Coin Grading Scale
A grading scale is used to describe a coin’s condition. Numerical grades are the preferred method to describe a coin’s condition.
NGC grades coins on a numerical scale from 1 to 70, with 70 being the highest grade assigned.
| Prefix | Numerical Grade | Adjectival Description |
| MS | 60–70 | Mint State (Uncirculated) |
| AU | 50, 53, 55, 58 | About Uncirculated |
| XF | 40, 45 | Extremely Fine |
| VF | 20, 25, 30, 35 | Very Fine |
| F | 12, 15 | Fine |
| VG | 8, 10 | Very Good |
| G | 4, 6 | Good |
| AG | 3 | About Good |
| FA | 2 | Fair |
| PR | 1 | Poor |
| Other Prefixes You May See | Adjectival Description | |
| UNC | Uncirculated | |
| BU | Brilliant or Beautiful Uncirculated |
Proof sets use the same grades. Proof coins use of the prefix PF for all grades 1 through 70.
For Example:
A coin with a rating of 70 means... the coin is in a Mint State or Proof 70 coin as having no post-production imperfections at 5x magnification.
Definitions:
A business strike is a coin struck for the purpose of being placed in circulation.
Proof coins and proof sets are struck especially for coin collectors.