Do not memorize 70 grades. Learn the five neighborhoods that actually drive buying decisions.
The five neighborhoods
- G-4 to F-12 — filler. Heavy wear, details merging. Price it like the metal and the hole it fills, not like a collectible.
- VF-20 to VF-35 — affordable collector coins. Full rims, clear major details, honest wear. This is where most collecting happens.
- XF-40/45 — light wear on the high points only. Nearly all original detail present. Learn to spot the first rub — it is the whole difference between XF and AU money.
- AU-50 to 58 — a whisper of wear. Full luster with the faintest friction on the highest points. The value sweet spot — and the most overgraded tier online.
- MS-60 to 70 — no wear, graded on luster, marks, strike, and eye appeal. Bag marks are allowed here; friction is not.
Why one grade matters
Price jumps between grades are exponential, not linear. One grade of overpayment — calling an XF an AU — can erase your entire margin on the deal.
A photograph can inform a decision, but it cannot authenticate or certify a coin.