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Message:: [QUOTE="kanga, post: 872521, member: 9270"]To the best of my knowledge the Sheldon Scale is NOT the OFFICIAL industry standard.It is just the most widely used grade notation.As evidence of my opinion check out any of the trade publications and take note of the number of sellers still using adjectival grading (Choice BU, etc.)Secondly, it's not even a standard.As evidence of my opinion note the number of grading guides. They don't totally agree.And further if you give the same coin to 10 different professionals you at best end up with a consensus, not an absolute. I believe the Sheldon Scale is the best grading notation currently in use.Everyone knows XF-40 means Extra Fine. To that extent it's a standard.But not everyone agrees what the exact definition of Extra Fine is for each issue.ANDI don't believe there ever will be an exact definition.There are too many factors that have to be considered.Extra Fine is a combination of objective and subjective considerations that MOST people will agree approximates the description in a grading guide.[/QUOTE]