The Sheldon scale is the universal coin grading standard, ranging from 1 (barely identifiable) to 70 (absolutely perfect). Understanding this scale is essential for any serious collector or dealer.
The scale is divided into several major categories:
Poor to About Good (1-3):
Coins are heavily worn with minimal detail remaining.
Good to Very Good (4-10):
Major design elements are visible but significantly worn.
Fine to Very Fine (12-35):
Moderate wear with increasingly clear details.
Extremely Fine (40-45):
Light wear on the highest points with most detail sharp.
About Uncirculated (50-58):
Slight to trace wear on the highest points. Significant mint luster remains.
Mint State / Proof (60-70):
No trace of wear. Differences in this range relate to the number and severity of contact marks, hairlines, and the quality of the strike and luster.
At IGA, our graders use structured input criteria including strike quality, surface preservation, luster, and eye appeal to calculate grades objectively. This systematic approach ensures consistency across all grading decisions.