Surface
Marks, hairlines, carbon, and scratches.
The TIER scale
Sheldon 1–70, then 1–1000 inside the grade.
Two numbers on every holder.
TIER Score
Five axes, weighted, times ten.
TIER = round( 10 × ( 0.32·Surface + 0.20·Strike + 0.20·Luster + 0.18·Eye + 0.10·Rim ) )
Clamped to 1–1000. Axes themselves are clamped to 0–100.
Surface
32%
Marks, hairlines, carbon, and scratches.
Strike
20%
High points and legends must be complete.
Luster
20%
Original cartwheel versus a wiped coin.
Eye appeal
18%
Toning, contrast, and originality.
Rim
10%
Nicks and bruises live on the rim.
Strike
High points, denticles, and legends.
Luster
Cartwheel and original mint bloom.
Eye appeal
Toning, contrast, and originality.
Rim
Nicks, bruises, and reeding.
Example
Bagmarked Morgan. Full strike. Original luster.
| Axis | Score | Weight | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surface | 94 | 0.32 | 30.08 |
| Strike | 90 | 0.20 | 18.00 |
| Luster | 92 | 0.20 | 18.40 |
| Eye appeal | 88 | 0.18 | 15.84 |
| Rim | 91 | 0.10 | 9.10 |
| Weighted mean × 10 | 914 | ||
TIER 914 maps to MS-65 · Gem Uncirculated.
Caps
Problem coins are capped.
Cleaning
Cleaning caps the coin at 719.
Damage
Cuts, holes, or tooling void numeric grades.
Environmental
PVC and corrosion cut Surface and Eye.
Weak strike
Weak strike is not wear.
Score bands
Sheldon follows the TIER Score.
| Sheldon | Label | TIER Score | Band |
|---|---|---|---|
| PO-1 | Poor | 1–29 | poor |
| FR-2 | Fair | 30–49 | poor |
| AG-3 | About Good | 50–79 | circulated |
| G-4 | Good | 80–109 | circulated |
| G-6 | Good+ | 110–139 | circulated |
| VG-8 | Very Good | 140–169 | circulated |
| VG-10 | Very Good+ | 170–199 | circulated |
| F-12 | Fine | 200–239 | circulated |
| F-15 | Fine+ | 240–279 | circulated |
| VF-20 | Very Fine | 280–319 | circulated |
| VF-25 | Very Fine+ | 320–359 | circulated |
| VF-30 | Very Fine Choice | 360–399 | circulated |
| VF-35 | Very Fine Choice+ | 400–439 | circulated |
| XF-40 | Extremely Fine | 440–489 | circulated |
| XF-45 | Extremely Fine+ | 490–539 | circulated |
| AU-50 | About Uncirculated | 540–579 | au |
| AU-53 | About Uncirculated+ | 580–619 | au |
| AU-55 | Choice AU | 620–669 | au |
| AU-58 | Very Choice AU | 670–719 | au |
| MS-60 | Uncirculated | 720–754 | mint |
| MS-61 | Uncirculated+ | 755–784 | mint |
| MS-62 | Uncirculated Choice | 785–814 | mint |
| MS-63 | Choice Uncirculated | 815–849 | mint |
| MS-64 | Very Choice Unc. | 850–884 | mint |
| MS-65 | Gem Uncirculated | 885–919 | mint |
| MS-66 | Gem Uncirculated+ | 920–944 | mint |
| MS-67 | Superb Gem | 945–964 | mint |
| MS-68 | Superb Gem+ | 965–979 | mint |
| MS-69 | Ultra Gem | 980–989 | mint |
| MS-70 | Pristine | 990–1000 | mint |
Process
- 1. Invoice, pack, and ship.
- 2. Graded in hand. Two numbers.
- 3. Sealed holder ships back.