What Do Coin Grades Mean?
MS60 to MS70, plus AU, XF and every grade on the Sheldon scale — explained in plain English.
Coin grades describe a coin's condition on the 70-point Sheldon scale. "MS" means Mint State (uncirculated, grades 60–70); "AU" means About Uncirculated (50–58); lower abbreviations (XF, VF, F, VG, G) describe increasing wear. Higher numbers mean better condition and, usually, higher value.
Mint State grades (MS60–MS70)
Mint State 60
MS60 is an uncirculated coin with no wear, but with noticeable contact marks, weak luster, or poor eye appeal. It's the lowest Mint State grade — uncirculated, but not attractive.
Mint State 63 (Choice Uncirculated)
MS63 is a Choice Uncirculated coin with moderate contact marks and average luster. It's the most common collector-grade Mint State coin and a frequent value baseline.
Mint State 64
MS64 is above-average uncirculated — fewer or less severe marks than MS63, with good luster. Often the practical ceiling for many circulated-era types in collector budgets.
Mint State 65 (Gem Uncirculated)
MS65 is a Gem Uncirculated coin with full luster, strong eye appeal, and only minor scattered contact marks — none in focal areas. For many series, MS65 is the value inflection point.
Mint State 66 (Premium Gem)
MS66, sometimes called Premium Gem, is a superb coin with sharp strike, excellent luster, and only a few tiny marks outside the focal areas. A clear step above MS65 in eye appeal.
Mint State 67 (Superb Gem)
MS67 is a Superb Gem — exceptional surfaces with virtually no marks visible to the naked eye. Relatively few coins of most dates reach this grade.
Mint State 68
MS68 coins are nearly flawless with outstanding eye appeal; only the tiniest imperfections keep them from perfection. Populations are small.
Mint State 70 (Perfect)
MS70 is a flawless coin with no contact marks, hairlines, or defects visible at 5x magnification — full strike and luster. The highest possible grade, most attainable on modern coins.
Why one grade can mean thousands
For scarce coins, the jump from one grade to the next can multiply value — because high-grade survivors are rare. See why MS65 vs MS66 makes thousands in value difference.
About Uncirculated (AU50–AU58)
AU coins show slight wear on only the highest points. AU58 is the highest — often more attractive than a low Mint State coin. Learn the boundary in Mint State vs About Uncirculated.
Circulated grades & proofs
Below AU come XF, VF, F, VG, and G — increasing wear. Proof coins use PR/PF with the same 60–70 range; see proof vs business strike. For the full ladder, see the coin grading scale.
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