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Coin Grading

At Cambridgeshire Coins, we use a clear and detailed grading scale to evaluate each coin's condition. Our process examines factors like detail sharpness, effigy clarity, and overall wear. This helps us classify coins across a broad spectrum of conditions, including 'Proof', 'Brilliant Uncirculated', 'Uncirculated', 'Almost Uncirculated', 'Extremely Fine', 'Very Fine', 'Good Very Fine', 'Fine', 'Near Fine', and 'Fair'. Understanding these grades is essential for accurately determining each coin’s value.

  • Coin Grading
  • NGC Grading 

Coin Grading

At Cambridgeshire Coins, we evaluate coins ranging from 'Proof' to 'Fair', using descriptive terms to clarify each coin's condition. Our grading system focuses on detailed assessment to ensure accurate classification.

Proof

‘Proof’ coins represent the pinnacle of minting excellence, crafted not for circulation but as collectibles. Each coin undergoes a specialized minting process with multiple strikes to enhance its intricate details and achieve a stunning mirror-like finish. Though not intended for everyday transactions, these coins boast a flawless appearance, setting them apart as treasures for collectors and connoisseurs.

Proof

‘Proof’ coins represent the pinnacle of minting excellence, crafted not for circulation but as collectibles. Each coin undergoes a specialized minting process with multiple strikes to enhance its intricate details and achieve a stunning mirror-like finish. Though not intended for everyday transactions, these coins boast a flawless appearance, setting them apart as treasures for collectors and connoisseurs.

Proof

‘Proof’ coins represent the pinnacle of minting excellence, crafted not for circulation but as collectibles. Each coin undergoes a specialized minting process with multiple strikes to enhance its intricate details and achieve a stunning mirror-like finish. Though not intended for everyday transactions, these coins boast a flawless appearance, setting them apart as treasures for collectors and connoisseurs.

Brilliant Uncirculated

‘Brilliant Uncirculated’ coins are distinguished by their pristine state, never used as money in everyday transactions. These coins maintain their original mint lustre and exhibit no signs of wear. While they may not receive the same individual handling as proof coins, their sharp details and overall brilliance appeal to collectors for their near-perfect aesthetic quality.

Uncirculated

‘Uncirculated’ coins have never been used for transactions and retain their original condition. Despite not featuring the individual handling typical of proof coins, these coins display a brilliant lustre and sharp, clear details that contribute to their strong visual appeal. Any imperfections are minor and generally result from the minting process rather than from wear or handling, making these coins a favoured choice among collectors for their pristine quality.

Almost Uncirculated

‘Almost Uncirculated’ coins show minimal handling marks and maintain most of their mint lustre. These coins have very slight wear visible only upon close inspection, typically on the highest points. They retain a high level of detail and lustre, making them highly desirable for collectors seeking quality just below fully uncirculated.

Extremely Fine

‘Extremely Fine’ coins display very light wear on only the highest features of the design. Despite slight signs of handling, these coins preserve most of their original details and lustre. They are favoured by collectors for their clear imagery and substantial remaining mint shine.

Good Very Fine

‘Good Very Fine’ coins exhibit light to moderate wear primarily on the highest parts of the design. Despite this wear, they maintain strong and clear major details and some of the finer aspects of the engraving. These coins often still show hints of their original lustre, particularly in protected areas of the coin's surface. Collectors appreciate GVF coins for their balance of noticeable quality and authentic historical character, making them desirable for both intermediate and advanced collections.

Very Fine

‘Very Fine’ coins have moderate wear but all major details remain sharp. These coins have been in circulation but have been preserved well enough to retain much of their original design features and some lustre, appealing to collectors who value a balance of character and quality.

Fine

‘Fine’ coins show considerable wear over the surface and around the details, yet all major features are still visible. While the finer details may be worn down, these coins carry historical appeal and offer an affordable entry point for new collectors.

Fair

‘Fair’ coins show extensive wear, with most details smoothed out and barely discernible. These coins are the most worn in any collection, with only the general outline or major features still visible. While they lack the finer details and lustre of higher-grade coins, they can still hold historical significance and serve as placeholders in a collection until better-preserved examples are found.

Uncirculated

‘Uncirculated’ coins have never been used for transactions and retain their original condition. Despite not featuring the individual handling typical of proof coins, these coins display a brilliant lustre and sharp, clear details that contribute to their strong visual appeal. Any imperfections are minor and generally result from the minting process rather than from wear or handling, making these coins a favoured choice among collectors for their pristine quality.

Almost Uncirculated

‘Almost Uncirculated’ coins show minimal handling marks and maintain most of their mint luster. These coins have very slight wear visible only upon close inspection, typically on the highest points. They retain a high level of detail and lustre, making them highly desirable for collectors seeking quality just below fully uncirculated.

Extremely Fine

‘Extremely Fine’ coins display very light wear on only the highest features of the design. Despite slight signs of handling, these coins preserve most of their original details and lustre. They are favoured by collectors for their clear imagery and substantial remaining mint shine.

Good Very Fine

‘Good Very Fine’ coins exhibit light to moderate wear primarily on the highest parts of the design. Despite this wear, they maintain strong and clear major details and some of the finer aspects of the engraving. These coins often still show hints of their original lustre, particularly in protected areas of the coin's surface. Collectors appreciate GVF coins for their balance of noticeable quality and authentic historical character, making them desirable for both intermediate and advanced collections.

Very Fine

‘Very Fine’ coins have moderate wear but all major details remain sharp. These coins have been in circulation but have been preserved well enough to retain much of their original design features and some lustre, appealing to collectors who value a balance of character and quality.

Fine

‘Fine’ coins show considerable wear over the surface and around the details, yet all major features are still visible. While the finer details may be worn down, these coins carry historical appeal and offer an affordable entry point for new collectors.

Fair

‘Fair’ coins show extensive wear, with most details smoothed out and barely discernible. These coins are the most worn in any collection, with only the general outline or major features still visible. While they lack the finer details and lustre of higher-grade coins, they can still hold historical significance and serve as placeholders in a collection until better-preserved examples are found.

Brilliant Uncirculated

‘Brilliant Uncirculated’ coins are distinguished by their pristine state, never used as money in everyday transactions. These coins maintain their original mint luster and exhibit no signs of wear. While they may not receive the same individual handling as proof coins, their sharp details and overall brilliance appeal to collectors for their near-perfect aesthetic quality.

Uncirculated

‘Uncirculated’ coins have never been used for transactions and retain their original condition. Despite not featuring the individual handling typical of proof coins, these coins display a brilliant lustre and sharp, clear details that contribute to their strong visual appeal. Any imperfections are minor and generally result from the minting process rather than from wear or handling, making these coins a favoured choice among collectors for their pristine quality.

Almost Uncirculated

‘Almost Uncirculated’ coins show minimal handling marks and maintain most of their mint luster. These coins have very slight wear visible only upon close inspection, typically on the highest points. They retain a high level of detail and lustre, making them highly desirable for collectors seeking quality just below fully uncirculated.

Extremely Fine

‘Extremely Fine’ coins display very light wear on only the highest features of the design. Despite slight signs of handling, these coins preserve most of their original details and lustre. They are favoured by collectors for their clear imagery and substantial remaining mint shine.

Good Very Fine

‘Good Very Fine’ coins exhibit light to moderate wear primarily on the highest parts of the design. Despite this wear, they maintain strong and clear major details and some of the finer aspects of the engraving. These coins often still show hints of their original lustre, particularly in protected areas of the coin's surface. Collectors appreciate GVF coins for their balance of noticeable quality and authentic historical character, making them desirable for both intermediate and advanced collections.

Very Fine

‘Very Fine’ coins have moderate wear but all major details remain sharp. These coins have been in circulation but have been preserved well enough to retain much of their original design features and some lustre, appealing to collectors who value a balance of character and quality.

Fine

‘Fine’ coins show considerable wear over the surface and around the details, yet all major features are still visible. While the finer details may be worn down, these coins carry historical appeal and offer an affordable entry point for new collectors.

Fair

‘Fair’ coins show extensive wear, with most details smoothed out and barely discernible. These coins are the most worn in any collection, with only the general outline or major features still visible. While they lack the finer details and lustre of higher-grade coins, they can still hold historical significance and serve as placeholders in a collection until better-preserved examples are found.

Proof

‘Proof’ coins represent the pinnacle of minting excellence, crafted not for circulation but as collectibles. Each coin undergoes a specialised minting process with multiple strikes to enhance its intricate details and achieve a stunning mirror-like finish. Though not intended for everyday transactions, these coins boast a flawless appearance, setting them apart as treasures for collectors and connoisseurs.

Brilliant Uncirculated

‘Brilliant Uncirculated’ coins are distinguished by their pristine state, never used as money in everyday transactions. These coins maintain their original mint lustre and exhibit no signs of wear. While they may not receive the same individual handling as proof coins, their sharp details and overall brilliance appeal to collectors for their near-perfect aesthetic quality.

Uncirculated

‘Uncirculated’ coins have never been used for transactions and retain their original condition. Despite not featuring the individual handling typical of proof coins, these coins display a brilliant lustre and sharp, clear details that contribute to their strong visual appeal. Any imperfections are minor and generally result from the minting process rather than from wear or handling, making these coins a favoured choice among collectors for their pristine quality.

Almost Uncirculated

‘Almost Uncirculated’ coins show minimal handling marks and maintain most of their mint luster. These coins have very slight wear visible only upon close inspection, typically on the highest points. They retain a high level of detail and lustre, making them highly desirable for collectors seeking quality just below fully uncirculated.

Extremely Fine

‘Extremely Fine’ coins display very light wear on only the highest features of the design. Despite slight signs of handling, these coins preserve most of their original details and lustre. They are favoured by collectors for their clear imagery and substantial remaining mint shine.

Good Very Fine

‘Good Very Fine’ coins exhibit light to moderate wear primarily on the highest parts of the design. Despite this wear, they maintain strong and clear major details and some of the finer aspects of the engraving. These coins often still show hints of their original lustre, particularly in protected areas of the coin's surface. Collectors appreciate GVF coins for their balance of noticeable quality and authentic historical character, making them desirable for both intermediate and advanced collections.

Very Fine

‘Very Fine’ coins have moderate wear but all major details remain sharp. These coins have been in circulation but have been preserved well enough to retain much of their original design features and some lustre, appealing to collectors who value a balance of character and quality.

Fine

‘Fine’ coins show considerable wear over the surface and around the details, yet all major features are still visible. While the finer details may be worn down, these coins carry historical appeal and offer an affordable entry point for new collectors.

Fair

‘Fair’ coins show extensive wear, with most details smoothed out and barely discernible. These coins are the most worn in any collection, with only the general outline or major features still visible. While they lack the finer details and lustre of higher-grade coins, they can still hold historical significance and serve as placeholders in a collection until better-preserved examples are found.

NGC Grading

we utilise the British grading system to assess and ascertain the value and condition of coins, which serves as a beneficial reference for collectors. Additionally, it's useful to familiarise oneself with the Sheldon grading scale, a globally recognised method predominantly used in the United States to evaluate coin conditions.The Sheldon scale introduces a numerical grading system that combines with specific abbreviations to convey the quality and production characteristics of coins. These abbreviations include:


'MS' (Mint State): This designation is given to coins that are struck for general circulation yet retain their original mint condition without any wear.


'PF' (Proof): This label identifies coins that are struck in a special manner for collectors, characterised by their sharp details and mirror-like finish.


'SP' (Specimen): This term is applied to coins that exceed the quality of regular circulating coins but do not reach the high standards of Proof coins. Specimen coins are often produced under controlled conditions to ensure a higher quality than typical circulation coins.

Numeric Grades

NGC uses a numeric grade to succinctly describe a problem-free coin’s condition. The available numeric grades range from 1 to 70 based on an internationally recognized scale developed in the 1940s. As the numeric grade increases, a coin’s condition is considered to be better. Some numbers are skipped below the grade of 60, which is the threshold for a coin to be considered Uncirculated.


MS/PF 70 A coin with no post-production imperfections at 5X magnification.

MS/PF 69 A fully struck coin with nearly imperceptible imperfections.

MS/PF 68 Very sharply struck with only minuscule imperfections.

MS/PF 67 Sharply struck with only a few imperfections.

MS/PF 66 Very well struck with minimal marks and hairlines.

MS/PF 65 Well struck with moderate marks or hairlines.

MS/PF 64 Average or better strike with several obvious marks or hairlines and other minuscule imperfections.

MS/PF 63 Slightly weak or average strike with moderate abrasions and hairlines of varying sizes.

MS/PF 62 Slightly weak or average strike with no trace of wear. More or larger abrasions than an MS/PF 63.

MS/PF 61 Weak or average strike with no trace of wear. More marks and/or multiple large abrasions.

MS/PF 60 Weak or average strike with no trace of wear. Numerous abrasions, hairlines, and/or large marks.

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.

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.

PO1 Enough detail to identify the coin's date and type. Rims are flat or nearly flat.

Accordion Title 2

Accordion Title 3