NGC Coin Grading Standards & Procedures 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is 'strike' as a grading factor evaluated by NGC?
- Whether a coin was struck by hand or machine
- The sharpness and completeness with which the design was impressed into the planchet (Correct answer)
- The number of times a coin was run through the coining press
- The alignment of obverse and die during minting
Correct answer: The sharpness and completeness with which the design was impressed into the planchet
Strike refers to how fully and sharply the dies transferred design details onto the planchet, affecting high-relief areas like hair, feathers, and stars.
Question 2: What does the NGC 'PF' prefix on a grading label indicate?
- The coin is a planchet flaw specimen
- The coin is a proof strike (Correct answer)
- The coin passed a final quality check
- The coin has a perfect finish
Correct answer: The coin is a proof strike
The 'PF' prefix (or 'PR') on an NGC label indicates that the coin is a proof strike, made with specially prepared dies and planchets for collector quality.
Question 3: Which of the following best describes an 'About Uncirculated' (AU) coin?
- No wear visible even under magnification
- Only a trace of wear on the highest points (Correct answer)
- Wear on all major features with details clear
- Heavily worn with date barely readable
Correct answer: Only a trace of wear on the highest points
AU coins (AU-50 to AU-58) show only a slight trace of wear on the very highest design points while retaining most original luster.
Question 4: What does NGC's 'Full Bell Lines' (FBL) designation indicate on a Franklin Half Dollar?
- The coin has full luster and no bag marks
- The horizontal lines at the base of the Liberty Bell are fully struck and complete (Correct answer)
- The coin grades MS-65 or higher
- The coin has no contact marks on the bell design
Correct answer: The horizontal lines at the base of the Liberty Bell are fully struck and complete
FBL on a Franklin Half Dollar means the two sets of horizontal bell lines at the bottom of the Liberty Bell are fully struck with no breaks or weakness.
Question 5: What is a 'hairline' in the context of NGC coin grading?
- A die crack that appears on many coins from the same die
- Fine scratches on a coin's surface, often from cleaning, visible under magnification (Correct answer)
- A thin raised line caused by a die polish
- A natural flow line in the metal from minting
Correct answer: Fine scratches on a coin's surface, often from cleaning, visible under magnification
Hairlines are fine, parallel scratches typically caused by improper cleaning with an abrasive cloth and are considered a surface problem that lowers a coin's grade.
Question 6: When NGC assigns a 'Details' grade (e.g., 'VF Details'), what does this mean?
- The coin has exceptional detail quality above its grade
- The coin shows the expected wear for that grade but has a problem preventing a numeric grade (Correct answer)
- The coin was graded by a senior details specialist
- The coin has more design detail than typical for its type
Correct answer: The coin shows the expected wear for that grade but has a problem preventing a numeric grade
A Details grade indicates the coin's wear level corresponds to the stated grade, but a problem such as cleaning, damage, or alteration prevents assignment of a clean numeric grade.
Question 7: What grading factor does 'eye appeal' represent in the NGC grading process?
- The sharpness of the coin's strike quality
- The overall visual impression the coin makes, considering all grading factors together (Correct answer)
- The accuracy of the coin's color match to original mint state
- The absence of contact marks on the coin's obverse
Correct answer: The overall visual impression the coin makes, considering all grading factors together
Eye appeal is the overall visual attractiveness of a coin, encompassing strike, luster, surface preservation, and toning, and it can influence the final grade within a range.
NGC Coin Grading Standards & Procedures 3
What is 'strike' as a grading factor evaluated by NGC?