🔍 Coin Grading Scale Guide
Slide to any number from 1 to 70 to see its descriptive grade — from Poor to Mint State / Proof — on the numeric scale used by professional coin graders.
📐 Look Up a Grade
🔍 Descriptive Grade
Light wear on the highest points only; design is sharp with strong detail.
Estimate only, not an appraisal — official third-party grading (PCGS, NGC) uses additional named points and +/- distinctions within each tier. Use this as an educational reference, not a substitute for professional grading.
The Full Sheldon Scale
| Grade range | Designation | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | P-1 | Poor |
| 2 | FR-2 | Fair |
| 3 | AG-3 | About Good |
| 4–6 | G-4 to G-6 | Good |
| 7–10 | VG-7 to VG-10 | Very Good |
| 11–15 | F-11 to F-15 | Fine |
| 16–35 | VF-16 to VF-35 | Very Fine |
| 36–45 | XF-36 to XF-45 | Extremely Fine |
| 46–58 | AU-46 to AU-58 | About Uncirculated |
| 59–70 | MS-59 to MS-70 | Mint State / Proof |
Why Grading Matters
Condition is one of the biggest drivers of a coin's value. The Sheldon scale gives collectors and dealers a shared numeric language for describing wear, luster, and strike quality, so a “VF-25” means roughly the same thing whether you're buying online or at a coin show.
This guide maps the full 1–70 range to its descriptive tier so you can translate a grade you've seen on a listing or slab into plain language, or double-check what a dealer's description implies about a coin's condition.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Sheldon scale?
The Sheldon scale is a 1-to-70 numeric grading system for coin condition, originally devised for large cents and now the industry standard used by major third-party grading services like PCGS and NGC. Higher numbers mean less wear and better preservation.
What do the letter codes like VF or MS mean?
The letters are shorthand for a condition tier: P (Poor), FR (Fair), AG (About Good), G (Good), VG (Very Good), F (Fine), VF (Very Fine), XF/EF (Extremely Fine), AU (About Uncirculated), and MS (Mint State) or PF (Proof) for coins with no trace of circulation wear. The number after the letters is the specific Sheldon grade within that tier.
Can I grade my own coin with this tool?
This tool looks up the descriptive name for a grade number — it doesn't assign a grade from a photo or description. Judging wear, luster, and strike accurately takes practice and good lighting; for anything valuable, a professional grading service gives a far more reliable result than a self-assessment.
Does a higher grade always mean a more valuable coin?
Usually, but not always — rarity matters as much as condition. A common coin in gem Mint State can be worth less than a genuinely rare coin in only Very Fine condition. Grade is one input to value, not the whole story.