Comparative Grading Chart

Benchmark	Adjectival	NGC	PCGS	Descriptions *
10	Very Good	F12	F12	The coin design is flat although fully recognisable but with little fine detail remaining.
15	Fine	VF20	VF20	There is more depth to the coin design with some fine features showing, especially incised detail.
30	Very Fine	VF35	VF35	Most of the fine detail of the coin design is apparent but the high-points will be flat.
45	Extremely Fine	AU50	AU50	Slight flatness on the high-points of the coin.
53	about Uncirculated	AU55	AU55	Slight wear on the high-points of the coin which is apparent without the aid of magnification.
58 **	virtually Uncirculated	AU58 - MS ?	AU58 - MS ?	Slight wear on the high-points of the coin which become apparent with the aid of magnification (often confused with poor strike)
60 ***	Uncirculated	AU58-MS60	AU58-MS60	No wear, but the coin will have a combination of scuff marks, heavy cuts, rim nicks and naturally occurring hairline scratches.
61 ***	Uncirculated	AU58-MS61	AU58-MS61	No wear, but the coin will have noticeably fewer of the scuff marks, heavy cuts, rim nicks and naturally occurring hairlines.
62	Uncirculated	AU58-MS62	AU58-MS62	The coin will have a few detracting marks particularly in the fields or a combination of a few minor marks such as small cuts, light scuffs or naturally occurring hairlines.
63	Choice Uncirculated	MS62-MS63	MS62-MS63	The coin will have only a couple of detracting marks or a combination of a few minor marks such as small cuts, light scuffs or naturally occurring hairlines. These are sometimes obscured by the design.
64	near Gem	MS63-MS64	MS63-MS64	On close examination, the coin will have a few minor marks in combination such as small cuts, light scuffs or naturally occurring hairlines.
65	near Gem	MS64-MS65	MS64-MS65	On close examination, the coin will have a few obscure marks in combination such as minor cuts, light scuffs or naturally occurring hairlines.
66	Gem	MS65-MS66	MS65-MS66	The coin appears near perfect and will reveal only a few minute marks or naturally occurring hairlines under magnification.
67	Gem	MS66-MS67	MS66-MS67	The coin appears near perfect and will reveal only a couple of minute marks or naturally occurring hairlines under magnification.
68	Gem	MS67-MS68	MS67-MS68	The coin is near perfect and will reveal only a couple of infinitesimal marks or naturally occurring hairlines under magnification.

* In our grading descriptions we have used the 'Oxford Dictionary' definition of 'few' i.e. a small number and 'couple' meaning two.

** Both NGC and PCGS have graded a disproportionate number of coins in AU58 holders. Many coins that could be considered uncirculated are found in this category e.g. Brown Uncirculated (BN) pennies of George V which are missing the tip of the moustache due to a poor strike (and not rub) are often found in AU58 holders.

*** The major grading services show no reluctance grading coins in the US series as MS60 and MS61 but tend to avoid these grades when certifying international coins. Many of the Australian coins in AU58 holders could possibly fall into these MS grades. Another consequence of the reticence of the services to use the MS60 and MS61 grades on international coins is the log-jam of coins found in MS62 and MS63 holders. Some of the coins graded MS62 should probably be graded MS61 while many of the coins in MS63 holders are deserving of an MS64 grade. It has been found that US coins that were graded early by the services when they were calibrating their standards can go up (or down) a point or two if they are re-submitted today. This is proving true of Australian coins, which have only been graded in significant numbers since about 2010, as we have noticed a pattern of a significant number of upgrades on early graded coins that have been sent in for review.