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Take a visual tour of our grading standards, illustrated using uncirculated and circulated Morgan Dollars. Note that the written descriptions for the numeric grade below each coin apply to all coin types and strikes. For visuals of Proof coins, refer to www.PCGS.com/grades. "Plus Grades" exhibit exceptional eye appeal for the grade
- Coin Grading Standards
PCGS built its grading standards upon the Sheldon Scale when...
- Coin Grading Standards
Download these guides to learn common characteristics, grading approaches and pricing for these popular coin series. What does the “MS” on the label mean? What are “Proofs”? Get answers to these common coin questions, and learn more about the numerical grades PCGS uses to grade your coins.
PCGS built its grading standards upon the Sheldon Scale when it introduced the concept of encapsulated, third-party grading in 1986. Review the details behind the PCGS grading standards through our visual guide below or the classic table view.
Fully struck and lustrous, free of visual marks. The PCGS 70 grading standard does allow for “as minted” defects, as long as those flaws are minor and do not impact the eye appeal of the coin.
The PCGS Grading Standard is based on the 1-70 Sheldon Scale and is the guide we use for every coin we grade. PCGS offers a full description of each grade, including suffixes that are added to certain grades, and No-Grade codes.
You can use this chart to compare your local grading standards to those of PCGS. These scales can vary, so use this table for information purposes only.
This document summarizes the grading standards and designations used by PCGS to grade coins. It outlines the grade levels from PO-1 to MS/PR-70 and provides short descriptions of the characteristics of coins at each grade level.
