How to Evaluate Coins

Evaluate luster. Luster is judged by how much light is reflected by the coin's surface. A coin that is dull, drab and over-polished, or one that appears stained, is rated as "Below average." Rate any coins with blinding brilliance as "Above average." Anything in-between qualifies as "Average."

Grade the coin's color and tone. Look at every surface of the coin, including the rim. Grade any coins that have intense, bright colors and rainbow toning as being of above average quality. Splotchy, ugly or dark toning accompanied by spots or corrosion must be rated as below average. Coins that have been over-cleaned and show resulting deterioration are also below average. Mark all other coins as having average color and tone.

Evaluate the coin's "strike" characteristics. Strike characteristics are most evident on the highest points of the coin. Look for any signs of wear or friction. An ideal coin is flatly struck in all areas, meaning there is no visible friction or signs of wear. A below-average coin can appear to have been flattened by wear and tear.

Combine luster, color, tone and strike characteristic grades to form an overall grade for the coin. For amateur grading, you may use a general scale to denote below average, average and above average coins. If you would like to be more specific, grade each characteristic on a numerical scale. Below average characteristics can be given a grade from one to 23, average attributes will fall between 24 and 46, while above average characteristics are graded from 47 to 70. Average the numerical scores to arrive at an overall grade for your coin.