Numismatic Grading Terms

About Good (AG-3) - Very heavily worn with portions of lettering, date and legends worn smooth. The date may be barely readable.

Good (G-4) - Heavily worn with design visible but faint in areas. Many details are flat.

Very Good (VG-8) - Well worn with main features cleasr an bold although rather flat.

Fine (F-12) - Moderate to considerable even wear. Entire design is bold with overall pleasing appearance.

Very Fine (VF-20) - Shows moderate wear on high points of design. All major details are clear.

Choice Very Fine (VF-30) - Light even wear on the surface and highest parts of the design. All lettering and major features are sharp.

Extremely Fine (EF-40) - Design is lightly worn throughout, but all features are sharp and well defined. Traces of luster may show.

Choice Extremely Fine (EF-45) - Light overall wear shows on highest points. All design details are very sharp. Some of the mint luster is visible.

About Uncirculated (AU-50) - Has traces of light wear on many of the high points. At least half of the mint luster is still present.

Choice About Uncirculated (AU-55) - Barest evidence of light wear on only the highest points of the design. Most of the mint luster remains.

Uncirculated (MS-60) - Has no trace of wear but may show a number of contact marks, and surface may be spotted or lack some luster.

Choice Uncirculated (MS-65) - An above average Uncirculated coin which may be brilliant or lightly toned and has very few contact marks on the surface or rim.

Perfect Uncirculated (MS-70) - Perfect new condition, showing no trace of wear. The finest quality possible, with no evidence of scratches, handling or contact with other coins.

Mint State (MS) - The term Mint State (MS) can be interchanged with Uncirculated (UNC) to describe "new" coins showing no trace of wear.

Proof (PR) - A specially made coin distinguished by sharpness of detail and usually with a brilliant mirrorlike surfaces. Proof refers to the method of manufacture and is not a condition. Pre-1968 proofs were made only at the Philadelphia Mint except in a few rare instances in which presentation pieces were struck at branch mints. Current proofs are made at the San Francisco an West Point mints.