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Coin grading is not an easy task even for the pros. Grading depends on the condition and appearance of the coin - its lustre, fineness, sharpness of details, dents, nicks and marks all will affect its grades. Hence, it mostly depends on experts' subjective observation skills. An art that requires experience and in-depth knowledge. In the USA, a systematic approach was adopted in the 1970s by employing Dr. William Sheldon's numerically based grading system from a scale of 1 to 70. (known as Sheldon's Scale which was first introduced in 1948).The better grades are associated to higher scale. Coins with grades of 63 and above are the cream of all coins in its type. In the USA, several grading agencies are available to provide independent grading services ;hence,ensuring better marketability as buyers are assured of the grades. In recent years, the art of grading has been assisted by state-of-the art machineries and gadgets to determine exact, unbias grades that are certified and guarnteed.
In Malaysia, unfortunately, there is no such agency and that the grades are left to the buyers, dealers and few individual experts. The gradings are also not numerically assigned. Instead, the gradings employed by Malaysian numismatists normally follow that issued by the Malaysia Numismatic Society as follows:
Proof (PR) - Very sharp, brilliant lustre, mirror-like and frosted surface with limited mintage.
Proof Like (P.L.) - Uncirculated and so well struck that it may be quite similar to or near proof condition with mirror-like surface.
Uncirculated (UNC) - Uncirculated , in perfect condition except for bag marks. Still have lustre.
Extremely Fine (E.F) - Circulated but signs of wear is only at the high points due to handling with traces of lustre.
Very Fine (VF) - All lettering and designs are very visible but has signs of wear with partly worn surface.
Fine (F) - Fine details cannot or difficult to be traced. Major details and lettering still visible. Heavy signs of wear.
Very Good (VG) - No longer have fine details but basic designs still visible. Normally with stain, nicks, scratches with very heavy signs of wear.
Good (G) - A misnomer .The condition is not good at all as it only has a minimum visible designs and lettering elligible just enough to identify the coin type and mintage.
Fair or Poor - Not worth to collect. Very blurred and unable to identify dates or lettering. Identification left much to reasonable guessing of the coin type.
(STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION)
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