🔍 Coin Grading Scale Reference Chart
A general reference for the Sheldon 70-point coin grading scale used by major grading services and collectors.
What the numbers on this chart mean
The chart sets out the Sheldon scale, the 1 to 70 standard PCGS, NGC and the ANA grading guide all use. William Sheldon published it in 1949 for large cents, where the number was meant to be a price multiple of a basal coin. That idea collapsed within a decade; the numbering stuck and spread to every series.
The break that matters sits at 60. From 1 to 58 the coin is circulated and the number tracks how much design survives wear. From 60 up there is no wear at all, and the number tracks contact marks, strike and luster instead. Nothing sits between 58 and 60, because a coin either shows friction on its high points or it does not. The letters are shorthand for the same bands: MS is Mint State, AU About Uncirculated, XF Extremely Fine. PF marks a proof, which is a method of striking rather than a level of quality.
Reading a grade off a holder
- Suffixes add detail. A + means high end for the grade, and designations such as FB, FS and FBL certify a full strike on one device - often worth more than a point of grade.
- Details is not a number. A cleaned, holed or repaired coin is labelled Genuine or Details and trades well under a straight-graded one.
- Value is not linear. One point from MS-64 to MS-65 can double a common date; ten points lower down barely move it.
Frequently asked questions
What does MS-65 mean on a coin?
Mint State 65, or gem uncirculated: no wear anywhere, full original luster, and only a few small contact marks, none in the prime focal areas.
Is AU-58 better than MS-60?
Often, in the eye and in the price. An AU-58 has a whisper of rub on the high points but can carry full luster and clean surfaces, while an MS-60 is unworn yet heavily bagmarked. Collectors regularly pay more for the 58.
Why does the scale stop at 70?
Sheldon capped it there in 1949 and the number stuck. A 70 means no flaw shows at 5x magnification, so modern coins earn it far more often than old ones.