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.
George VI 1937-1952
Uncrowned Portrait
High points of obverse portrait design
- The wear on the hair above the ear and that forming the left side of the parting.
- The eyebrow and the pinna and lobe section of the ear.
AU-55
The highest points begin to show very slight wear, the hair above the ear, the eyebrow, and ear lobe all exhibit minor wear. the lustre, or shiny fields show slight disturbance. 75% of the mint bloom is still present.
AU-50
Slight wear on all high points. Only 50% of the mint finish remains.
EF-40
The eyebrow, the pinna and lobe of the ear, the wave of hair above the ear and the top part all show wear. The only mint finish will appear between the letters of the legend.
VF-20
The eyebrow is worn away. The ear and hair wave above the ear have lost detail and are starting to flatten. there is wear on the cheek bone. No mint lustre is present.
F-12
The eyebrow and cheek bone are worn away. A bald effect is starting, with very little detail of hair remaining. The outline of the ear has flattened.
VG-8
Only the outline of hair and ear remains. The eyebrow is worn away.
G-4
The portrait is reduced to a silhouette.