The Sheldon Coin Grading Scale (1 to 70)
A comprehensive guide to the grading standard used for U.S. and many world coins.
What is the Sheldon Scale?
Developed by Dr. William Herbert Sheldon in 1949, the scale originally applied only to large cents but was later adopted universally for all U.S. coins. It is a **70-point numerical system** where 70 represents a perfect coin and 1 represents the poorest condition. The scale is divided into three primary categories: **Poor (P), About Good (AG), Good (G), Very Good (VG), Fine (F), Very Fine (VF), Extremely Fine (EF), About Uncirculated (AU), and Mint State (MS).**
The Full 70-Point Scale
MS-70 (Perfect) 🥇
MS-60 to MS-69 (Mint State)
AU-50 to AU-58 (About Uncirculated)
VF-20 to EF-49 (Very Fine to Extremely Fine)
P-1 to F-19 (Poor to Fine)
Detailed Grading Categories
Mint State (MS-60 to MS-70)
MS-70 (Perfect): Flawless, as struck, under 5x magnification.
MS-65 (Gem BU): Minor superficial marks/contact marks, sharp strike, full original luster.
MS-60 (Uncirculated): Uncirculated but may have heavy marks, dull luster, or a weak strike.
BU: Brilliant Uncirculated
About Uncirculated (AU-50 to AU-58)
AU-58 (Slider): Appears uncirculated but has a trace of wear on the highest points of the design.
AU-50: Full original luster is gone. Evident wear on high points, but less than half of the surface.
Coins in this range often retain *some* luster but show friction from a brief period of circulation.
Extremely Fine / Very Fine
EF-40 (XF): Sharp details with slight wear on the highest points. All design elements are clear.
VF-20: Moderate, even wear on the surface. All major letters and rims are sharp and clear.
These grades represent the start of significant, but not destructive, circulation wear.
Fine / Very Good
F-12: Moderate to considerable even wear. Major design elements are clear, but details (like hair) are flat.
VG-8: Well-worn, but major features and outlines are visible. Rims are full.
Heavy evidence of circulation, but the coin's type can be easily identified.
Good / About Good
G-4: Heavily worn. Design is visible but faint. Only main letters of the legend show.
AG-3: Only the outline of the coin's design remains. Date and motto may be worn smooth but still readable.
The coin's history is evident, often referred to as "holed out."
Poor (P-1)
P-1: Barely identifiable. May be scratched, mutilated, or damaged, but the coin's type and date are usually discernible.
The lowest grade a coin can receive while still retaining enough material to be positively identified.
NGC/PCGS Detailed Grading Categories
Mint State / Proof (MS/PF/PR 60-70)
MS/PF/PR - 70: A coin with no post-production imperfections at 5x magnification.
MS/PF/PR - 69: A fully struck coin with nearly imperceptible imperfections.
MS/PF/PR - 68: Very sharply struck with only miniscule imperfections.
MS/PF/PR - 67: Sharply struck with only a few imperfections.
MS/PF/PR - 66: Very well struck with minimal marks and hairlines.
MS/PF/PR - 65: Well struck with moderate marks or hairlines.
MS/PF/PR - 64: Average or better strike with several obvious marks or hairlines and other miniscule imperfections.
MS/PF/PR - 63: Slightly weak or average strike with moderate abrasions and hairlines of varying sizes.
MS/PF/PR - 62: Slightly weak or average strike with no trace of wear. More or larger abrasions than an MS/PF 63.
MS/PF/PR - 61: Weak or average strike with no trace of wear. More marks and/or multiple large abrasions.
MS/PF/PR - 60: Weak or average strike with no trace of wear. Numerous abrasions, hairlines and/or large marks.
About Uncirculated / Very Fine
AU - 58: Slight wear on the highest points of the design. Full details.
AU - 55: Slight wear on less than 50% of the design. Full details.
AU - 53: Slight wear on more than 50% of the design. Full details except for very minor softness on the high points.
AU - 50: Slight wear on more than 50% of the design. Full details except for minor softness on the high points.
XF - 45: Complete details with minor wear on some of the high points.
XF - 40: Complete details with minor wear on most of the high points.
VF - 35: Complete details with wear on all of the high points.
VF - 30: Nearly complete details with moderate softness on the design areas.
VF - 25: Nearly complete details with more softness on the design areas.
VF - 20: Moderate design detail with sharp letters and digits.
Fine / Good / Poor
F - 15: Recessed areas show slight softness. Letters and digits are sharp.
F - 12: Recessed areas show more softness. Letters and digits are sharp.
VG - 10: Wear throughout the design. Letters and digits show softness.
VG - 8: Wear throughout the design. Letters and digits show more softness.
G - 6: Peripheral letters and digits are full. Rims are sharp.
G - 4: Peripheral letters and digits are nearly full. Rims exhibit wear.
AG - 3: Most letters and digits are readable. Rims are worn into the fields.
FR - 2: Some details are visible. Rims are barely visible.
PO - 1: Enough detail to identify the coin's date and type. Rims are flat or nearly flat.
Supplemental Grading Terms
- Proof (PR or PF): Coins struck specially for collectors using polished planchets and dies, resulting in a mirrored finish. Graded PR-1 to PR-70.
- Full Bands (FB): Used for Mercury Dimes to indicate full separation of the horizontal bands on the reverse fasces.
- Full Bell Lines (FBL): Used for Franklin Half Dollars to indicate that the horizontal lines on the liberty bell are fully struck and separated.
- Choice/Gem: Descriptive terms used informally, but typically: **Choice** is MS-63/64; **Gem** is MS-65 and above.
- Body Bag:** Slang for a coin returned ungraded by a grading service, usually due to cleaning, damage, or alteration.
NGC/PCGS Special Designations
Condition & Strike Characters
- Plus Designation (+): Assigned to coins at the high end of their assigned grade, approaching the quality requirements for the next grade (e.g., an MS 64+ is close to MS 65 quality).
- RD (Red): A coin with full mint red luster.
- RB (Red Brown): A coin with a mix of red luster and brown patina.
- BN (Brown): A coin with full or nearly full brown patina.
- DPL (Deep Prooflike): Fields are deeply mirrored (does not apply to Proof coins).
- PL (Prooflike): Fields are mirrored (does not apply to Proof coins).
Proof & Release Terms
- Ultra Cameo(UCAM)/Deep Cameo (DCAM): Applies to PF coins where fields are deeply mirrored and devices are heavily frosted for bold contrast on both sides.
- Cameo (CAM): Applies to PF coins where fields are deeply mirrored and devices are frosted for moderate contrast on both sides.
- Early Releases: Designation for selected coins received by NGC or an NGC-approved depository during the first 30 days of release.
- First Releases: Designation for selected coins received by NGC or an NGC-approved depository during the first 30 days of release.