PCGS Grading Standards

Color

RD red
bull neologism : more than 95 % original red color. Watch Video

Color

RB red-brown
copper neologism : between 5 % and 95 % original loss coloring material. Watch Video

Color

BN Brown
copper coinage : less than 5 % master red tinge. Watch Video

Strike

FS Full Steps
Jefferson Nickels : MS60 or better, at least five complete steps must appear on Monticello. Any steps that join or fuse together, whether created that manner or subsequently damaged, can not be considered for the Full Steps appointment. Watch Video

Strike

FB Full Bands
Mercury Head Dimes : The cardinal bands on the fasces on the rearward should be wholly separated from left to right, without any breaks, marks or gaps. note : PCGS may designate in grades of 60 and higher. Watch Video

Strike

FH Full Head
Standing liberty Quarters :

• Three leaves must be clear and distinct in Liberty’s hair.
• Earhole must be present.
• Hairline must be distinct from top of forehead to back of neck.

note : PCGS may designate 1918/7 Quarters as Full Head in grades of XF40 and higher .
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Strike

FBL Full Bell Lines
Franklin Half Dollars : MS60 or better. Must exhibit complete, uninterrupted lower lines on the Liberty bell. Watch Video

Surface

DMPL deep Mirror Prooflike
Morgan Dollars :

• Clear reflection in the fields on both sides from at least 6 inches away.
• Must be full, undistorted reflectivity on both the obverse and reverse.

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Surface

PL Prooflike

• Clear reflection in the fields on both sides from 2-4 inches away.
• A misty effect or striations may impede the reflectivity.

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Surface

DCAM thick Cameo
1950-1970 Proof neologism :

• Heavily frosted devices on both the obverse and reverse, with no areas of the main devices unfrosted.
• Heavy contrast between the fields and devices.

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Surface

CAM cameo
1950-1970 Proof neologism :

• The obverse and reverse must exhibit devices that are at least lightly frosted and create a contrast with the fields.
• Frostiness on the devices may be heavier yet contain areas where the frost is lacking or brilliance is evident.
• A coin that exhibits Deep Cameo attributes on one side and Cameo attributes on the other side is considered only a Cameo.

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BM

branch Mint Proof
A proof coin struck prior to 1968 at a Mint other than Philadelphia .

BMCA

branch Mint Cameo
A proof coin showing cameo contrast struck prior to 1968 at a Mint early than Philadelphia .

FS

first hit
All Eagles, Gold Buffalos, Gold Spouse Coins and other mint releases struck within the first gear 30 days of emergence .

SF

Satin finish
A smooth, lightly sandblasted expression with none of the normal silver dollar consequence seen on even strikes .

SMS

especial Mint Set
A set of special coins ( neither business strikes nor Proofs ) first struck in circumscribed quantities in 1965 and officially released in 1966-1967 to replace Proof sets, which were discontinued as part of the U.S. Mint ‘s efforts to stop coin hoarding. The quality of many of the 1965 coins was not a lot better than that of commercial enterprise strikes, but by 1967, some special Mint Set ( SMS ) coins resemble Proofs. In fact, the politics admitted american samoa much when it revealed how the 1967 issues were struck. In 1968, Proof neologism sum up. There have been like issues since ; the 1994 and 1997 Matte-finish Jefferson nickels, for exercise, are frosted SMS-type coins. There besides are a few know 1964 SMS coins, these likely affect as tests in recently 1964 for the new 1965 SMS strikings .

SP

Specimen
Struck well like a Proof, but satiny, sometimes matte, semi-granular looking .