Grading Australian coins Australian banknotes

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Australian Pre Decimal Coins

Mint Marks	Australian pre decimal coins have been struck at a number of mints both in Australia and abroad. To help identify from which mint a coin originates each mint adds a mark to the coin different from other mints. The mint mark is usually located near the date on the coin. There are some exceptions to this which are noted as they arise. Mint marks on gold sovereigns: M - Melbourne Victoria S - Sydney New South Wales P - Perth Western Australia On both 1/2 sovereigns and full sovereigns with the St. George reverse the mint mark appears on the lower side of the ground above the centre of the date. view Sydney mint 1/2 sovereign and sovereigns do not have a mint mark. 1/2 sovereigns minted between 1871 and 1887 with the shield reverse have the date on the obverse and the mint mark on the reverse under the shield view Full sovereigns minted between 1871 and 1887 with the shield reverse have the date on the obverse and the mint mark on the reverse under the shield view Mint marks on pre decimal copper coins: H - Heaton Mint in London, England used on 1/2 pennies 1912, 1914 and 1915 and pennies in 1912 and 1915 only. view I - On the reverse just above the date indicates Calcutta, India. This was used for 1/2 pennies in 1916, 1917 and 1918 and for pennies in 1917 and 1918. view I - On the obverse just below the Kings effigy indicates Bombay, India view and was used for both 1/2 pennies and pennies for the years 1942 and 1943. These coins also have a dot before and a dot after the wording Half Penny and Penny respectively. Dots - One penny 1919 with a dot below the bottom scroll indicates Melbourne mint. One Penny 1919 with dot over the top scroll and dot below the bottom scroll indicates Melbourne mint. One Penny 1920 dot over the bottom scroll indicates Sydney mint One Penny 1920 dot below the bottom scroll indicates Melbourne mint One Penny 1920 dot over the top scroll indicates Melbourne mint One Penny 1920 dot over the top scroll and below the bottom scroll indicates Melbourne mint. For 1/2 pennies A dot after the A of Australia indicates Perth mint and was used in 1952 only. view A dot after the Y of Half Penny indicates Perth mint and was used in 1942, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950 and 1951. view For pennies a dot after the A of Australia indicates Perth mint and was used in 1952 and 1953. view A dot after the Y of Penny indicates Perth mint and was used from 1941 to 1945, 1947, 1948, 1950, 1951 and 1955 to 1964 inclusive. view PL - In 1951 some of our 1/2 pennies and some of our pennies were minted at the London mint and this is indicated by a PL which appears just after the Y of Half Penny and Penny respectively. view K.G - All pennies with a Kangaroo reverse, include as part of their design the letters KG which appear in the field just above the Kangaroos tail. Coins minted at the Perth mint during 1940 and 1941 have a dot between the K and the G distinguishing them as coins struck in Perth. This dot is not always clearly defined and can appear as anything from a clear dot to a low barely distinguishable lump. view Mint marks on pre decimal silver coins: H - Heaton Mint in London, England used on one shilling in 1915 and florin in 1914 and 1915. view M - Melbourne mint used on the Threepence 1916 to 1921 inclusive, Sixpence 1916 to 1920 inclusive, Shilling 1916, 1917, 1918 and 1920, Florin 1916 to 1919 inclusive. view S - San Francisco Threepence 1942 to 1944 inclusive, Sixpence 1942 to 1944 inclusive, Shilling 1942 to 1944 inclusive, Florin 1942 to 1944 inclusive. D - Denver Threepence 1942 and 1943 only, Sixpence 1942 and 1943 only. PL - Royal Mint, London, both Threepence and Sixpence for 1951 only. Dot - Before the S of shilling denotes Perth mint for the year 1946 only. view Star - A "*" above the date of the 1921 shilling denotes Sydney mint. view
PROOF	Proof describes a type of coin, not a grade. Proof coins are not minted for circulation, they are collector issues. They have a mirror-like finish which is a result of the highly polished dies and blanks used in their manufacture. The design on many proof coins have been treated with acid or sand blasted to give them a matt finish which make it stand out against the highly polished background. This is called "frosted relief".
Fleur De Coin FDC	A perfect coin. A sharp strike with fully formed detail. There can be no detracting or contact marks. Full mint lustre must be present. Attractive toning is acceptable on silver coins only. Eye appeal should be brilliant.
Gem Uncirculated GEM	A few insignificant detracting marks may be just visible to the naked eye. Strong but not perfect strike. Almost full mint lustre should be present. Attractive toning may be present. Eye appeal should be very high.
Choice Uncirculated ChUnc	Should be well struck with only minor detail missing from the high points of the design. Detracting marks should be very minor and should not attract your attention. Mint Lustre should be apparent. Attractive toning may be present. Eye appeal should be excellent.
Uncirculated UNC	As the term implies, a coin which has not been circulated in the commercial sense. The coin may have a flat strike caused by excessive use of the dies when minting. Detracting marks received during minting are acceptable. However if the marks are not minor or they detract from the coins appearance they need to be mentioned and taken into account when grading. Eye appeal should be very nice.
almost Uncirculated aUNC	Similar to uncirculated but with faint traces of wear to the high points of the design. Detracting marks are acceptable as long as they are not too bad. Some lustre should still be visible. Eye appeal should be very nice.
good Extremely Fine gEF	Coin should have visible light wear. Detracting marks from circulation handling will be visible however they will still be of a very minor nature. Some lustre may still be evident. Eye appeal should be nice.
Extremely Fine EF	Coin should have easily visible light wear. Be careful not to confuse a weak strike with light wear. GV coins centre pearls should be separate. More detracting marks will be evident but should not be serious. Lustre may still be present and eye appeal nice.
almost Extremely Fine aEF	Coin should have easily visible wear and a few more detracting marks than an EF coin, GV coins should have strong centre pearls. The overall condition and eye appeal should still be quite nice. Lustre may still be present.
good Very Fine gVF	Obvious wear, obvious but not serious contact marks. GV coins centre pearls may be merging together. Eye appeal should be very good.
Very Fine VF	Coin will show obvious wear and all high points of the design will be gone. Detracting marks in keeping with expectations for wear including several minor edge nicks and dents. Major detail should still be good with GV coins having a full outline of the centre diamond. Coin may still have some lustre. Eye appeal should be very good.
Fine F	Coin will have extensive wear. The major design will be easily recognisable but most of the detail will have worn flat. There will be more detracting mark and nicks / dents.
Very Good VG	Up to almost 3/4 of the detail of the coin will be missing. There will be lots of flat spots where the high detail used to be. Overall design of the coin including wording and date should be readable.
	Detailed grading tips for Australian coins produced between 1910 and 1936 and bearing the effigy of either Edward VII or George V. The Obverse The first signs of obverse wear are seen on the monarch’s crown band because it is the highest part of the design. The shapes on the band are known as pearls, rubies and centre diamond. When grading these coins the first place to focus is this crown band. The second place to look is at the other high spots such as the shoulder and chest decorations, beard, moustache tip and top of the ear, for signs of wear. Lastly, the coin is checked for nicks and dents around the rim, and scratches or other defects on the surface. Once this inspection has been completed the following grading scale is followed: UNC – The crown band, shoulder and chest decorations, beard, moustache tip and top of ear still show completely sharp detail. EF – High detail, including the second set of pearls to the left of the centre diamond, show slight wear. VF – The centre diamond and three sets of pearls must be distinctly visible, whereas the second set of pearls is usually fully worn. All other high spots show moderate wear. F – At least two sets of pearls and both unbroken horizontal crown bands must be visible, even if faintly. VG – Crown bands worn smooth in middle but visible above brow and back of head. The Reverse Very careful attention is needed when inspecting for the high spot which is the Emu's back feathers, on the reverse of Edward VII and George V silver coins. The next high areas to consider are the head and haunches of the Emu and kangaroo as well as the centre of the star above the shield. You then need to check the sharpness of details on the denticles, lettering, scroll and shield. As with the obverse, the last areas to inspect are the rim for dents and nicks, and the surface for flaws. Once this inspection has been completed the grading scale is: UNC – The Emu's back feather, and the kangaroo and Emu heads still show completely sharp detail. The leg and haunches of both the kangaroo and the Emu are full and round. The centre point of the star above the shield is sharply raised. The exception for this point may be for some threepences and sixpences where a shallow strike has resulted in a flattened star. EF – All spots mentioned in UNC grade have a very slight trace of wear, especially the Emu's back feathers. VF – High spots have moderate wear. Under a magnifying glass the first signs of wear on the rim dots (denticles), ADVANCE AUSTRALIA and scroll can been seen. F – Wear can be found on the shield devices, ADVANCE AUSTRALIA and the scroll when viewing with the naked eye, as well as a lot of flattening of the kangaroo and Emu bodies, especially the Emu feathers. Rim abrasion spreading to the lettering can be seen when magnified and the coin surface will be dull. VG – ADVANCE AUSTRALIA letters are blurred but visible. Wear on the rim denticles, legend and the centre star and shield can be seen with the naked eye. The Emu and kangaroo heads lack in features and the Emu's back feathers are worn smooth.

Additional Grading Information

Additional information and and images relating to the high points of Copper Coins, Silver Coins, Commemorative Issues and Gold Sovereigns.

Australian Banknotes

Uncirculated
Abbreviation: UNC

Found in a bundle or direct from Note Printing Australia (NPA). The note will have no folds or teller flick marks. Paper notes my have a slight rippling in the watermark area. Polymer notes may have a slight buckling from the plastic strap used to bundle the notes.

almost Uncirculated
Abbreviation: aUNC

This note is the same as uncirculated but may have a teller flick or centrefold.

Extremely Fine
Abbreviation: EF

Note should be clean and crisp and can have up to three light folds. The note should not be stained or faded or have any other faults or problems.

Very Fine
Abbreviation: VF

Note shows distinct signs of wear but should still be reasonably crisp. Several light folds or a couple of heavy folds are allowable. Free from heavy soiling or folding.

Fine
Abbreviation: F

The note will be soiled and heavily creased and may have some small tears. The colour will probably be faded and the crispness may be gone or going.

Very Good
Abbreviation: VG

The note will be very worn, faded and stained and may have tears and holes.

Terminology

Here are some words you might hear or see that relate to coins and banknotes.

Bag Marks - Small nicks, cuts. scratches caused by coins bumping into other coins during the minting process and subsequent transporting of coins.

Frosting - Some proof coins have frosted areas. This is achieved by either sand blasting or etching parts of the die used in the minting process.

Frosted Proof

Piedfort - The same as a proof except it has been struck from a blank which is twice as thick as the normal proof coin. $10 bird proofs weigh 20 grams and the $10 bird piedforts weigh 40 grams.

Privy Mark - Small replica of a logo or previously minted coin placed on another coin. Sometimes the privy will be made of pure gold.

Privy Mark Coin

Proof Like - Some people use the terms proof like and reverse proof to describe a coin that isn't a proof but has a similar high quality finish. Examples of this type of coin are the Perth mint Specimen Kookaburras.

Specimen Finish Coin

Selvedge - Bank notes are printed in a large sheet. When they come off the presses the sheet has borders which have printing marks on them. When the sheets are cut up into blocks of 2 and 4 etc the printing marks are left on the notes. Selvedge can add to the value of uncut notes.

Selvedge

Specimen - See Proof Like above.