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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;rggoodie, post: 31531, member: 1853&quot;]<b>Grading</b></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>GRADING STANDARD</p><p>For Australian Circulation Type Commonwealth Coins</p><p>FDC: “Fleur De Coin” French: Flower of the Die</p><p>A Perfect or virtually perfect coin. Fully struck up. No Contact- or other Detracting Marks visible with the naked eye, and only minute superficial imperfections, relating to the manufacturing process rather than any other cause, may be visible under magnification. Fully Lustre or Mint Bloom is present. Toning on Silver coins (if present) must be attractive. Brilliance (Color) on Bronze Coins should be 90% plus. Eye Appeal is outstanding. Rarely available, with most early dates of George V never seen this nice.</p><p>Brilliant Uncirculated (BU)</p><p>A coin of this grade will show no blemishes or sign of wear. The design and legend will appear sharper than the average, a result of early mintage. Full mint luster will be seen over all the coin, sometimes giving the effect of a proof-like finish.</p><p><br /></p><p>Brilliant Uncirculated </p><p>Also referred to as FDC (Fleur de Coin - flower of the die). Although struck with normal dies, a coin described as BU is pristine, almost prooflike in appearance, being perfectly sharp, absolutely flawless and showing no signs of wear or bag marks. On the US grading scale, such a coin is described as MS-65. Grading at this superior level has become more complex in recent years with distinctions being made in many catalogs between (from highest to lowest state of preservation) - FDC, GEM Uncirculated and Choice</p><p>GEM: GEM Uncirculated</p><p>A superior coin with an almost perfect Strike. May show just a few minute Contact Marks, barley visible to the naked eye. Virtually Full Lustre or Mint Bloom is present. Degree of Brilliance (Color) on Bronze Coins may be expressed in per cent (%). Thus, GEM-50%B refers to a coin with half its Brilliance still intact. Overall, exceptional Eye Appeal is present.</p><p>CHU: Choice Uncirculated</p><p>A fairly good Strike, but some weakness in this area is acceptable. If seemingly excessive but common for type, then this may be mentioned separately. Just a few but relatively insignificant Contact Marks may be present. Better than average Mint Bloom or Lustre should be apparent. Remaining Brilliance on Bronze Coins should be expressed in per cent (%). Pleasant Eye Appeal.</p><p>UNC: Uncirculated- Typical </p><p>Possibly but not always a Weak Strike. A few scattered Contact Marks, but if of a fairly eye catching or serious nature, this should be mentioned separately. Lustre or Mint Bloom may be present, but possibly be subdued. Some minor rubbing or Cabinet Friction (from storing coins) may be tolerable, but must not be obvious wear. Limited Eye Appeal may still be apparent, but unattractive toning should be separately mentioned. Brilliance on Bronze expressed in per cent (%).</p><p>NOTE: From this grade on and below, quality of Strike should not be of great significance when considering grade, but may be mentioned separately if excessively inferior, as it may slightly affect value. </p><p>aUNC: almost Uncirculated</p><p>Similar in most respects to UNC but with light traces of Wear on the highest points of the design. A fair degree of lustre or Mint bloom may still remain. Important Note: Coins graded aUNC due to light Wear may be visually more attractive than others graded UNC. Reasons for this may be a better Strike or fewer Contact Marks. However, light Wear results in aUNC.</p><p>gEF: good Extra Fine</p><p>Shows a little more Wear (2%-5%) on the high points of the design. Usually features non-serious Contact Marks, obvious from circulation. Lustre still possible, but more likely found in protected areas. Reasonable Eye Appeal should still be present.</p><p>NOTE: For circulated coins, exceptional Eye Appeal may lift the grade by 1/3 of a point say EF to gEF; or aVF to VF. Alternatively, particularly unattractive coins should be downgraded by a similar margin.</p><p>EF: Extra Five</p><p>Light overall Wear, (5% to 10%) from the high points of the design. A few more Contact Marks than for gEF, (but still nothing serious) may be apparent. Centre pearls on the Obverse of George V coins are strong and divided, except with 3 Pence, where small size may prevent detail. Traces of Lustre still possible in protected areas. A pleasant but obviously used coin. </p><p>aEF: almost Extra Fine</p><p>Wear is now around 10% to 15%. Lightly scattered Contact Marks are obvious. Hairlines on George VI coins and Centre pearls on George V Obverse quite strong, though some allowance must be made for small Three Pence. Overall, a pleasant but circulated coin. </p><p>gVF: good Very Fine</p><p>Wear is now around 15% to 20% from the highest points of the design. Contact Marks are obvious but still not serious. Centre pearls on George V coins may just blend together or be marginally apart in a strong strike. A very acceptable condition for collectors.</p><p>VF: Very Fine</p><p>Wear is around 20% to 35% from the highest points of the design. George V coins should feature a full outline of the Centre Diamond on the Obverse. Contact Marks are moderate but no more than for a coin that has seen average circulation. Significant Contact Marks must still be mentioned separately. In most instances, this is the lowest grade a serious collector should accept. </p><p>Fine: Fine</p><p>Wear now is around 35% to 50% form the high points of the design. Intricate details are well worn away. Coin may still have a pleasant but well used appearance.</p><p>VG: Very Good</p><p>Wear may be uneven and is 50% to 75% from the high points of the main design. However, all outline of the design are still fairly raised and intact.</p><p>GOOD: Good</p><p>Wear is above 75% to 90% form the high points of the design. All Outline of the design is still apparent, though marginally so in some areas. For the true blue collector on a budget.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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