)
  • Obv. – Obverse
  • o/w – Otherwise
  • ptd. – Pitted
  • pgd. – Plugged
  • Rev. – Reverse
  • scr(s). – Scratch(es)
  • sig. – Significant
  • sl. – Slight(ly)
  • sm. – Small
  • sur. – Surface
  • t. – Tiny
  • vdgs. – Verdigris
  • w/o – Without

Reference books

  • BCMV = Christopher Eimer – British Commorative Medal and their Values
  • ESC = English Silver coinage
  • F = Freeman
  • K = Krause (& Mishler)
  • M = Marsh
  • MI = Medallic Illustrations
  • N = North
  • P = Peck
  • S =Spink’s Coins of England and the United Kingdom, or, where appropriate, Spink’s coins of Scotland, Ireland and the Islands.