| ANACS | Secondary coins authentication & grading company |
| CGA | Secondary currency authentication & grading company |
| CGC | Main comic books authentication & grading company |
| COA | Certificate of Authenticity |
| JSA * | Secondary autograph authentication company |
| LOA | Letter of Authenticity |
| NGC | Co-main coins authentication & grading company |
| PCGS | Co-main coins & main currency authentication & grading company |
| PMG | Secondary currency authentication & grading company |
| PSA | Main cards & tickets authentication & grading company |
| PSA/DNA * | Main autograph authentication & grading company |
| SGC | Secondary sports card authentication & grading company |
| * | 99% of our autographs are authenticated in-house by autograph expert Nate D. Sanders and not PSA/DNA or JSA. All autographs are guaranteed to pass authentication at PSA/DNA or JSA if you decide to submit there. Although there are those vehemently opposed to PSA/DNA & JSA and even Nate D. Sanders has disagreed with them, Nate feels PSA/DNA is still the best autograph authentication company in the business. Nate does feel that his autograph authentication is superior to all the autograph authentication companies but he does not have any desire to professionally authenticate. He has been authenticating autographs for decades before JSA and PSA/DNA existed and even longer than PSA/DNA's and JSA's main authenticators. Nate's experience authenticating autographs began in the 1980's whereas the current autograph authentication companies have graders who began grading sports autographs in the late 1990's and other genres of autographs only after 2000. |
| AU | About Uncirculated corresponding to grades AU 50 - 58. Defined as appearing to be uncirculated but upon closer look has slight friction or rub. |
| C | Coins minted in Charlotte, NC |
| Cameo or CAM | The term applied to coins, usually Proofs and prooflike coins, that have frosted devices and lettering that contrast with the fields. When this is deep the coins are said to be “black and white” cameos. Occasionally frosty coins have “cameo” devices though they obviously do not contrast as dramatically with the fields as the cameo devices of Proofs do. Specifically applied by PCGS to those 1950 and later Proofs that meet cameo standards (CAM). |
| CC | Coins minted in Carson City, NV |
| D | Gold coins minted in Dahlonega, GA from 1838 - 1861 and coins in generals from 1906 to present in Denver, CO |
| DC or DCAM | Deep cameo as explained in “Cameo” above |
| DMPL | Deep mirror proof-like |
| Eagle | Gold coin equaling $10. Thus a double eagle is $20 and a half eagle is $5 |
| EF | Extremely fine for grades 40 - 45. |
| EPQ | Currency term, “Exceptional Paper Quality,” a designation used by PMG graders for notes that bear all the hallmarks of originality. These are notes that have not been physically, chemically or materially processed to lend the appearance of a higher grade. |
| Field | The portion of the coin where there is no design |
| FBL | “Full Bell Lines” is an indication of the sharpness of strike on the Franklin 50c Liberty Bell. This term is used when the lower set of lines on the Liberty Bell are complete. Only well struck coins will have this designation. |
| Fr. | Friedberg Number refers to Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg’s “Paper Money of the United States,” the authoritative reference for US currency. Every piece of currency bears a Friedberg number. |
| LD, LL, MD, ML, SD & SL | D stands for date, L for large and letters, M is for medium and S is small. Date refers to the size of the digits on the coins. |
| MS | Mint State corresponding to the numerical grades MS-60 through MS-70, used to denote a business strike coin that never has been in circulation. A Mint State coin can range from one that is covered with marks (MS-60) to a flawless example (MS-70). |
| Mule | Where one coin or currency has the front and reverse from two different coins or currency. |
| O | Coins minted in New Orleans, LA |
| P | Coins minted in Philadelphia, PA |
| PL | Prooflike which is a term to designate a coin that has mirror-like surfaces, the term especially applicable to Morgan dollars. Those Morgan dollars that meet PCGS prooflike standards are designated PL |
| PPQ | Currency term, “Premium Paper Quality” for notes that bear all the hallmarks of complete originality and outstanding paper quality for the grade. These are notes that bear no visible evidence of restoration and that retain all signs of fully original paper quality, such as paper wave, embossing, and bold ink color and eye appeal, and that also have above average paper for the grade that is free of defects such as tears, pinholes, or other problems. It should be understood that even though a note may be fully original and free of any restoration, it still might not qualify for the “PPQ&rdqu; designation |
| PR | Proof which is a coin usually struck from a specially prepared coin die on a specially prepared planchet. Proofs are usually given more than one blow from the dies and are usually struck with presses operating at slower speeds and higher striking pressure. Because of this extra care, Proofs usually exhibit much sharper detail than regular, or business, strikes. PCGS recognizes Proofs (PR) as those struck in 1817 and later. Those coins struck prior to 1817 are recognized as Specimen strikes (SP) |
| RB | Coin red and brown |
| RD | Red coin defined as a term used for a copper coin that still retains 95 percent or more of its original mint bloom or color |
| Relief | The height of the devices of a particular coin design, expressed in relation to the fields |
| S | Coins minted in San Francisco, CA |
| UNC | Uncirculated |
| V-Nickel | Common name for the Liberty Head five-cent coins struck from 1883 through 1912. (The 1913 was struck clandestinely and is not listed in Mint reports) |
| VF | Very Fine corresponding to grades VF 20 - 35. This has the broadest range of any circulated grade, with nearly full detail on some VF-35 coins and less than half on some VF-20 specimens |
| W | Coins minted in West Point, NY |
| XF | Extremely Fine corresponding to grades XF40 - 45. An XF coin will show light wear on only the highest points and often still shows mint luster.
Learn more about the types of items we sell. |