SOMEBODY SAYS THAT COIN GRADING IS AN ART, AND OTHERS WILL SAY THIS IS A SIENCE. REGARDLESS OTHERS MEANING, MY EXPERIANCE IS THAT COIN GRADINING IS DIFFICULT, IT REQUIRE EXPERIANCE, KNOWLEGE OBOUT THE COINS YOU ARE GRADING AND A GOOD PORSION OF ACCURACY. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE ANY KNOWLEGE IN COIN GRADING, I WILL RECOMMEND YOU NOT TO BUY COINS FROM UNKNOWN PERSONS WITHOUT FIRST COSULTING SOMEONE WHO CAN HELP YOU. YOU WILL GRADUALLY LEARN, BUT TRY TO AVOID PAYING COSTLY FOR THE FIRST LEARNING. WHY COIN GRADING? Most coin collectors of today prefers, for several reasons, the coins in good condition. An uncirculated coin will keep its fine details and are often a small work of art. An ancient coin will be easier both to read and recognize in good condition. It is generally a bigger pleasure to own a coin in good condition, than a worn out exemplar. When time is passing there will be less coins available in top condition, than is used condition, which again will influence the collectors value. THE VALUE DEPENDS OF THE CONDITION. The following factors have influence on the value: condition, avalability and demand. This indicate that a coin i high graded coin has a higher value than a low graded coin, a coin seldom seen will have a higher value than a comon, which also is a function of the demand. A coin might cost hundreds of kroner, or dollars, in uncirculated, while in used condition no value at all. The value of Norwegian coins can be found in this catalogue: "Coins of Norway 1814-2011, 42 edition 2012"
In this catalogue you will find all the Nordic countries: "Sieg's Catalogue NORDEN 2012"
Coins from all over the world you will find in the catalogues on this page: "WORLD COINS" STANDARD DESCRIPTION OF CONDITION For many years the collectors and dealers have used an universal standard for describing the condition of a coin. Here you will find differences between the countries way of describing the condition, however, this is more a difference in expression than in grading. Below, we are giving a short description for the Norwegian way of grading, with the standard international abrivations and the US used MS system of grading. OTHER IMPORTANT FACTORS A weak stroke has to be taken into concideration when grading a coin. A coin with a weak stroke might be unsirculated without showing more details than a normal stroke coin will show in EF or even lower. Going back to the hand made coins, many of them were stoken out of centre. Here a nice stroken and nice centered coin will have a bigger attraction to a collector. Things like these are important when describing a cain. ABRIVATION AND DESCRIPTIONS. Both dealers and collectors are using the abrivations when discussing the condition of a coin.
In our liste you will find the combinations like: 1/1+ or 1+/01 and others, these indicates a grading between the two grades. Aditionally we are using the following letters: sv (weak), g (good) or n (near) before the grading. This is in our opinion needed to make the best possible and accurate description of the grade. Our hope is that the descriptions below will give you a help to understand the various grades we are using in our lists, as well as giving you the possibility to understand the meaning of the various descriptions and make your own grading on your own collection. USA
| Internat.
| Norweg.
| Description
| | Proof | Proof
| Proof
| Proof is not a condition of a coin, but a description of a special produced coin. This is a perfect coin struck twice or more to obtain the maximum sharpness and fully struck surface. The dies are polished, which gives a mirror-like looked surface with frosted look on raise parts of the design.
| MS 60-MS 70
| UNC
| 0
| An uncirculated coin, new as from the factory showing no sign of being in circulation. Due to production techniques, even a ucirculatded coin may show imperfections such as minor bag marks or tiny rim indentions and are therefore not nesesarely a perfect coin.
| MS 50-MS 58
| AU
| 0/01
| An almost uncirculated coin, under a magnifyer the slightest sign of wear can be confined to the very highest points. The natural mint lustre common to uncirculated coins will still be intact.
| MS 40-MS 45
| EF(XF)
| 01
| An extremely nice coin. A coin showing a very small amount of wear, but only on the very higest parts. The is still some of the mint lustre left on the coin.
| MS 20-MS 35
| VF
| 1+
| A very nice coin. However, it can easily be seen to have been in circulation. Most of the high points will be affected. It is still a nice and collectible coin. The mint lustre is not present.
| MS 12
| F
| 1
| Still an adequate coin, but with considerably sign og wear on all high points and the fields of the coin will be quite dull. All numbers, letters and main details are fully wisable.
| MS 8
| VG
| 1-
| Not an adequate coin, with a significant amount of wear, but most of the main details are still visable. Still no problem with identification.
| MS 2
| G
| 2
| A low graded coin where nearly all fine details are worn-out. The full rim is normally not required, but you must be able to read the date and mintmark.
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