Coin Grading Guide
Morgan Dollars
MS-67 Uncirculated Mint State
Virtually flawless, but with very minor imperfections. Fully lustrous with exceptional eye appeal. A very few trivial marks can be seen. Excellent luster and strike.
MS-66 Uncirculated Mint State
Uncirculated (Mint State) silver dollar with strong original luster, attractive eye appeal and full details, but noticeable scattered contact marks or abrasions. Just a few tiny specs or marks remain in devices or fields.
MS-65 Uncirculated Mint State
Brilliant Uncirculated Mint State silver dollar retaining original luster, sharp details, and brilliant color. Devices now show only minimum marks. A few scattered marks in fields, the coin is now considered quite nice.
MS-64 Uncirculated Mint State
Attractive coins with full luster. MS-64 has fewer and smaller distractions than MS-63. Full luster with numerous bag marks (contact marks) and scratches, especially on Liberty's face/neck. Just a few tiny specs or marks remain in devices or fields.
MS-63 Uncirculated Mint State
Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) MS-63 Brilliant Uncirculated Mint State silver dollar retaining original luster, sharp details, and brilliant color. A certified, uncirculated (Mint State) silver dollar with strong original luster, attractive eye appeal and full details, but noticeable scattered contact marks or abrasions.
MS-62 Uncirculated Mint State
Uncirculated Mint State (MS-62) silver dollar retaining original luster, sharp details, and brilliant color. Uncirculated coin with no wear but significant imperfections like heavy bag marks, abrasions, luster breaks, and a potentially weak strike.
MS-60 Uncirculated Mint State
No wear from circulation, but the coin may have numerous "bag marks" (scuffs from contact with other coins), scratches, or dull luster. Uncirculated coin with no wear but significant imperfections like heavy bag marks, abrasions, luster breaks, and a potentially weak strike.
AU-58 About Uncirculated
Appears uncirculated at first glance, virtually full luster and all details sharp. But close inspection shows a trace of rub on very highest points on the highest points (forehead, cheek, and eagle's breast). Just a bare trace of rub on very highest points. No trace of wear. A few small marks may appear, but no distracting marks in the prime focal areas are present. Has full mint luster but may be unevenly toned.
AU-55 About Uncirculated
Appears uncirculated at first glance, but close inspection shows slight friction/rubbing on the highest points (forehead, cheek, and eagle's breast). Only a light amount of rub shows on eagle's breast and hair above ear.
AU-50 About Uncirculated
Appears uncirculated at first glance, virtually full luster and all details sharp. But close inspection shows a trace of rub on very highest points on the highest points (forehead, cheek, and eagle's breast). Traces of wear show on hair above eye, ear, edges of cotton leaves and high upper fold of cap. Luster is gone from cheek.
XF-45 Extremely Fine
All Hairlines strong and ear bold. Despite some flat spots, all major areas of hair show 85% to 90% of detail. Wear shows on hair above date, forehead and ear. Lines in hair are well detailed. Flat spots are visible on edges of cotton leaves. Almost all feathers are gone from the breast. Eagle's feathers all plain but slight wear on breast and wing tips.
XF-40 Extremely Fine
Very light wear on the highest points. Design elements are sharp, and traces of original mint luster may remain in protected areas. All Hairlines strong and ear bold. Despite some flat spots, all major areas of hair show 85% to 90% of detail.
VF-30 Very Fine
Roughly three-quarters of hair detail now visible on obverse. Virtually all of eagle's wings show good detail. Two thirds of hairlines from top of forehead to ear must show. Ear well defined. Feathers on eagle's Breast Worn at Center. Just over half of hair detail is visible, Most Outer Feathers on Eagle Outlined, breast still flat 50-60% detail.
VF-20 Very Fine
Design is clear but flat. Liberty's hairline is about two-thirds defined, and the eagle's feathers show roughly half their detail. About 80-85% of hair detail now clear. Feather detail now evident on eagle's head and neck. Wear shows on high points of hair from forehead to ear. Some strands are visible in hair above ear.
F-12 Fine
Moderate, even wear. The hairline along the face is fully visible, and three-quarters of the eagle's wing details remain. Some inner detail now can be seen in leaves of cap. Some detail now evident in upper part of wings. 40-50% detail.
VG-08 Very Good
Design is clear but flat. Liberty's hairline is about two-thirds defined, and the eagle's feathers show roughly half their detail. Design clear but soft; major elements visible.
VG-06 Very Good
Heavily worn over the entire surface. Major features are visible in outline, and all lettering is separate from the rim. Outline of hairline above forehead now faintly visible. About a quarter to third hair detail shows.
G-04 Good
Heavily worn over the entire surface. Major features are visible in outline, and all lettering is separate from the rim. Bold design, heavy wear; major hair/wing details merged, but rim usually full.
Peace Dollars
MS-65 Uncirculated Mint State
This coin is graded Mint State-65 (MS-65), displaying gem quality with strong luster, good strike, and only minor contact marks. A beautiful uncirculated example with excellent eye appeal.
AU-55 About Uncirculated
Shows only slight wear on the highest points with most of the original mint luster still present. A premium near-mint example.
XF-40 Extremely Fine
Displays light to moderate even wear with all major design elements bold and well-defined. A nice circulated example.
VF-30 Very Fine
Hair details are weak around the face. Upper wave of hair shows light wear. Hair above ear is worn, but single strands are well defined. Reverse: Feather detail on right wing is very weak. There is wear on leg feathers and neck. Motto and talons show trace of wear.
VF-20 Very Fine
Displays moderate to considerable wear with major design details still clear but some finer details worn smooth. An affordable circulated example.
Lincoln Cents
PF-63 Choice Proof
Reflective surfaces with only a few blemishes in secondary focal places.
MS-65 Gem Uncirculated
No trace of wear. Barely noticeable blemishes. Nearly full red color.
MS-63 Choice Uncirculated
No trace of wear. Slight blemishes. Red-brown color.
MS-60 Uncirculated
No trace of wear. Light blemishes. Brown or red-brown color.
AU-50 About Uncirculated
Slight wear on cheek and jaw and wheat stalks.
EF-40 Extremely Fine
Slight wear. All details sharp.
VF-20 Very Fine
Lincoln's cheekbone and jawbone worn but separated. No worn spots on wheat heads.
F-12 Fine
Wheat lines worn but visible.
G-8 Very Good
Half of lines visible in upper wheat heads.
G-4 Good
Date worn but apparent. Lines in wheat heads missing. Full rims.
More coin types and grading standards will be added to this guide.