Grading of Early and Later Milled Coinage

  • Early Milled Coinage

    This is defined by the hand powered presses used from the first portrait of Oliver Cromwell in 1656 to the advent of steam powered presses in 1790. When grading coins of the early period, we only attribute grades as high as EF - Extremely Fine

  • Later Milled Coinage

    This is defined by the machine presses of 1790 and later. These coins will be graded in a full range of conditions as listed below.

Grade

UNC - Uncirculated

Flawless, without wear, scratches, marks or hairlines.

Grade

AUNC - About Uncirculated

A coin in as new condition as issued by the Mint, retaining full lustre or brilliance but, owing to modern mass production methods and storage, not necessarily perfect.

Grade

EF - Extremely Fine

A coin that exhibits very little sign of circulation, with only minimal marks or faint wear.

Grade

VF - Very Fine

A coin that exhibits some wear on the raised surfaces of the design, but really has only limited circulation.

Grade

F - Fine/Fair

A coin that exhibits considerable wear to raised surfaces of the design, either through circulation or damage.