Adjectival Grading Systems

Various adjectival grading systems have been proposed over the years. The adjectival grading system in widest use in the United States starts with the lowest or most worn coin, Poor, then goes in a succession of steps upward to Uncirculated. The terms are capitalized in order to avoid confusion. In order they are as follows:

Poor

Fair

Good (abbreviated G)

Very Good (VG)

Fine (F)

Very Fine (VF)

Extremely Fine (EF)

About Uncirculated (AU)

Uncirculated (Unc.)

Proof

When capitalized, Fine has a specific meaning to the numismatist. Not capitalized, fine simply means "nice." Additional adjectives such as Choice and Gem, usually capitalized, are sometimes used. Ordinary words can be used to further describe a coin and to indicate whether it has nicks, marks, toning, etc. Proof is a special method of manufacture, which will be discussed later.

There are many variations in the adjectival grading system. A coin which is better than Good but not quite Very Good may be described as G-VG, a particularly nice Very Fine specimen may be described as Choice Very Fine (or VF-EF), etc. In the Uncirculated category there are, in ascending order of desirability, such gradations as Uncirculated, Choice Uncirculated, and Gem Uncirculated.