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the Pwincess and the Coin Collector

He's a coinie, she's a Pwincess. We've got things for gap-fillers, date run makers and year set people. We've got things that sparkle and glow, and coins that have been through hard times and wars. Coins that may have been lost and found, spent and lent, given and stolen, and some that have never been touched at all.

 

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  • the Coin Collector'​s Grading Guide
  

Something I've noticed in my years as an eBay coinie is that grading coins has acquired a bit of a mystique; in the extreme almost a taboo.  I don't think that's necessary - don't be frightened of grading coins.  Remember - it's not about shinyness, it's about wear.

 The hard information below is lifted from a Coin Yearbook sometime in the 1980s - I don't have the book any more but I still use the information on a daily basis.  The photos are ours.

 

Very Good

Fine

Very Fine

Extremely Fine

Elizabeth II
  • Top edge of dress indistinct
  • Top edge of dress just visible
  • All leaf outlines clear
  • Hairlines beginning to flatten
  • Top of dress clear
George VI
  • Parting still visible
  • Edge of ear poorly defined
  • Virtually no hairlines
  • Hollow in hair above ear just visible
  • A few patches of hairlines
  • Hairlines clear except in patches
  • All hairlines clear
George V
  • Ear poorly defined
  • No hairlines
  • Edge of hair above forehead indistinct
  • Few hairlines
  • Edge of hair above forehead clear
  • Obvious wear on eyebrow & cheekbone
  • Top of ear beginning to flatten
  • Hair above forehead slighly worn
  • Edge of beard across cheek just visible
  • Slight wear on eyebrow & cheekbone
  • Top of ear clear
  • Edge of beard clear
Edward VII
  • Ear beginning to wear smooth
  • Virtually no hairlines
  • Eye well defined
  • Ear well defined
  • Hairlines only under chin
  • Moustache nearly whole
  • Top of ear clear
  • Edge of bald patch distinct
  • Hair flattened above ear
  • Moustache whole but worn
  • Hair above ear clear
Victoria OH
  • Large area of face smooth
  • Jewellery well worn
  • Side of face flattened
  • Edge of hair not well defined
  • Folds of robe across head nearly smooth
  • Ear well defined
  • Jewellery no longer sharp
  • Hairlines flattening slightly
  • Obvious wear on highest parts of robe
  • Jewellery sharp
  • Hairlines well defined
Victoria YH
  • Few hairlines visible
  • Headbands virtually indistinct
  • Ear poorly defined
  • Some hairlines visible behind ear
  • Some hairlines visible in bun
  • Headbands partly visible
  • Edge of ear no longer sharp
  • Coarse hairlines almost complete
  • Edge of hair above eye indistinct
  • Headbands well defined
  • Hairlines complete
  • Edge of hair above eye clear
  • Signature clear on truncation