Grading coins......Confucius says what?

Here is my dilemma ......... If I receive a receive a coin from somebody and the grade marked on the flip is AU, and I agree with that, where do I log it in numista.....? XF or UNC, since in my opinion it's neither........

I'm not concerned with the dispute about lower grades, since I usually grade a questionable VF coin F anyway, but I want to be on the money on the higher grade stuff......

Anybody ever wonder why Numista don't offer an AU option, or is XF ......AU ?????

Seems to me that since Numista doesn't offer an in between grade or even recognizes AU, then you would have to go with XF.

It should go under UNC.

Many years ago it became a common practice to add +/- modifiers to each of the descriptive grades to make them a little more precise. It makes perfect sense to me as a single grade has a lot of ground to cover. Consider the average VF grade, it can range from a very weak example which is little better than F right up to the top end of the bracket which is close to being EF.

Some people preferred to use the prefix good G) and almost (A) or nearly (N), so it would run F, GF, AVF, VF.

Some people still use them (I do and would encourage others to do the same) but they have largely fallen out of favor since Americans adopted the supposedly more precise numerical scale. The surviving remnant of this eminetly sensible practice is the AU grade.

So the EF+ or GEF would belong in the EF slot and the AU with the UNC specimens.

I have to disagree with pnightingale. UNC is reserved for coins with 0 wear (hairlines and marks from contact with other coins may be present). AU means very slight wear on high points, but all details are clearly visible.

Conclusion: If it has wear, it's not UNC. Pick the next available grade.

For a more detailed explanation of the Sheldon scale, see any of the below:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheldon_coin_grading_scale
  
• https://www.ngccoin.com/coin-grading/grading-scale/
  
• http://www.pcgs.com/grades/
  
• http://coins.about.com/od/coingrading/f/sheldon_scale.htm
  
• http://www.usmint.gov/about_the_mint/collectors_corner/?action=grading
  

Me iam off in my own world when it comes to grading. I don't like MS , AU,or UNC. If a coin leaves the mint and out of mint packaging. it is circulated ,well to me. So only use unc as to describe not to grade. Like this Canada 1 dollar I grade it as XF plus , UNC. The fields are mirror clean , hard to take an image. And the reeding is very sharp. Meaning you run your finger along it, it feels like it can cut you.

I have some coins from mint bags that just looks like hell. They are call unc bag marks. What does that mean
well just my thoughts yours daryl
sorry image is not very good

Quote: "ALLRED1950"​ I have some coins from mint bags that just looks like hell. They are call unc bag marks. What does that mean
​ well just my thoughts yours daryl
​sorry image is not very good

​Probably means they're MS-65 or lower. :)

I found myself completely disregarding grading. It shines a lot? XF, it shines a lot more with no mark, UNC. It does not shine? VF...

For swapping, I always give them one mark lower, and/or send the pics.

But it truly does not matter to me.

I had the same dilemma when I joined Numista so here is my method.

Anything slabbed MS I have put in UNC and made a note; MS60, MS62, etc.
AU's (in my humble opinion or slabbed) I have put in XF with a note ; AU.

I think it is only a matter of time before I remove the slabbed coins from their holders. In the early days I needed some nice exemplars of Canadian cents, particularly George VI and Elizabeth II, for comparison purposes. But after many great forum topics on grading and seeing some rather "sad" slabbed examples I'll just remove them, put them in XF, and add a note; MS60, MS62, etc.

Incidentally, we have the same dilema at the other end of the scale. I have a G 1858 Cent (BV $45 cdn) ticked in the VG box with a note. VG grade would be $75 cdn.

Cheers

Quote: "Jarcek"​I found myself completely disregarding grading. It shines a lot? XF, it shines a lot more with no mark, UNC. It does not shine? VF...
​
​For swapping, I always give them one mark lower, and/or send the pics.
​
​But it truly does not matter to me.

​The problem with this is that there are some coins that would only grade as VF that have been polished, also some UNC coins that have been put in an album and toned up so do not shine at all.

AS to where to put it...it's up to you. Just add it into the comments field that it is AU. Either put it in XF with a comment saying it's AU or into UNC with a comment that it's AU.

Quote: "neilithic"​
​​The problem with this is that there are some coins that would only grade as VF that have been polished, also some UNC coins that have been put in an album and toned up so do not shine at all.
​
​

​Polished coins go to trash for me. And toned UNC is the greatest treasure.