Some of us may doubt how the professional graders determine the condition of a coin. Thanks PCGS for sharing us the description of grade which adopted by them insofar.
| Grade | Description |
|---|---|
| PO-1 | Identifiable date and type |
| FR-2 | Mostly worn, though some detail is visible |
| AG-3 | Worn rims but most lettering is readable though worn |
| G-4 | Slightly worn rims, flat detail, peripheral lettering nearly full |
| G-6 | Rims complete with flat detail, peripheral lettering full |
| VG-8 | Design worn with slight detail |
| VG-10 | Design worn with slight detail, slightly clearer |
| F-12 | Some deeply recessed areas with detail, all lettering sharp |
| F-15 | Slightly more detail in the recessed areas, all lettering sharp |
| VF-20 | Some definition of detail, all lettering full and sharp |
| VF-25 | Slightly more definition in the detail and lettering |
| VF-30 | Almost complete detail with flat areas |
| VF-35 | Detail is complete but worn with high points flat |
| EF-40 | Detail is complete with most high points slightly flat |
| EF-45 | Detail is complete with some high points flat |
| EF-45+ | Detail is complete with a few high points flat. Superior eye appeal. |
| AU-50 | Full detail with friction over most of the surface, slight flatness on high points |
| AU-50+ | Full detail with friction over most of the surface, very slight flatness on high points. Good eye appeal. |
| AU-53 | Full detail with friction over 1/2 or more of surface, very slight flatness on high points |
| AU-53+ | Full detail with friction on only 1/2 of surface, extremely slight flatness on high points. Positive eye appeal. |
| AU-55 | Full detail with friction on less than 1/2 surface, mainly on high points |
| AU-55+ | Full detail with slight friction on less than 1/2 of surface, on high points. Eye appeal is good. |
| AU-58 | Full detail with only slight friction on the high points |
| AU-58+ | Full detail with the barest trace of friction on the highest points. Superior eye appeal. |
| MS/PR-60 | No wear. May have many heavy marks/hairlines, strike may not be full |
| MS/PR-61 | No wear. Multiple heavy marks/hairlines, strike may not be full |
| MS/PR-62 | No wear. Slightly less marks/hairlines, strike may not be full |
| MS/PR-62+ | No wear. Still slightly above number of marks/hairlines, strike may not be full. Attractive eye appeal for grade. |
| MS/PR-63 | Moderate number/size marks/hairlines, strike may not be full |
| MS/PR-63+ | Average number of marks/hairlines, strike will be close to average. Good eye appeal for grade. |
| MS/PR-64 | Few marks/hairlines or a couple of severe ones, strike should be average or above |
| MS/PR-64+ | Very few marks/hairlines or a couple of heavier ones, strike should be average or above. Superior eye appeal. |
| MS/PR-65 | Minor marks/hairlines though none in focal areas, above average strike |
| MS/PR-65+ | Very minor marks/hairlines though none in focal areas, above average strike and eye appeal |
| MS/PR-66 | Few minor marks/hairlines not in focal areas, good strike |
| MS/PR-66+ | Very few minor marks/hairlines not in focal areas, very good strike with superior eye appeal |
| MS/PR-67 | Virtually as struck with minor imperfections, very well struck |
| MS/PR-67+ | Virtually as struck with very minor imperfections, very well struck with attractive eye appeal |
| MS/PR-68 | Virtually as struck with slight imperfections, slightest weakness of strike allowed |
| MS/PR-68+ | Virtually as struck with very slight imperfections, the strike must be virtually full. Eye appeal must be very good. |
| MS/PR-69 | Virtually as struck with minuscule imperfections, near full strike necessary |
| MS/PR-70 | As struck, with full strike |
