Grading

All the coins on this site are graded to current UK standards.

Abbreviations are used.

Proof: Not a condition as such, the coin has been struck using specially prepared dies and polished blanks, the minting process has probably been carried out twice with extra pressure employed to ensure the dies are filled.  Normally the fields are highly polished, with the design matte, however matte proofs where the whole coin is matte are known to exist.  Sometimes even the design is polished.  A characteristic of proof coins is that they have very sharp edges.

FDC: (Fleur de coin) Perfect mint state with no abrasion or marks, with full lustre. Usually applied to proof coins only few coins taken from circulation have not come into contact with others during production.

Brilliant Uncirculated: (BU) Usually implies full mint lustre, with no toning or tarnish, should have no marks or abrasions, although such coins will have come into contact with other coins during production.

Uncirculated: (UNC) No wear, although it is possible for the design to be not fully struck in the minting process.  They may be bag abrasions.  Older coins may be tarnished or toned.

Extremely Fine: (EF) Slight wear on the high spots of the design on close inspection, all other detail will be clear and sharp.  Much mint lustre may remain.

Very Fine: (VF) Detail clear, but obvious evidence of limited circulation.  High spots worn but detail remain.  Traces of mint lustre may show in places.

Fine: (F) Worn over the whole area, but only the highest spots are completely worn through.

Very Good: (VG) Considerable wear over the whole coin, and high spot areas completely worn through.  Coins in this grade or below are only collectable if extremely rare.

Good: (G) Inscriptions and date considerably worn but legible.

Fair: (F) Date and denomination legible, type recognizable, but very little detail visible.

Poor: Inscriptions worn off, date barely visible, only outline of design visible. Such coins are rarely of any value to a collector.

Many coins fall between grades and employ such terms as AUNC (About Uncirculated), GEF (Good Extremely Fine), NVF, (Nearly Very Fine), etc.  In the U.S.A a numerical system is popular for grading coins.

Happy Collecting