Sheldon Grade (1–70) & Slabbing ROI Wizard
STEP 1 OF 3: SELECT CONDITION CATEGORY
How does your coin's surface look?
Select a condition profile to diagnose the exact Sheldon (1–70) and European grade, or jump straight to the Slabbing ROI Break-Even Simulator.
4-Point Numismatic Surface Inspection
Answer the four diagnostic questions below based on your coin's high points, rim sharpness, and mint luster.
Slabbing Cost & Market Value Inputs
Trace friction on the highest relief points; at least 50% original mint luster remains.
Sheldon Coin Grading Scale (1–70) & European Equivalents Chart
Compare American Sheldon numeric grades (used by PCGS, NGC, and ANACS) against traditional European and Continental grading terms, minimum original mint luster percentages, and expected circulation weight loss.
| Sheldon Grade | European / Continental | Mint Luster | Wear Mass Loss | Surface & Relief Standard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| About Good (AG-3) | Goed / Matig (G) | 0% | −3,80% | Heavily worn; rims merged into lettering, date and main silhouette barely identifiable. |
| Good (G-4 / G-6) | Zeer Goed (ZG) | 0% | −2,90% | Major design outlines visible but flat; peripheral lettering and rims worn nearly smooth. |
| Very Good (VG-8 / VG-10) | Fraai - (F-) | 0% | −2,10% | Complete rim visible; 25% to 40% of major design details and clear legends remain. |
| Fine (F-12 / F-15) | Fraai (F) | 0% | −1,45% | Moderate to heavy even wear; all lettering sharp and roughly 50% of inner relief detail visible. |
| Very Fine (VF-20 / VF-30) | Zeer Fraai (ZF) | 5% | −0,85% | Light wear on high relief points only; 75% of hair, feathers, and drapery details remain sharp. |
| Extremely Fine (EF-40 / XF-45) | Prachtig - (PR-) | 25% | −0,40% | Light friction on the highest design points; 90% full detail with traces of mint luster in protected areas. |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50 / AU-53) | Prachtig (PR) | 55% | −0,15% | Trace friction on the highest relief points; at least 50% original mint luster remains across the fields. |
| Choice About Uncirculated (AU-58) | Prachtig + / Bijna FDC | 85% | −0,05% | Virtually uncirculated with 85%+ booming luster and only the slightest rub on the highest point. |
| Mint State Basal (MS-60 / MS-62) | Uncirculated (UNC) | 100% | 0,00% | Zero circulation wear on high points; may show numerous bag marks, rim nicks, or hairline scuffs. |
| Choice Uncirculated (MS-63 / MS-64) | Fleur de Coin - (UNC+) | 100% | 0,00% | Attractive original mint luster and sharp strike with moderate, non-distracting contact marks. |
| Gem Uncirculated (MS-65 / MS-66) | Fleur de Coin (FDC) | 100% | 0,00% | High-quality booming cartwheel luster and strong eye appeal with only minor scattered pinpricks. |
| Superb Gem Uncirculated (MS-67 / MS-68) | Superb FDC (Stempelglans) | 100% | 0,00% | Virtually flawless surfaces to the naked eye; exceptional strike sharpness and pristine fields. |
| Perfect Uncirculated (MS-69 / MS-70) | Perfect FDC / Top Pop | 100% | 0,00% | Flawless under 5x magnification with 100% full strike, zero contact marks, and untouched mint luster. |
| Proof Basal (PF-60 / PR-62) | Proof (Polierte Platte -) | 100% | 0,00% | Specially struck mirror-field coin showing noticeable hairlines from wiping or cabinet friction. |
| Choice Proof (PF-63 / PR-64) | Choice Proof (Polierte Platte) | 100% | 0,00% | Reflective mirror fields with moderate scattered hairlines visible under direct lighting. |
| Gem Proof (PF-65 / PR-66) | Gem Proof (Proefslag / PP) | 100% | 0,00% | Deep liquid mirror fields and sharp frosted relief (Cameo) with only faint microscopic hairlines. |
| Superb Gem Proof (PF-67 / PR-68) | Superb Proof (FDC Proefslag) | 100% | 0,00% | Virtually flawless mirror surfaces and crisp frosted devices; untouched since minting. |
| Perfect Ultra Cameo Proof (PF-69 / PF-70) | Perfect Proof (Top Pop PP) | 100% | 0,00% | 100% flawless deep mirrors and heavy frosted cameo contrast under 5x magnification. |
Frequently Asked Questions About Coin Grading & Slabbing
When is a coin financially worth submitting to PCGS or NGC?
As a numismatic rule of thumb, third-party certification is financially viable when the expected slabbed market value exceeds the raw coin value plus all grading, handling, and insured shipping fees by at least 25% to 30% (or when authentication is mandatory to sell a high-value gold or key-date silver coin). For common coins valued under $100, archival direct-fit capsules provide superior cost efficiency.
What is the difference between AU-58 and MS-62 on the Sheldon scale?
An AU-58 (Choice About Uncirculated) coin shows the slightest trace of friction on the single highest point of the relief from brief handling, but often retains 85% to 95% booming luster and clean fields. An MS-61 or MS-62 (Mint State) coin has zero circulation rub on the high points, but may exhibit numerous heavy bag marks and contact scratches from mint bag storage.
What does a PCGS or NGC Details grade mean for my coin's value?
If a genuine coin has been harshly cleaned, polished, scratched, holed, or environmentally damaged, grading services encapsulate it in a Details holder (such as AU Details — Cleaned) without assigning a numeric Sheldon score. Details-graded coins typically trade at a 30% to 50% discount compared to problem-free numeric examples of the same wear level.
How do European coin grades like Prachtig and Zeer Fraai map to Sheldon numbers?
Traditional European grading uses descriptive tiers: Goed (G-4), Fraai / Fine (F-12 to F-15), Zeer Fraai / Very Fine (VF-20 to VF-35), Prachtig / Extremely Fine to About Uncirculated (EF-40 to AU-58), and Fleur de Coin / FDC (MS-65 and higher). Our calculator bridges both systems automatically.