Grading US CoinsLearn to grade U.S. coins accurately and responsibly
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Learn to grade U.S. coins, accurately and responsibly

A calm, beginner-friendly guide to United States coin grading, built the slow, honest way. Every factual claim is checked against trusted sources, and anything we cannot verify is marked, never presented as fact.

1879-S Morgan dollar, graded NGC MS67+. Photo: Brandon Grossardt, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Start with the basics How to grade a coin

Our promise: we never invent grades, standards, values, or history. We research every claim against trusted sources like PCGS, NGC, the U.S. Mint, and the ANA, and cite them on every page.

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Lessons

Step-by-step: grading basics, a hands-on workflow, how coins are made, errors and varieties, counterfeit detection, conservation, and how to submit coins for grading.

Coin Type Guides

Per-series grading guides with real photos: high points, weak-strike areas, common problems, and counterfeit risks.

Glossary

A searchable dictionary of grading terms, in plain English with beginner and advanced explanations.

Sources & Credits

Who we trust and why, and image licenses for every photo on the site.

Explore coins by denomination

From cents to dollars and gold, every major U.S. design, catalogued. Pick a denomination to browse its types and grading guides.

Obverse of a 1909-S VDB Lincoln Wheat cent.Cents13 designs · 3 guides Obverse of an 1865 two-cent piece showing a Union shield with the motto IN GOD WE TRUST.Two-Cent Pieces1 design Obverse of an 1871 proof Three-Cent Silver coin, a star with a shield.Three-Cent Pieces2 designs Obverse of a Flowing Hair Half Dime.Half Dimes4 designs Obverse of a 1913 Type 1 Buffalo nickel, graded NGC MS65.Nickels4 designs · 4 guides Obverse of a 1943-D Mercury dime.Dimes6 designs · 3 guides Obverse of an 1876-CC twenty-cent piece showing Liberty seated.Twenty-Cent Pieces1 design Obverse of a 1917 Type 1 Standing Liberty quarter, graded PCGS MS64 FH.Quarters10 designs · 3 guides Obverse of a Flowing Hair Half Dollar.Half Dollars8 designs · 4 guides Obverse of a 1879-S Morgan dollar, graded NGC MS67+.Dollars12 designs · 2 guides Obverse of a Gold Dollar.Gold8 designs

Featured grading guides

Series with full, photo-illustrated grading guides ready now.

Obverse of a 1909-S VDB Lincoln Wheat cent.Lincoln Cent1909-present Obverse of a 1879-S Morgan dollar, graded NGC MS67+.Morgan Dollar1878-1904, 1921 (vintage); 2021 commemorative reissue Obverse of a 1913 Type 1 Buffalo nickel, graded NGC MS65.Buffalo Nickel (Indian Head Nickel)1913-1938 Obverse of a 1943-D Mercury dime.Mercury Dime (Winged Liberty Head Dime)1916-1945 Obverse of a 1917 Type 1 Standing Liberty quarter, graded PCGS MS64 FH.Standing Liberty Quarter1916-1930 Obverse of a 1921 Peace dollar (high relief, first year).Peace Dollar1921-1935; revived 2021 Obverse and reverse of an 1858 Flying Eagle cent showing a flying eagle and an agricultural wreath.Flying Eagle Cent1856–1858 Obverse of an 1860 Indian Head cent showing Liberty in a feathered headdress.Indian Head Cent1859–1909 Obverse and reverse of an 1866 Shield nickel of the With Rays type, showing a shield and the numeral 5 ringed by stars and rays.Shield Nickel1866–1883 Obverse and reverse of an 1887 Liberty Head nickel of the With CENTS type, showing Liberty's head and a Roman numeral V in a wreath.Liberty Head (V) Nickel1883–1913 Obverse and reverse of a 1938 Jefferson nickel, showing Jefferson's profile and Monticello side by side.Jefferson Nickel1938–present Obverse and reverse of an 1892 Barber dime showing Liberty in a cap and a wreath around ONE DIME.Barber Dime1892–1916 Obverse of a 1996-S Roosevelt dime showing Franklin D. Roosevelt's profile facing left.Roosevelt Dime1946–present Obverse of a 1913 Barber quarter showing Liberty in a cap and laurel wreath.Barber Quarter1892–1916 Obverse of a 1932 Washington quarter showing George Washington's profile facing left.Washington Quarter1932–present Obverse of an 1899 Barber half dollar showing Liberty in a cap and laurel wreath.Barber Half Dollar1892–1915 Obverse of a 1945-D Walking Liberty half dollar showing Liberty striding left toward a rising sun.Walking Liberty Half Dollar1916–1947 Obverse of a 1950-D Franklin half dollar showing Benjamin Franklin's profile facing right.Franklin Half Dollar1948–1963 Obverse of a Kennedy half dollar showing John F. Kennedy's profile facing left.Kennedy Half Dollar1964–present

Frequently asked questions

What is coin grading?

Grading rates a coin's condition on a shared 1-to-70 scale so collectors everywhere mean the same thing by a grade. After rarity, condition is the biggest driver of a coin's value.

Should I clean my coins?

In most cases, no. Cleaning usually lowers value, and detectably cleaned coins receive a “Details” grade. We treat cleaning carefully and never as casual advice.

How do I get a coin professionally graded?

You submit it to a third-party grading service like PCGS or NGC, directly with a membership or through an authorized dealer, and it comes back authenticated, graded, and sealed in a labeled holder. Our lesson on submitting coins for grading walks through the whole process, from deciding whether it is worth it to packing the box.