Assessment of the safety of ancient coins. Classification of coin condition

There was a lot of discussion on the Internet about the safety of coins; on one of the forums, numismatists raised the topic of compiling a small catalog with photographs of various preservations, but decided that it was useless. The definition of safety is somewhat subjective; what one defines for himself as XF-UNC, another will say that it is only XF.

Below is a collection of information from various sites:

*G(good) - English "good", German "gut erhalten" Refers to coins on which only the main outlines of the designs remain visible. The inscription and date of issue are difficult to distinguish. Defective coins belonging to scrap metal have more serious damage: very deep scratches, notches, gouges, intentionally applied; cuts, scrapings; holes, traces of solder and etching; disc deformation; metal peeling; a severe degree of abrasion at which it is impossible to read the inscription and date of the coin.
*VG(very good) - severe wear, inscriptions are not readable (the relief is preserved at 2-3/10) English. "very good", German. "sehr gut erhalten" Refers to coins with significant abrasions throughout the entire surface. Only large details of the drawings remained visible; small fragments of decorative ornamentation (ears of corn, leaves of plants, dots, stars, etc.) were almost completely erased. Significant scratches, nicks, and nicks are possible.
*F(fine) - the main details are visible, the inscriptions are partially readable (the relief is preserved at 4-5/10) English. "fine", German "schoen erhalten" Refers to coins that have been in circulation for a significant period of time and have noticeable abrasions over the entire surface. Separate small parts The reliefs have been completely erased, but the relief and inscriptions are easily distinguishable. The contours of the relief have already lost their sharpness. Light scratches and other damage, somewhat more serious than normal technological damage, are allowed.
*VF(very fine) - noticeable wear, inscriptions are fully legible (relief preserved at 6-7/10) English. "very fine", German "sehr schoen erhalten" Unlike previous grades of quality, coins of this category have been in circulation for a longer time and have noticeable abrasions in all protruding areas of the relief, the smallest details of the relief are already damaged, but are still distinguishable, the contours of the drawings are still quite sharp, general form good coins. There is no fresh metallic shine even in some areas. As in previous categories, minor scratches, nicks and nicks of technological origin are acceptable. There are no deep scratches or other serious damage.
*EF(XF) (extremely fine) - slight wear (safety 8-9/10) English. "extremly fine", German. "vorzueglich erhalten" Refers to coins that were in circulation for a very short time. In addition to the usual technological damage mentioned above, these coins have light abrasions visible to the naked eye, small in area high areas relief. The contours of the drawings are contrasting, all the smallest details of the relief are preserved. There is no fresh metallic sheen on most of the surface of the coin. There are no deep scratches or other serious defects.
* UNC(MS (mint state) - no wear (safety 10/10)) - English. "uncirculated", German. "praegefrisch" and "bankfrisch" These are coins that have not yet been in circulation and therefore do not show damage due to circulation. They may have technological damage (very small scratches, burrs, notches visible to the naked eye), formed from coins hitting each other when thrown into automatic storage machines, when passing through high-speed automatic recalculation machines, when pouring into bags in bulk and during intra-shop and warehouse movements of coins in these bags, both at mints and in the vaults of the Bank of Russia in preparing them for release into circulation.
*Proof- not the degree of preservation, but the method of processing the surface of the coin during its production (polishing, matting, etc.) English. "proof", German. "Polierte Platte", less often "Spiegelglanz" Coins of "proof" quality have a completely smooth, mirror surface fields and, as a rule, a contrasting matted relief pattern. The relief should be clear, with the smallest details clearly visible. The coins should not have scratches, notches, burrs visible to the naked eye, the smallest irregularities in the surface of the field (for example, wavy or orange-peel-like areas), non-concentric location of the edge (protruding edge along the outer circumference of the coin) and traces of hand touch.

The American Numismatic Association (ANA) uses the following designations:

* About Goog (AG-3)
* Good (G-4)
* Very Good (VG-8)
* Fine (F-12)
* Very Fine (VF-20)
* Choice Very Fine (VF-30)
* Extremely Fine (EF-40)
* Choice Extremely Fine (EF-45)
* About Uncirculated (AU-50)
* Choice About Uncirculated (AU-55)
* Uncirculated (MS-60)
* Choice Uncirculated (MS-65)
* Perfect Uncirculated (MS-70)

How to determine the degree of safety of a coin

Below are a few basic guidelines for determining the safety of circulated coins.

AU-50(About Uncirculated - Practically uncirculated 1)
Signs of wear resulting from short periods of circulation or improper storage can be easily detected on the raised areas of the relief image on the coin. These may be very minor scratches or abrasions. At least half of the original matte stamp shine (chandelier) should be preserved. All small details must be distinguishable. For example, for coins Russian Empire All details of the coats of arms and the eagle should be visible. ….

XF-40(Extremely Fine - Exceptionally well preserved)
Such coins may show only minor signs of wear at the highest points of the relief, especially along the hairlines of the portrait. The same may be present in drawings of an eagle, coat of arms or crown. Residual chandelier marks may be present in the most inaccessible recessed areas of the coin's surface.

VF-20(Very Fine - Very good preservation)
The coins show slight signs of wear, visible on small relief details, however most of the image remains clearly visible. In addition, part of the picture may be “blurry”, but all letters and main details of the image remain clear. For example, 50 kopecks or 1 ruble issued in 1895-1915 should preserve half of the hair lines of the portrait of Nicholas II. The emblems on the eagle's wings may be blurred, and small details may not be distinguishable.

F-12(Fine - Good preservation)
The coins have significant wear, however, all letters and main details of the design remain distinguishable. The edge of the coin (the rim along the edge of the field, turning into the edge) must be completely preserved.

VG-8(Very Good - Very satisfactory preservation)
The coins have a lot of damage and wear. All the main details of the design lost their sharpness, and the edge began to merge with the relief of the coin.

Notes:
Russian names of the degrees of preservation of coins are given according to the “Coin Quality Classifier” of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation.

Wild, wild market

There are many coin catalogs, but usually two are used for Russian coins - the Krause Standard Catalog of World coins, and the Uzdennikov catalog. The Krause catalog, unlike the Uzdennikov catalog, contains prices for coins, which depend on the grade (preservation) of the coin and its rarity, that is, the number of coins available to collectors, which, in turn, depends on the circulation of the coin. The higher the safety of the coins, the higher the price. Coins issued in small quantities also have a higher value.

In the USA and Europe, there are the following generally accepted degrees of safety for coins:

FLAWLESS COIN - MS69/MS70
SUPERB GEM BRILLIANT UNCIRCULATED - MS67/MS68
GEM BRILLIANT UNCIRCULATED - MS65/MS66
BRILLIANT UNCIRCULATED - MS63/MS64
UNCIRCULATED - MS60/MS61/MS62
ALMOST UNCIRCULATED - AU50/AU53/AU58
EXTRA FINE - XF35/XF40/XF45
VERY FINE - VF20/VF30
FINE - F12
VERY GOOD - VG8
GOOD - G4

Unfortunately, any catalog only specifies the overall price for a coin in UNC condition, regardless of the condition of the actual coin. As you can see, all coins fresh from the mint in MS60 to MS70 condition are considered uncirculated. But there is a big difference in the price for such coins.

Another question is how to determine the "real price" of a coin. " Real price" means the "market price" of a coin, and in most cases it is different from the price listed in the catalogue. The market price depends on demand, the price of gold/silver, the quality of the particular coin and other factors. There is only one way to find the right price - find the price of a similar sold coin.

For example:

Russia 5 Rubles 1904, gold, Krause price: XF-$70, UNC. -$100.

XF/AU - $45
MS63 - $50
MS65 - $65
MS66 - $85
MS67 - $135
MS68 - $300

You may notice how the price for the same uncirculated coin varies from $50 to $300, depending only on its state of preservation. Why is the same coin in MS68 condition worth 6 times more than in MS63? The answer is simple. There are only a few coins in MS68 condition worldwide, but hundreds of thousands in MS63 or lower.

What are the cornerstone components of the numismatic market worldwide? These include mints, large and small numismatic dealers, auctions, collector-oriented media, collectors themselves who sometimes buy and sell coins, and organizations offering INDEPENDENT CLASSIFICATION SERVICES. What of this do we have in Russia? There are dealers of coins in their infancy, small auctions and many collectors. There are no major coin dealers to support the market and educate collectors, and there are no firms providing independent grading services. This is what distinguishes a civilized market from a wild market.

How should a collector approach acquiring and grading coins? Collecting coins worth several thousand dollars involves high level numismatic experience of the buyer. Those buyers who lack the necessary experience should turn their attention to less expensive coins, just as today's experienced collectors did in their day. Beginning numismatists can gain experience by reading manuals published in catalogs and studying as much as possible large quantity coins

What are companies that offer independent classification services? These are organizations to whom you can submit your coins for authentication and grading. Of these, the two largest in the world are PCGS - Professional Grading Service and NGC - Numismatic Guarantee Corporation of America. These are international corporations with clients all over the world, mainly in the USA and Europe. In the coin grading market, these two companies have a business reputation similar to that of De Birs in the diamond market.

What happens when you submit coins for grading? Each coin is examined by at least three numismatists with extensive experience in this field; authenticity is revealed, fakes are eliminated, and the degree of safety is established. Each coin that has passed classification is cataloged and placed in a special package (see photo) for better preservation and sent back to the owner of the coin.

One of the correspondents asked me if I knew how to determine whether a coin is fake or genuine? The huge demand for European gold coins has led to markets and especially... Russian market filled with fakes. I advise you - do not rely on your own experience unless you are an expert, and never buy coins at a flea market, even if they are cheaper there.

NGC graded coin.

Degree of preservation of coins and medals

(German: Erhaltungsgrad bei Münzen und Medaillen), a concept accepted in the numismatic trade that denotes the external condition of a coin or medal on this moment ; depends, in particular, on the manufacturing technique and the degree of image erasure, affects the price of coins and medals - collectibles. For numismatist S.s.m. and m. is important for aesthetic reasons when it comes to highly artistic coins and medals. For numismatics as a science, the degree of preservation is sufficient to accurately identify the coin. It is common practice among numismatists around the world to use a criterion scale; however, a unified scale still does not exist. A 2-step scale with the following criteria has become widespread: 1) P.p. - polished plate (German: PP - Polierte Platte) - the use by the mint of a special manufacturing method, in which, as a rule (though not always), the relief part of the image is matte, and the background (field) is polished with stamps specially processed for this purpose . The product must not have any scratches, nicks, signs of wear or abrasion. Any defect on the P.P. allows you to apply only the “excellent” criterion; 2) Sh.b. - stamp gloss (German: Stgl. - Stempelglanz) - the best degree of preservation of ordinary walking places. No defects (including abrasions or traces of cleaning) are acceptable. The surface of a coin or medal usually has a matte sheen, which can serve as a distinctive feature. These requirements are generally satisfied by the first 100 - 200 coins produced by a new pair of dies; 3) ex. - excellent (German vzgl. - vorzüglich) - no signs of wear, edge damage, abrasions or traces of cleaning are allowed, only minor defects that arose during the manufacturing process or during transportation are acceptable. Traces of Sh.b. should be visible in the recesses. Patina does not reduce the value of the object; 4) prev. - excellent (German s.s. - sehr schon) - this characteristic also applies to coins that have been in circulation and have signs of wear; however, all details of the portrait or coat of arms must be distinguishable. Minor traces of wear on the hair of the portrait or the contours of the coat of arms are acceptable, damage to the edge is unacceptable; 5) discontinued - excellent (German s. - schon) - as a rule, the lowest level of quality of a collectible object, when there are significant signs of wear, dep. parts of the relief have been erased beyond recognition. All contours must be distinguishable, the inscription must be legible; 6) chorus - good (German g. - gut) - parts of the surface are so worn out that they are no longer distinguishable, but the coin must be identifiable. It is of value to a collector only in the absence of a better preserved specimen; 7) s.s. - poor preservation (German g.e. - gering erhalten) - due to the presence of significant signs of wear or damage (from fire, etc.), the coin is difficult to identify. Repeated attempts have been made to replace the verbal classification with a numerical one (Roman numerals). An example would be the following. (more fractional than 7-point) classification:

0 polished plate (relief, etc. matte, field with mirror shine);

I++ mirror shine (the entire surface has a mirror shine);
I+ magnificent stamp shine;
I stamp gloss;
I- matte stamp gloss (0-I - without the slightest flaw);
II+ excellent (stamp shine with minor scratches in the field);
II excellent (like II+, but with relief defects);
II- excellent (stamp gloss with large scratches and relief defects);
III+ excellent (coins without shine and without scratches);
III excellent (like III+, but with minor scratches and signs of use);
IV+ very good condition (more significant signs of use with several scratches);
IV very good condition (same as IV+, but with medium scratches);
IV- very good condition (same as IV+, but with larger scratches);
V good preservation (name and relief are barely distinguishable);
VI coin cannot be identified

Coin safety

Designations of coin safety, compiled taking into account coin classification systems used in a number of countries (PCGS - Professional Grading Service, NGC - Numismatic Guarantee Corporation of America, various auction houses, etc.) according to such important pricing parameters as the physical characteristics of the quality of the coin , and are recommended as a unified methodological basis for assessing coins when making transactions with them. Categories of the physical condition of a coin, formed by practice, reflect, on the one hand, the features of the coin’s minting technology (minting quality, manufacturing technology), and on the other hand, the degree of its physical preservation, i.e. the presence on the surface of a given specimen of more or less significant damage acquired by the coin during the process of production, storage and circulation.
The physical characteristics of the quality of coins, being the same for any type of coin product, can be applied to both coins and coin-shaped commemorative medals.
Many years of practice in countries with developed numismatic markets have developed a number of generally accepted indicators for assessing coins based on their physical characteristics. These criteria are included in the coin grading scale proposed below. Since the Russian language has not yet developed the corresponding special terminology for the physical quality of coins, below are the conventional terms of various degrees of assessment of coins in comparison with existing terms abroad, compared with the classifier for assessing the condition of coins in the online store “Ruscoins - Coins of Tsarist Russia”.

excellent safety of the coin:
- English * (perfect uncirculated, superb gem uncirculated, gem uncirculated, select uncirculated).
- German (erstabschlag - “ea”, stempelglanz - “stgl” - “st”).
- French (fleur de coin,”fdc”).
- American, developed by Dr. V. Sheldon** (MS70, MS69, MS68,MS67, MS66, MS65, MS64).
- Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Swedish(0)
This is a coin that has not been in circulation and therefore has no damage due to handling or almost no traces of circulation. They may have technological damage (very small scratches, burrs, notches visible to the naked eye) formed from coins hitting each other at the mint, when pouring into bags, during intra-shop and warehouse movements of coins in these bags at the mint. Coins of this quality often have a fresh, matte metallic sheen throughout the entire surface, known as a “chandelier.” The original shine of the coin has been preserved in the form in which it came out of the stamp. The coin is practically untouched. Defined by the term “ans”, “uncirculated”, unc in numismatic circles in Russia and the CIS countries.

impeccable safety of the coin:
- English (choice uncirculated, uncirculated).
- German (bankfrisch – “bf”, unzirkuliert – “unz”).
- French (fleur de coin - “fdc”, superbe - “sup”).
- American, developed by Dr. V. Sheldon (MS64, MS63, MS62, MS61,MS60).
- Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Swedish (0.01).
This is a coin that was in circulation for a very short time. Apart from the usual processing damage mentioned above, this coin generally does not have a pronounced stamp sheen (remnants of the stamp sheen are present) and has no relief wear associated with handling, with the exception of rare small scratches. Defined by the term “unc-“, in numismatic circles in Russia and the CIS countries.

excellent preservation of the coin:
- English (choice almost(about) uncirculated, almost(about) uncirculated).
- German (vorzueglich – “vorz” – “vz”, vorzueglich erhalten).
- French (superbe – “sup”).
- American, developed by Dr. V. Sheldon (AU 58, AU55, AU50).
- Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Swedish (01).
Refers to a coin that was in circulation. The coin in this state of preservation has slight abrasions visible to the naked eye in small areas of the highest areas of the relief (on the hair of the portrait, on the paws of eagles, on crowns, on coats of arms, etc.). The contours of the drawings are contrasting, all the smallest details of the relief are preserved. There is no fresh metallic sheen on most of the surface of the coin. There are no deep scratches, nicks, or other serious defects. Residual traces of the chandelier may be present in the most inaccessible recessed places on the surface of the coin (interletter shine in the legend inscription, on the field in places of high relief, which prevents the wear of lower relief, in this case the area of ​​the field around it, as a rule, this is the framing of “portrait” and “eagle” parts of the picture). Defined by the term “ixfine”, “xf“ in numismatic circles in Russia and the CIS countries.

almost excellent state of preservation of the coin:
- English (choice extremely fine, extremely fine).
- German (vorzueglich – “vorz” – “vz”, vorzueglich erhalten, sehr schon – “ss”, sehr schoen erhalten).
- French (superbe - “sup”, tres tres beau - “ttb”).
- American, developed by Dr. V. Sheldon (XF45, XF40, VF35).
- Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Swedish (01.1+).
Coins of this category have been in circulation for a longer time and have noticeable abrasions in all protruding areas of the relief, the smallest details of the relief are not damaged and are clearly distinguishable, the contours of the drawings are still quite sharp, the general appearance of the coin is good. There is no fresh metallic shine even in some areas. As in previous categories, minor scratches, nicks and burrs of technological origin are acceptable. There are no deep scratches or other serious damage. Defined by the term “xf-“, in numismatic circles in Russia and the CIS countries.

very good condition of the coin:
- English (сhoice very fine, very fine – “vf”).
- German (sehr schoen – “ss”, sehr schoen erhalten).
- French (tres tres beau - “ttb”).
- American, developed by Dr. V. Sheldon (VF30,VF25,VF20).
- Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Swedish (1+).
Refers to a coin that was in circulation for a long time and having noticeable abrasions over the entire surface. Some small details of the relief have been completely erased, but the relief and inscriptions are easily distinguishable. The contours of the relief have already lost their sharpness. Light scratches and deep small nicks are allowed, somewhat more serious than usual technological damage. Defined by the term “verifine”, “vf“ in numismatic circles in Russia and the CIS countries.

good preservation of the coin:
- English (fine - very fine, fine - “f”).
- German (schoen – “s”, schoen erhalten).
- French (tres beau - “tb”).
- American, developed by Dr. V. Sheldon (F15, F12).
- Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Swedish(1).
The coin in this condition was in circulation for a long time. Almost all the details are erased and only the outline is visible, for example, the outline of the coat of arms without internal detail, a portrait drawing of the emperor with small details completely missing. The denomination and date of the coin must be clearly legible. Defined by the term “fine”, “f“ in numismatic circles in Russia and the CIS countries.

satisfactory safety of the coin:
- English (very good – “vg”, good – “g”, about good).
- German (gut erhalten – “ge”).
- French (tres bien conservee – “tbc”).
- American, developed by Dr. V. Sheldon (VG10, VG8, G6, G4, G3).
- Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Swedish (2).
Refers to a coin with significant abrasions across the entire surface. Only large details of the drawings remained discernible; small fragments of decorative ornamentation were completely indistinguishable. Significant scratches, nicks, and nicks are possible. The relief part begins to merge with the field of the coin. The denomination and date, as well as other legend inscriptions, are not always readable. The inscriptions and date of minting are usually not readable; sometimes only by analogy with the same one, but in better condition, can the denomination of the coin be determined. Coins in this condition will only be considered if they are an extremely rare coin. Defined by the term “verigud”, “vg”, “gud”, “g” in numismatic circles in Russia and the CIS countries.

poor preservation of the coin:
- English (poor – “pr”).
- German (gering erhalten).
- French (bien conservee – “bc”).
- American, developed by Dr. V. Sheldon (P1).
- Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Swedish (3).
The coin cannot be defined and usually its value is determined by the price of the “jewelry” metal from which it is minted. Defined by the term “scrap” in numismatic circles in Russia and the CIS countries.

For convenience, we provide an abbreviated condition assessment table:
excellent safety of the coin - UNC(uncirculated)
impeccable safety of the coin - XF\UNC(extremely fine - uncirculated)
excellent preservation of the coin - XF(extremely fine)
almost excellent preservation of the coin - VF\XF(very fine - extremely fine)
very good preservation of the coin - VF(very fine)
good preservation of the coin - F(fine)
satisfactory safety of the coin - VG(very good)
poor safety of the coin - G(good)

*The United States uses the Sheldon Grading System, developed by American William Sheldon and based on a 1 (completely worn) to 70 (best possible) rating of coin condition. Below is the complete Sheldon condition grading table:
proof (polished) - from PF1 to PF70.
perfect uncirculaited (ideal) - from MS68 to MS70.
superb gem uncirculated (stamped) - MS66, MS67.
gem uncirculated (stamped) - MS64, MS65.
choice uncirculated (stamped) - from MS61 to MS63.
uncirculated (stamped) - MS60.
choice about uncirculated (excellent) - AU55, AU58.
about uncirculated (excellent) - AU50.
choice extremely fine (excellent) - XF45.
extremely fine (excellent) - XF40, VF35.
choice very fine (good) - VF25, VF30.
very fine (good) - VF20.
fine - very fine (good) - F15.
fine (good) - F12.
very good (satisfactory) - VG8.
good (satisfactory) - G4.
about good (satisfactory) - G3.
poor (unsatisfactory) - 1.
**The English system was adopted as the International Coin Grading System, based on defining the condition of coins using certain words such as Extremely Fine, Very Good, etc.

Classification of the condition (quality) of coins.

Assessing the condition of coins consists mainly of determining the degree of wear. The more significantly a coin is erased (worn out), the fewer elements of its design are distinguishable, the worse its condition (or the lower the degree of preservation).

In accordance with generally accepted international standards for assessing condition, used today by most numismatists, the following main gradations of the condition of coins (or the degree of their preservation) are distinguished:

Uncirculated (excellent condition).

Sometimes, to determine the condition of coins that have minimal, that is, barely noticeable abrasion, the term is used

About Uncirculated (almost excellent condition - abbr. AU)

Extremely Fine (excellent condition).

Very Fine (very good condition).

Fine (good condition).

Very Good (satisfactory condition).

Good (weak state - abbr. G).

Summarizing the above about the main degrees of safety of coins according to international standards and the terminology of the Sheldon 70-point system, the following table can be compiled:

Table of examples of coin condition

Uncirculated (UNC) Excellent	Extremely Fine (XF) Excellent	Very Fine (VF) Very good	Fine (F) good	Very Good (VG) Satisfactory	Good (G) Weak
5 rubles 1817 - 1831

When coins are sold at a numismatic auction, they must be assessed by professionals. In addition to the value due to its rarity, the safety of the coins is also important, the decoding of which should be known to every numismatist in order to know how to determine the price.

Professional dealers and collectors primarily pay attention to such criteria as the condition, type and degree of preservation of the coin. All this constitutes the concept of its collectible or numismatic value. It is especially important to correctly determine the value of ancient coins that have been kept in someone’s collection for a long time, perhaps incorrectly, and were also in free circulation. Often these coins have a high degree of damage or wear.

Even a very common coin can be equated to very rare if it has a high, almost perfect degree of preservation. Small differences, including those that may not be noticeable to the naked eye additional equipment, often determine its cost.

Designations of the degree of preservation of coins according to classification

It's a matter that requires hard work and experience. And although there are general criteria, often the opinions of experts can differ greatly due to the huge number of factors influencing such an assessment.

Classification of coins by degree of preservation

The condition of each coin can be determined according to standards that apply throughout the world, and which guide numismatists and appraisers.

You can often see that where the quality of the coin should be written, there is a mark such as proof. This gives rise to a lot of controversy about what it really is. So, the proof has nothing to do with the condition of the coins. Proof is a method of minting a coin. When a new stamp is developed and approved, proof coins are first made.

If a coin has abrasions or damage, it is graded on a general scale. The classification of coin condition is as follows:

1) Uncirculated. Coins that are in perfect condition. In this case, there should be no abrasions, chips or deep scratches. There must be a minted shine, and the design of the coin must be perfectly preserved. The name is translated from English as “did not circulate” and means that the coin was handed over to collectors immediately after production or for storage; it was not in circulation.

This gradation has its own subtypes, it is called MS or mint state - there are 11 of them from MS 60 to 70.

2) About Uncirculated. This means that the coin is not of Uncirculated quality. AU has its own subtypes, and they are designated (AU 50, 53, 55 and 58).

3) There is also the highest degree of preservation, but it is not always used - Brilliant uncirculated (BU). These coins have never been in circulation and have no defects at all.

4) Extremely Fine. In this way they denote coins that have been in circulation for some time, but not for long. Small abrasions on the relief parts of the coin are allowed, as well as at least 90% of the legibility of the design. This type is designated as XF and has subtypes according to the Sheldon system XF 40 and XF 45.

5) Very Fine. This grade means "very good", the design on the coin should be 75% distinguishable (details), and the coins themselves may have significant abrasions, scratches and smoothing of the relief. This degree has 4 subtypes 20, 25, 30 and 35, and is designated as VF.

6) Fine. The coins are in good condition. Small details of the design should be on half the surface of the coin. Chips, abrasions and scratches can be any, but general details the images on the coin are viewed. The degree of gradation is designated as F, and according to the Sheldon scale it has two subtypes - 12 and 15.

7) Very Good. The penultimate level of the degree of preservation. Coins that have been graded according to this gradation have been preserved satisfactorily. The design on the coin is significantly damaged, only 20-30% can be seen, it has two subtypes - 8 and 10, designation - VG.

8) Good. The coin is in poor condition. The damage is very severe, only large details of the pattern can be seen, two subtypes are distinguished - 4 and 6, designated by the letter G.

Coin safety table

Other disadvantages of coins

May have dark spots, be completely or slightly darkened, or have a rainbow color. This occurs due to the oxidation of silver. Darkened silver is formed when it interacts with hydrogen sulfide in the air. Often this color is valued more expensive by many collectors than pure silver. If the coin has been exposed to different substances, it may have a rainbow color. The natural origin of this color increases the value of the coin.

Absolutely - usually this characteristic is given to a coin that has been cleaned. The disadvantage is that any signs of authenticity in this case are completely absent. Usually, coins are cleaned not from patina or a uniform layer of oxides, but from harmful or unsightly stains. Sometimes part of the coin is left uncleaned so that its condition can be seen to assess authenticity.

Often the coin has traces of physical or chemical exposure. Sometimes some of these imperfections can be removed by cleaning, but remember that there is also a layer on the coin that forms over time and protects the metal from corrosion - patina. When cleaning, it is very important that the patina remains, as this can not only compromise the integrity of the main part of the coin, but also greatly reduce its value. Especially on copper and bronze coins, a beautiful patina can increase the value of the coin significantly. In catalogs, such characteristics of the condition of coins are most often found.

The patina may have several different colors, it depends on its origin and use. The following patina colors are distinguished:

• Green, the most common; it can be smooth and dense.
• Olive is a subspecies of green.
• Black patina is also considered a subspecies of green and looks very good.
• Red patina. This patina covers the coin unevenly, but in spots. It is classified this way if it covers a large area.
• Blue patina. This color is very rare; perhaps the coin lay in the ground for some time, and the composition of the soil gave it this shade.
• Earthy. Coins with such a patina are found in the provinces of the Roman Empire. Often combined with earthen deposits, similar to the effect of the patina being rubbed off from the top points of a coin.

Types of patina:

1. Contrasting surface. Patina is not present on the entire surface of the coin, but at the highest points of the relief; it has wear.
2. Dense patina. This surface of the coin is highly valued, but if the layer is too thick, some details of the design may not be visible.
3. Chapped. Patina that may have chips or wear around the edges. It is not rated very highly, since through such chips the process of damage to the metal can begin.
4. Patina with spots. Often looks worse than a coin with no patina at all. Such coins are cleaned so that they are then covered with a secondary patina.
5. Secondary patina. Once a coin is cleaned or otherwise stripped of its patina, it will re-form if stored properly. It is also called “chocolate” because it has Brown color. Instances with such a patina have a beautiful appearance.

Coins that were originally coated with silver may lose it during circulation. Usually it looks sloppy and unsightly, so it must be tinted with sulfur compounds, which gives a black color.

If the coin has not been stored correctly and does not have a preserved patina, it may have a porous structure. Such coins are often found in rivers and are the result of exposure to active substances. There were coins in the Roman provinces that were originally minted in this condition. The porous surface may only be present on some part of the coin. This is referred to as a "partially pitted surface".

The term "rough and mottled surface" refers to mottled surfaces that are uneven and whose appearance is considered deteriorated. This result can be achieved, among other things, by improper cleaning.

Pitted with caverns refers to a surface, most of which is affected by corrosion. Found on coins over a thousand years old made of brass.

A machined coin is a coin whose surface bears marks from sharp tools so strong that it has an ugly appearance.

Unnaturally shiny - if the coin has lost a significant part of its details during the polishing process. It is possible that such a coin was restored, but some details of the design were replaced.

False restoration, low quality fake:

• Cracked coin. The presence of any cracks on a coin is very dangerous, it can seriously damage the coin itself and cause corrosion.
• Broken edge. This is typical for most coins from the period of antiquity. But in addition, this can also happen due to improper cleaning and operation. Such breaking off is also typical for coins that were minted on a blank with a crack.
• Scratched surface. A coin that was in circulation. If there are not too many scratches, then they are invisible, but this happens when it is not made of a soft alloy.
• Test strike. Certain traces of filling quality control inner surface metal coins.
• Trimmed coin. It was often a practice in ancient Rome to trim the thin flange of coins made of precious metals. It was illegal, but common nonetheless. Such a coin is valued much lower.
• Former jewelry. Ancient coins that were used as jewelry have this characteristic. They were often framed with precious metals and show signs of this, such as protrusions or marks.

The condition of a coin is a very important characteristic of it. Therefore, coins in a collection must be stored correctly. It is advisable that they have special packaging that protects against harmful effects. You must handle the coin with special care, always handle it only by the edge and with gloves, otherwise it will lose its value.

To clearly and accurately assess the condition of the coin, a special classification scale is used, which describes in detail the characteristics of each gradation. This classification is used by numismatists all over the world, and advertisements for the sale of coins must indicate their objective condition.

Polished state of preservation of the coin - PF

The polished state is the highest degree of preservation of a coin, which is ensured by certain measures applied immediately after its production. These are typically specially crafted collectible coins that are minted by hand and then placed directly into packaging. These coins are characterized by:

• coin mugs polished to a mirror shine, including the edge part;
• etched parts of the design on stamps to obtain a specific matte finish of the convex parts of the image;
• polished stamp field for more expressive and clean coinage;
• minting by hand in several strokes, due to which the stamp recesses are completely filled with metal, which ensures excellent elaboration of the smallest details of the design;
• placing coins in transparent plastic packaging to protect them from contact with fingers and the appearance of stains or micro-scratches.

This is how collectible coins are made today, but most of these rules were followed in the past, including Tsarist Russia, in the manufacture of collectible or donative (gift) coins.

International designations for polished coins:

• in English classification - Proof (PF)
• in German - Polierte Platte (PP) or spiegelglanz
• in French - Flan Bruni (FB)
• in American according to Dr. V. Sheldon - PF1-PF70
• in Scandinavian countries - M, polerad

Excellent state of preservation with mirror shine - PL

This category of coin quality was introduced into the classification relatively recently. It refers to coins that were struck under normal mass production conditions, but from highly polished blanks and using quality dies. As a rule, these are the first few hundred copies produced with new dies, or a random combination of circumstances that results in better-than-usual examples being produced. These coins are distinguished from the polished state by the lack of edge polishing, flaws in the polishing of the field and an insufficiently matted design. Nevertheless, they are very popular among collectors and are valued quite highly.

International designations for excellent condition with a mirror finish:

• in English classification - Prooflike (PL)
• in German - stempelfrich
• in French - presque poli
• in American according to Dr. V. Sheldon - MS with Prooflike addition, for example, MS67(PL)
• in Scandinavian countries - 0-M,polerad 0

Excellent state of preservation of the coin - UNC

These are coins that have not been in circulation and have little or no damage. The smallest scratches or burrs visible only to the naked eye are acceptable on the surface, which are formed by mutual friction of coins poured into bags and transported in these bags inside the mint. Distinctive feature UNC coins have a fresh shine of polished metal, which is called a “chandelier”. They say about such coins: they are practically untouched. Among numismatists they are called “uncirculated” or “anz” for short.

International designations for excellent condition:

• in the English classification - perfect uncirculated, as well as simply uncirculated (UNC)
• in German - erstabschlag (EA), stempelglanz (STGL, ST)
• in French - fleur de coin (FDC)
• in American according to Dr. V. Sheldon - MS70, MS69, MS68, MS67, MS66, MS65, MS64, MS63, MS62, MS61, MS60
• in Scandinavian countries - 0

Near Excellent State of Conservation - XF-UNC

Coins in almost excellent condition were in circulation for a very short time. They have lost the distinct chandelier, but remnants of shine are still present. In addition to technological damage characteristic of UNC, there may be minor scratches received in monetary circulation. They can be designated among CIS numismatists as unc-, xf+ or xf/unc.

International designations for near excellent condition:

• in the English classification - choice almost uncirculated, as well as almost uncirculated, choice about uncirculated, about uncirculated (XF-UNC)
• in German - bankfrisch (BF), unzirkuliert (UNZ)
• in French - fleur de coin (FDC), superbe (SUP)
• in American according to Dr. V. Sheldon - AU58, AU55, AU53, AU50
• in Scandinavian countries - 0.01

Excellent state of preservation of the coin - XF

This is the name given to coins that have been in circulation for some time. This condition is characterized by the presence of visible small abrasions in the highest areas of the relief, however, the design is well preserved in all, even the smallest details. Scratches and nicks are only very small, almost indistinguishable without a magnifying glass. In some places, residual chandelier may remain in the recesses between the details of the design. Numismatists call such coins “ixfine” or “xf”.

International designations for excellent condition:

• in English classification - extremely fine (XF)
• in German - vorzueglich (VZ), vorzueglich erhalten (VZE)
• in French - superbe (SUP)
• in American according to Dr. V. Sheldon - XF45, XF40
• in Scandinavian countries - 01

Almost excellent state of preservation of the coin - VF-XF

Due to the rather long period of circulation, quite noticeable abrasions of the protruding areas have formed on the surface of the coin, however, the contours of the design remain clearly visible, and the smallest details are not damaged. There is no metallic sheen even in the recesses; the surface may have traces of minor technological damage. Among numismatists in the CIS, such coins are designated vf/xf, xf-, vf+.

International designations for almost excellent condition:

• in the English classification - choice extremely fine, about extremely fine (VF-XF)
• in German - vorzueglich (VZ), sehr schon (SS), sehr schoen erhalten
• in French - superbe (SUP), tres tres beau (TTB)
• in American according to Dr. V. Sheldon - VF35, VF30
• in Scandinavian countries - 01.1+

Very good state of preservation of the coin - VF

This characteristic applies to the coin, it is enough long time was in monetary circulation, as a result of which there are quite noticeable abrasions not only on the protruding parts, but also on the entire rest of the surface. Some small details are no longer visible or have been completely erased, the contours are blurred, and there are small scratches and nicks. CIS numismatists define this condition as vf.

• in the English classification - very fine, choice very fine (VF)
• in German - sehr schon (SS), sehr schoen erhalten
• in French - tres tres beau (TTB)
• in American according to Dr. V. Sheldon - VF25, VF20
• in Scandinavian countries - 1+

Good state of preservation of the coin - F

This coin was in active circulation for a long time, due to which the small details of the relief were practically erased, but the general outline of the design is clearly visible - outer contour coat of arms, silhouette of an imperial portrait, etc., with small strokes completely absent. However, the denomination and date of issue are clearly visible. There may be scratches and nicks on the surface that do not disturb the design. In good condition, coins are designated by numismatists with the letter f or “fine.”

International designations for very good condition:

• in English classification - fine (F)
• in German - schon (S), schoen erhalten
• in French - tres beau (TB)
• in American according to Dr. V. Sheldon - VF15, VF12
• in Scandinavian countries - 1

Satisfactory state of preservation of the coin - VG

This is the definition of a coin that has been in active and long-term circulation. The design is partially erased; only the largest elements of the obverse and reverse can be distinguished; the collar and small details are practically indistinguishable. The relief is almost at the same height as the field of the coin; the denomination and date of issue may also be partially erased. There may be abrasions or gouges on the surface caused by contact with hard objects. Domestic numismatists classify such specimens as “verigud” or vg.

International designations for satisfactory condition:

• in English classification - very good (VG)
• in German - gut erhalten (GE)
• in French - tres bien conservee (TBC)
• in American according to Dr. V. Sheldon - VG10, VG8
• in Scandinavian countries - 2

Weak state of preservation of the coin - G

On coins in a state of poor preservation, as a rule, practically no information has been preserved that would allow identifying the date of its minting and denomination. From the design of the obverse and reverse, as a rule, only a blurred outline remains; no details suitable for accurate classification can be made out. The value of a piece is determined mainly by the cost of the metal. Among numismatists, such coins are called “gud”, “g” or “scrap”.

International designations for weak state:

• in English classification -good (G), poor (PR)
• in German - gering erhalten
• in French - bien conservee (BC)
• in American according to Dr. V. Sheldon - G6, G4, G3, P1
• in Scandinavian countries - 3

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