PCGS Grading Standards
| Grade | Description |
| PO-1 | Identifiable date and type |
| FR-2 | Mostly worn, though some detail is visible |
| AG-3 | Worn rims but most lettering is readable though worn |
| G-4 | Slightly worn rims, flat detail, peripheral lettering nearly full |
| G-6 | Rims complete with flat detail, peripheral lettering full |
| VG-8 | Design worn with slight detail |
| VG-10 | Design worn with slight detail, slightly clearer |
| F-12 | Some deeply recessed areas with detail, all lettering sharp |
| F-15 | Slightly more detail in the recessed areas, all lettering sharp |
| VF-20 | Some definition of detail, all lettering full and sharp |
| VF-25 | Slightly more definition in the detail and lettering |
| VF-30 | Almost complete detail with flat areas |
| VF-35 | Detail is complete but worn with high points flat |
| EF-40 | Detail is complete with most high points slightly flat |
| EF-45 | Detail is complete with some high points flat |
| AU-50 | Full detail with friction over most of the surface, slight flatness on high points |
| AU-53 | Full detail with friction over 1/2 or more of surface, very slight flatness on high points |
| AU-55 | Full detail with friction on less than 1/2 surface, mainly on high points |
| AU-58 | Full detail with only slight friction on the high points |
| MS/PR-60 | No wear. May have many heavy marks/hairlines, strike may not be full |
| MS/PR-61 | No wear. Multiple heavy marks/hairlines, strike may not be full |
| MS/PR-62 | No wear. Slightly less marks/hairlines, strike may not be full |
| MS/PR-63 | Moderate number/size marks/hairlines, strike may not be full |
| MS/PR-64 | Few marks/hairlines or a couple of severe ones, strike should be average or above |
| MS/PR-65 | Minor marks/hairlines though none in focal areas, above average strike |
| Few minor marks/hairlines not in focal areas, good strike | |
| MS/PR-67 | Virtually as struck with minor imperfections, very well struck |
| MS/PR-68 | Virtually as struck with slight imperfections, slightest weakness of strike allowed |
| MS/PR-69 | Virtually as struck with minuscule imperfections, near full strike necessary |
| MS/PR-70 | As struck, with full strike |
In addition to the 1-70 scale presented above, the suffixes described below are added to some grades in certain series to expand on the numerical grade.
| Designation | Description |
| Color: RD | Red - more than 95% original red color |
| Color: RB | Red-Brown - between 5% and 95% original red color |
| Color: BN | Brown - less then 5% original red color |
| Strike: FS | Full Steps (Jefferson Nickels) - MS60 or better, at least five complete steps must appear on Monticello. Any steps that join or fuse together, whether created that way or subsequently damaged, cannot be considered for the Full Steps designation. |
| Strike: FB | Full Bands (Mercury Head Dimes) - the central bands on the fasces on the reverse should be completely separated from left to right, without any breaks, marks or gaps. Note: PCGS may designate in grades of 60 and higher. |
| Strike: FH |
Full Head (Standing Liberty Quarters)
|
| Strike: FBL | Full Bell Lines (Franklin Half Dollars) - MS60 or better. Must exhibit complete, uninterrupted lower lines on the Liberty bell. |
| Surface: DM |
Deep Mirror Prooflike (Morgan Dollars)
|
| Surface: PL |
Prooflike (Morgan Dollars)
|
| Surface: DC |
Deep Cameo (1950-1970 Proof Coinage)
|
| Strike: CA | Cameo |
| Strike: BM | Branch Mint Proof |
| Strike: BMCA | Branch Mint Cameo |
| FS | First Strike (All Eagles, Gold Buffalos and Gold Spouse Coins) |
| SF | Satin Finish |
| SMS | Special Mint Set |
| SP - struck well like a Proof, but with a satiny, sometimes matte, semi-granular looking | Specimen |
| Pos. A | Edge Lettering on 2007 to Date $1 coins - Edge lettering is facing up when the reverse side of the coin is facing up |
| Pos. B | Edge Lettering on 2007 to Date $1 coins - Edge lettering is facing up when the obverse side of the coin is facing up |
PCGS No-Grade Codes
| No Grade | Description | Printed Description | Holdered |
| 82 | Filed Rims | Yes | Yes |
| 83 | Peeling Lamination | No | No |
| 84 | Holed and Plugged | Yes | Yes |
| 86 | No Opinion - our experts are unable to determine a coin's authenticity. Fee refunded | No | No |
| 87 | Not Eligible For Service Selected - the coin is too valuable for the chosen service level. Fee refunded | No | No |
| 90 | Questionable Authenticity | No | No |
| 91 | Questionable/Artificial Toning (or Questionable Color for copper) | No | Yes |
| 92 | Cleaned - surface damage due to a harsh, abrasive cleaning | No | Yes |
| 93 | Planchet Flaw - metal impurity or defect in the planchet | No | Yes |
| 94 | Altered Surfaces - whizzed, harsh cleaning, thumbed over (using a pasty substance to cover defects or alter the appearance) | No | Yes |
| 95 | Scratch / Rim Dent | No | Yes |
| 96 | No Service - coins we do not certify (i.e. medals, some privately made issues, etc.) or cannot certify (i.e. over-sized coins). Fee Refunded. | No | No |
| 97 | Environmental Damage - i.e. corrosion, coating (lacquer), excessively heavy toning, etc. | No | Yes |
| 98 | Damage - deliberate surface damage, i.e. graffiti, spot(s) removed, etc. | No | Yes |
| 99 | PVC (Poly-Vinyl-Chloride) Residue - a plasticizer used to produce vinyl that will leach out of the holder and onto the coin, eventually damaging the surfaces | No | No |
Genuine Service
Coins with any of the problems listed above (except codes 86, 87, 90, 96, and 99) will be encapsulated in a Genuine-Not Gradable holder. Holders and inserts for Genuine coins will be identical to the normal PCGS holder except that the insert will read "GENUINE" in place of the usual grade. No grade will be assigned to these coins, but they will be eligible for inclusion in the PCGS Set Registry with a grade value of 1. Genuine coins will be covered under the PCGS Guarantee of Authenticity but not under the PCGS Guaranty of Grade. PCGS reserves the right to reject any coins submitted that are excessively damaged, altered to such a degree that making a determination of authenticity is difficult or impossible, or which have surface contaminants that may harm the coin in the future.
