DECODE THE LABEL
Every number tells part of the story.
A fast reference to the commonly used grading scale, strike codes, and a warning about false equivalence.
Most third-party grading uses the Sheldon 1–70 scale. Below are general descriptions, not instructions to self-certify a valuable coin. Numerical grade and overall eye appeal are related but not identical.
| Typical label | What it generally means |
|---|---|
| PO 01 – AG 03 | Severe circulation wear, often with limited remaining detail. Specific variety and date visibility can matter. |
| G 04 – VG 10 | Clearer identification and some major detail survive, with heavy to substantial wear. |
| F 12 – VF 35 | Moderate to lighter wear; more design detail remains at higher grades. |
| XF 40 – AU 58 | From minor wear to only traces of wear at the highest points; AU is not uncirculated. |
| MS 60 – MS 63 | Uncirculated but noticeable quality differences in marks, luster, strike, and appeal. |
| MS 64 – MS 66 | Increasingly attractive Mint State coins, with fewer or less distracting imperfections. |
| MS 67 – MS 70 | Very high Mint State grades; rarity depends heavily on the issue, not merely the number. |
| PR / PF | Proof strike: a manufacturing classification with its own numeric grade. |
| SP | Specimen strike designation. Definitions and applications are service-specific. |
| DETAILS | Surface issues may prevent a standard numerical grade, despite remaining design detail. |
Three labels you should never confuse
MS70: a Mint State numerical grade, not a claim that the issue is rare or an automatic investment. PF70 / PR70: proof strike at the top of the numeric scale, not a Mint State coin. UNC DETAILS: evidence of no circulation wear paired with a noted surface problem, not the equivalent of MS70.
Quick research sources
Read PCGS grading standards, NGC’s grading scale, and NGC Details guidance for official definitions.