| GRADE | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|
| PO-1 | Identifiable date and type |
| FR-2 | Mostly worn, though some detail is visible |
| AG-3 | Worn rims but most lettering is readable though worn |
| G-4 | Slightly worn rims, flat detail, peripheral lettering nearly full |
| G-6 | Rims complete with flat detail, peripheral lettering full |
| VG-8 | Design worn with slight detail |
| VG-10 | Design worn with slight detail, slightly clearer |
| F-12 | Some deeply recessed areas with detail, all lettering sharp |
| F-15 | Slightly more detail in the recessed areas, all lettering sharp |
| VF-20 | Some definition of detail, all lettering full and sharp |
| VF-25 | Slightly more definition in the detail and lettering |
| VF-30 | Almost complete detail with flat areas |
| VF-35 | Detail is complete but worn with high points flat |
| XF-40 | Detail is complete with most high points slightly flat |
| XF-45 | Detail is complete with some high points flat |
| AU-50 | Full detail with friction over most of the surface, slight flatness on high points |
| AU-53 | Slight flatness and loss of luster visible on high points of design. Some luster remains |
| AU-55 | Full detail with friction on less than 1/2 surface, mainly on high points |
| AU-58 | Full detail with only slight friction on the high points |
| MS/PR-60 | No wear. May have many heavy marks/hairlines, strike may not be full |
| MS/PR-61 | No wear. Multiple heavy marks/hairlines, strike may not be full |
| MS/PR-62 | No wear. Slightly less marks/hairlines, strike may not be full |
| MS/PR-63 | Moderate number/size marks/hairlines, strike may not be full |
| MS/PR-64 | Few marks/hairlines or a couple of severe ones, strike should be average or above |
| MS/PR-65 | Minor marks/hairlines though none in focal areas, above average strike |
| MS/PR-66 | Few minor marks/hairlines not in focal areas, good strike |
| MS/PR-67 | Virtually as struck with minor imperfections, very well struck |
| MS/PR-68 | Virtually as struck with slight imperfections, slightest weakness of strike allowed |
| MS/PR-69 | Virtually as struck with minuscule imperfections, near full strike necessary |
| MS/PR-70 | Fully struck and lustrous, free of visual marks. The PCGS 70 grading standard does allow for “as minted” defects, as long as those flaws are minor and do not impact the eye appeal of the coin. |
| DESIGNATION | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|
| RD | Color: Red - more than 95% original red color |
| RB | Color: Red-Brown - between 5% and 95% original red color |
| BN | Color: Brown - less then 5% original red color |
| CA | Surface: Cameo |
| DCAM | Surface: Deep Cameo |
| DM | Surface: Deep Mirror |
| PL | Surface: Prooflike |
| SP | Specimen: Struck well like a Proof, but satiny, sometimes matte, semi-granular looking |
| No Grade | DESCRIPTION | PRINTED DESCRIPTION | Holdered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 82 | Filed Rims | Yes | Yes |
| 83 | Peeling Lamination | Yes | No |
| 84 | Holed and Plugged | Yes | Yes |
| 86 | Authenticity Unverifiable | Yes | No |
| 90 | Counterfeit | Yes | No |
| 91 | Questionable Color | No | Yes |
| 92 | Cleaned - surface damage due to a harsh, abrasive cleaning | No | Yes |
| 93 | Planchet Flaw - metal impurity or defect in the planchet | No | Yes |
| 94 | Altered Surfaces - whizzed, harsh cleaning, thumbed over (using a pasty substance to cover defects or alter the appearance) | No | Yes |
| 95 | Scratch | No | Yes |
| 96 | Refund - No Service - coins we do not certify (i.e. medals, some privately made issues, etc.) or cannot certify (i.e. over-sized coins). Fee Refunded. | Yes | No |
| 97 | Environmental Damage - i.e. corrosion, coating (lacquer), excessively heavy toning, etc. | No | Yes |
| 98 | Damage - deliberate surface damage, i.e. graffiti, spot(s) removed, etc. | Yes | Yes |
| 99 | PVC (Poly-Vinyl-Chloride) Residue - a plasticizer used to produce vinyl that will leach out of the holder and onto the coin, eventually damaging the surfaces | Yes | No |
Coins with any of the problems listed above (except codes 83, 86, 90, 96, and 99) can be encapsulated in a Genuine-Not Gradable holder. There are two options available under the Genuine service. Only one option is allowed per submission form. See below for a detailed description of the two options. Holders and inserts for Genuine coins will be identical to the normal PCGS holder except that the insert will read "GENUINE" in place of the usual grade. No grade will be assigned to these coins, but they will be eligible for inclusion in the PCGS Set Registry with a grade value of 1. Genuine coins will be covered under the PCGS Guarantee of Authenticity but not under the PCGS Guarantee of Grade. PCGS reserves the right to reject any coins submitted that are excessively damaged, altered to such a degree that making a determination of authenticity is difficult or impossible, or which have surface contaminants that may harm the coin in the future.
There are two options available under the Genuine service. Only one option is allowed per submission form. Select one of our two Genuine Service options: