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How to Grade Silver Coins

For coin collectors, being able to accurately grade the appearance of coins is one of the most valuable skills one can acquire. Silver coins are a favorite among collectors and a 70 point scale has been created to help collectors rank the quality of the coins. These grades range from uncirculated, meaning they have never been used or used very lightly, to basal, meaning that the item can be recognized as a coin, but the exact type is unidentifiable. A coin with a grade of 70 is flawless, while a coin receiving a grade of 1 has the lowest possible grade for a recognizable coin.

Instructions

The Process of Grading
- 1
  Set up an area with a lot of light so that you can easily see every detail on the silver coins you are going to grade.
- 2
  Examine the silver coin with the naked eye. Focus on how well it was struck, any apparent blemishes, and the amount of luster that the coin displays. The strike should be deep, meaning all of the details on the coin are sharp and easily recognizable. If the coin was struck too lightly, smaller details may be hard to see.
- 3
  Using a loupe or other magnifying device, look for any potential flaws on the coin. Remember that even small marks or scuffs greatly affect the grade of the coin.
- 4
  Establish a grade in your head ranging from uncirculated to basal. Depending on the age of the silver coins, you will likely see quite a few ranging from "about uncirculated" to "good." The grading scale is universal and can be found in a variety of places online, including the NGC's professional grading company's website.
- 5
  Compare your silver coin to others that have been professionally graded. With practice, you should see that your grades tend to be fairly accurate when compared to professionals.

Coin Collecting