Coin Info
Coin Grading Explained
Coin grading is all about how much wear a coin has and how many details remain. It’s the key to understanding a coin’s quality and how well it’s survived over time. Every bump, scratch, and smoothed-down detail tells a story.
The Basics
To understand coin grading, you must first understand the basics, such as the original strike type of your coin. You may have spotted coins labelled BU (Brilliant Uncirculated) or Proof, these strike types tell us how the coin was made.
- MS (Mint state or Circulation): A Mint State coin struck for general circulation.
- BU (Brilliant Uncirculated): A coin that’s never been in circulation, made using hand polished dies to give a high-quality finish.
- PF (Proof): Coins struck multiple times with highly polished dies for collectors, often boasting a mirror-like shine.
- SP (Specimen): Somewhere between a BU and a Proof. Specially made, but not quite a full Proof.
- Bullion: These coins are struck for large-scale production and are of a lower standard compared to proof and BU coins. They are primarily used for bullion investment and do not have the same level of detail or finish.
Did you know, coins intended for circulation are struck just once at a rate of up to 750 per minute, whereas Brilliant Uncirculated coins are struck twice with a greater force at a rate of up to 300 per minute, giving much more definition. Proof coins go the extra step and are struck several times at a rate of between 50 and 100 per hour.
Grading Letters and What They Mean
Grading starts from Poor (PO) and goes all the way up to Mint State 70 (MS70), meaning a perfect coin with no visible flaws – even under 5x magnification!
The basic traditional grading abbreviations can be explained as follows:
- PO – Poor: Just enough detail to identify the coin.
- FR – Fair: Some details visible.
- AG – About Good: Heavily worn, but most of the design is still visible.
- G – Good: Wear throughout, but main design elements remain.
- VG – Very Good: More detail, but still worn.
- F – Fine: Moderate wear, letters and digits still sharp.
- VF – Very Fine: Most details intact, some light wear.
- XF – Extremely Fine: Just minor wear on high points.
- AU – Almost Uncirculated: Virtually no wear, full details.
- UNC – Uncirculated: No signs of wear from circulation.
- Fleur de Coin – A coin in a mint state with an exceptional strike and no flaws. This grade is very rarely used.
If you want to get even more granular, the Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC) uses a 70-point scale to grade their coins, here are just a few highlights from their extensive scale:
- PO1 – Poor: Just enough detail to identify the coin.
- G4–G6 – Good: Only the major design elements are still visible.
- F12–F15 – Fine: Letters sharp, details soft.
- VF20–VF35 – Very Fine: Strong detail, moderate wear.
- XF40–XF45 – Extremely Fine: Full detail with only light wear.
- AU50–AU58 – Almost Uncirculated: Nearly perfect with just a whisper of wear.
- MS60–MS70 – Mint State: No wear, straight from the mint. MS70 is the holy grail.
Look for the “+” and the “★”
Sometimes a coin just shines, literally! That’s where Plus (+) and Star (★) designations come in:
- Plus (+): Right at the top of its grade — almost good enough for the next level.
- Star (★): Exceptional eye appeal – better than others at the same grade.
These are given automatically by NGC’s graders, so if your coin gets one, it’s extra special!
Colour, Contrast, and Character
Serious collectors love the finer details. Here are some extras you might see:
- RD / RB / BN – Tells you how much red (mint lustre) remains on a copper coin.
- Cameo / Ultra Cameo – Seen on Proof coins. Contrast between shiny fields and frosted details.
- PL / DPL – Prooflike and Deep Prooflike. These aren’t Proofs, but they’ve got that glossy, mirror finish.
What to look out for
If you’re checking your change or picking up a collector piece, here are the key things to look out for:
- Is the design still crisp?
- Can you spot any wear?
- Are there any scratches or dents?
- Has it been specially struck (Proof, BU)?
- Any bonus designations like + or ★?
The better the grade, the rarer and more desirable the coin often is!
Our Change Checker web app is completely free to use and allows users to:
– Find and identify the coins in their pocket
– Collect and track the coins they have
– Swap their spare coins with other Change Checkers
Sign up today at: www.changechecker.org/app
The Rarest UK 1p Coins REVEALED!
When we think about rare coins, our minds usually jump straight to 50ps or £2 coins, and for good reason! But there’s another denomination that generally flies under the radar in the world of coin collecting… and that’s the humble 1p.
The 1p coin has been a part of our everyday coinage since decimalisation in 1971. But, with billions struck over the years, it’s easy to assume they’re all common. Whilst for the most part that’s true, certain years, designs and minting quirks have created a small handful of standout rarities that you should be aware of.
1971 First Decimal 1p
While not rare in the usual sense, the 1971 1p was the very first of its kind. With over 1.5 billion struck, you’ll find them in most piggy banks, but there’s something nostalgic and iconic about the very first decimal penny.
That said, if you find one in immaculate condition or a proof one from a 1971 set, collectors may pay a premium for it.
1982 First ‘One Penny’ 1p
In 1982, the design of the UK 1p changed so that the reverse inscription read ‘ONE PENNY’ instead of ‘NEW PENNY’. Just 100,292,000 ‘One Penny’ coins entered circulation in 1982, and as the first year with this design, many consider it a desirable coin to have in their collection.
2008 Royal Arms 1p
In 2008, the UK coinage underwent a major redesign. The 1p’s reverse changed from the traditional portcullis design to a segment of the Royal Arms. Matthew Dent redesigned all of our key definitive coins so that, when placed together, form the Royal Shield of Arms.
Coins from this transitional period can be interesting for collectors, especially 2008 dated 1p coins with the old reverse design of a Portcullis. Just 180,600,000 of this design entered circulation in 2008, and it’s the last time we saw the portcullis design feature on the UK 1p coins.
2023 King Charles III Dormouse 1p
According to The Royal Mint’s 2023 mintage figures, there are allegedly 600,000 2023 King Charles III Dormouse 1p coins currently in circulation. The Dormouse 1p was first introduced as part of the New UK Coinage set for King Charles III in 2023, where we saw eight new definitive coin designs featuring His Majesty on the obverse.
Despite the mintage figure announcement, no collectors have reported finding a King Charles III 1p in their change yet. It could be that the figure was inaccurate, or perhaps these coins have been hiding in plain sight as people aren’t thinking to check their coppers!
Have you found a Dormouse 1p yet? Let us know in the comments!
1933 George V Penny
The 1933 George V Penny is one of the rarest and most sought-after coins in British numismatic history, as very few were produced in 1933, mainly for ceremonial use. Only seven are known to exist, with examples held by the Royal Mint Museum, British Museum, private collectors, and some buried under building foundations. One placed at the Church of St Cross in Leeds was stolen in 1970, while another at St Mary’s Church was later retrieved and sold. The coin beneath the University of London’s Senate House is believed to remain in place.
Image credit: The Royal Mint Museum
Despite having a face value of just 1p, this elusive coin has fetched staggering prices at auction. In 2016, an example sold for an incredible £72,000! Although it’s almost impossible to find one of these pennies in your change, that stolen one could still be floating around!
2018 and 2019 NIFC 1p coins
In both 2018 and 2019, no 1p coins were struck for circulation, and were only produced for definitive Annual Coin Sets. So if you happen to come across a 2018 or 2019 dated 1p in your change, it will have been broken out of a set and spent.
NIFC (not intended for circulation) coins can be highly sought after by collectors, as they will have only been produced in either Brilliant Uncirculated or Proof quality, a much higher condition than circulation coins!
Die errors and off-centre strikes
While not tied to a specific year, mis-struck 1p coins occasionally turn up in our change. These can include off-centre strikes, clipped planchets, double strikes and die rotation errors.
If you think you’ve found a 1p that doesn’t look quite right, it’s worth having it checked by The Royal Mint to verify if it’s a genuine error.
So how much could my penny be worth?
The 1p coin is often overlooked, but your penny jar might be hiding a coin rarer than you think. If you think you’ve found a rare 1p coin, we recommend checking out our 6 Point Guide to Valuing Your Coins and looking at sold listing on eBay to work out how much it could be worth.
So perhaps next time you find some small change, you’ll take a closer look and find a hidden gem!
Kick start your Penny collection
Whether you’ve got a penny collection already or you’re just starting out, you can piece together a fascinating timeline showing the changing face of Her Majesty with the Queen Elizabeth II Portraits Penny Collecting Page.
Why 2011 was the best year for UK coin collecting
Coin collecting in the UK has seen many notable years, but 2011 stands out as a pinnacle, offering a diverse array of commemorative coins that captivated both seasoned collectors and newcomers. For many, it marked the start of their collecting journey, here’s why…
The 2011 Olympic 50p Series
Let’s start with what is perhaps one of the most talked about coin series of all time – the 2011 Olympic 50ps. In anticipation of the 2012 Olympics being held in London, The Royal Mint released a series of 29 unique 50p coins in 2011, each depicting a different Olympic or Paralympic sport. All 29 coins entered circulation, and quickly became a national sensation.
These coins were minted in much lower quantities than the standard 50ps you can find in your change, and it became somewhat of a national treasure hunt to try and find them all. It’s estimated that as many as 75% of them have now been removed from circulation by collectors!
The rarest of them all, with a mintage of just 1,125,500, is the Olympic Football 50ps, closely followed by the Wrestling, Judo, Triathlon and Tennis coins – each with a mintage of less than 1.5 million.
Most collectors would be thrilled to find any of the 29 Olympic coins in their change, however, there are some Olympic 50ps out there that are even rarer…
Check out our blog to find out more >>
WWF 50p
Apart from the Olympic 50ps, the 2011 WWF 50p was the only other commemorative 50p to enter circulation in 2011.
Issued to celebrating the 50th anniversary of the World Wildlife Fund, this 50p coin featured 50 intricate icons representing various endangered species and environmental themes. Its unique design and limited mintage of just 3,400,000 made it extremely popular with both collectors and animal lovers.
Mary Rose £2 and King James Bible £2
After the 50p, the £2 has been the favoured denomination amongst collectors, with over 37 different commemorative and definitive designs currently in circulation to be collected. In 2011, we were treated to two new commemorative £2 coins, both of which entered circulation with extremely low mintages.
King James Bible £2
The 2011 King James Bible £2 was issued to mark 400 years since the first publication of the King James Bible -the English translation of the Christian Bible for the Church of England. Widely regarded as one of the most important books ever published in the English language, the King James Bible £2 features the first words from the book of John, as it’s being printed in the Bible, with a reverse text in printing blocks on the left and the printed version on the right.
Just 975,000 of these coins entered circulation, making it the 10th rarest £2 coin in circulation!
Mary Rose £2
Issued later in 2011 was the Mary Rose £2, commemorating 500 years since the Mary Rose ship was launched in 1511. The reverse design features a depiction of Henry VIII’s flagship sailing right, along with the inscription THE MARY ROSE in Tudor style lettering.
The Mary Rose £2 has a circulating mintage of 1,040,000, making it the 11th rarest £2 design and ‘Less Common’ on our Scarcity Index.
Round £1 coins
It wasn’t just 50p and £2 coins that made 2011 such a notable year for collecting, as we also saw 2 commemorative round £1 coins issued. As part of the Capital Cities series which kicked off in 2010 with the London City and Belfast City £1 coins, the Edinburgh City and Cardiff City £1s followed in 2011.
Not only were the Capital Cities £1 coins the penultimate round pound series (followed only by the Floral Emblems series in 2013 and 2014), but these two coins specifically became the rarest round pound coins in relation to mintage figures! The Edinburgh City £1 has a staggeringly low mintage of 935,000 and the Cardiff City £1 just 1,615,000.
Although round pound coins were withdrawn from circulation in 2017, it was reported in 2020 that almost 170 million round £1 coins didn’t make it back to the Royal Mint. So whilst they’re no longer legal tender, they can technically still be found in your change!
And if you have a 2011 Edinburgh City £1 in your collection, it could fetch up to £9.99 on the secondary market – that’s almost 10 times its face value!
For more information on £1 coins, check out our blog >>
Royal Milestones on £5 coins
2011 also saw the release of two £5 coins marking significant royal milestones and events.
The nation gathered to celebrate the marriage of Prince William and Catherine Middleton on 29th April 2011, and the Royal Wedding was marked with a UK £5 coin. The coin features the officially approved portraits of the couple and was only the sixth time in history that a double portrait had appeared on British coinage. Designer, Mark Richards FRBS, was chosen in an invitation only process and described his depiction of the couple as ‘a feeling that pervades all the photographs I have seen of the couple together’.
Prince Philip celebrated his 90th birthday in 2011, and the milestone was commemorated on the 90th Birthday of Prince Philip £5 coin. The coin features a specially commissioned portrait of Philip, also by Mark Richards FRBS.
£5 coins do not enter circulation and therefore do not have mintages, however just 18,730 of these coins were struck in Brilliant Uncirculated presentation packs, making it one of the rarest UK £5 coins minted!
After taking a closer look at the incredible coins that were issued in 2011, it’s not hard to see why it was such a big year for UK coin collecting. Not only did the coins issued celebrate some of the most significant events and milestones in recent years, but they also had some of the lowest mintages, making them incredibly sought after by collectors.
New to collecting?
If you’re new to coin collecting, our Change Checker web app is completely free to use and allows users to:
– Find and identify the coins in their pocket
– Collect and track the coins they have
– Swap their spare coins with other Change Checkers
Sign up today at: www.changechecker.org/app