GRADING OF COINS
All of the grading tiers described herein by MICC do not guarantee of grade and authenticity of your coins.
There are many factors that interlink to finally decide on a coin’s grade. We can’t review all the relevant factors here but with the following list of standards given you should be well on your way to understand how to assign initial grades to coins. Additionally, you can add grades for specially struck collector coins. The same numerical grade in an MS (mint state) coin does not translate into a coin of the same value with another prefix.
Grading is not a science, but comes with years of practice and it is possible that two qualified graders may disagree about the final grade of a coin. Coins which are uncirculated have many different attributes, some of which may appeal to one grader and not another.
Any questions you may have about grading services can be answered by an authorized numismatic dealer. These professionals can help you decide which tier best meets your needs.
Know your dealer. And familiarize yourself with the standards that individual grading companies utilize to ensure that you yourself are happy with them.
Elizabeth II 1953-1964
Laureated Portrait
High points of obverse portrait design
- Eyebrow.
- The hair is swept back over the ear and folds under the laurel wreath.
- The laurel wreath starting slightly over the midpoint down to the ribbon ends.
AU-55
Very slight wear on the eyebrow and other high points. The mint shine has been disturbed and now forms a distinct halo around the portrait.
AU-50
Slight wear on the highest points. Over 50% of the mint shine is lost.
EF-40
There is now slight wear on the swept back air and the laurel wreath. The eyebrow is worn. The dress folds are distinct. Mint shine has all but disappeared.
VF-20
The hairline from above the eye down to the nape of the neck shows wear. The four central leaves of the laurel wreath are worn. The dress folds are clear.
F-12
The four central laurel leaves and the top next leaves are almost worn through. The hair detail above and below the ear has disappeared. Dress folds are worn.
VG-8
A coin in this grade is not collectable. Its value is the bullion value