Coin grading involves a professional assessment of a coin’s condition, authenticity, and overall quality. This process typically involves encapsulation in a tamper-evident holder, often referred to as “slabbing,” along with a detailed description and assigned grade based on established numismatic standards. For example, a coin might be graded MS-67, indicating Mint State with minimal imperfections.
Professional evaluation offers several advantages. It provides an objective assessment, increasing market value and facilitating confident transactions between buyers and sellers. A certified grade protects against fraudulent representations and offers long-term preservation, enhancing the coin’s collectibility. The practice has evolved significantly over time, moving from subjective evaluations by individual collectors to the standardized systems used by prominent grading services today. This shift has brought increased transparency and trust to the numismatic market.
