GRADING
The Sheldon Coin Grading Scale is used by independent grading companies to evaluate coins on a scale of 1 to 70 based on their condition, with 70 considered flawless museum quality.
Similar to how diamonds are graded for their cut and clarity, coins are assessed by an independent grading service that employs world-class numismatic experts to individually inspect coins in a controlled environment. During the coin grading process, each expert’s assessment is then added into a database where a consensus on the coin’s grade is reached.
According to Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS), “The advent of the third-party appraisal of a coin’s physical condition… provides a dependable form of protection for rare coin collectors.” It does so by establishing the coin’s scarcity and guaranteeing that assessment.
