Banknote Grading

Grading Banknotes

Five characteristics are examined to accurately determine the state of preservation of a banknote. They are the state of cleanliness, the severity of folding, the state of the surface, the state of the edges and the severity and number of any punctures or pinholes on the note.

A points system is used where each characteristic is scored out of 20 - the maximum score for an absolutely pristine note being 100. Grading points are as follows:

Crisp, Flat, Uncirculated (CFU)	100
Extremely Fine (EF)	90
Very Fine (VF)	75
Fine (F)	55
Very Good (VG)	30
Good (G)	20

 

The following table describes the scoring process used for each characteristic: 

Cleanliness	As Printed - Clean and Bright	20
	Slight Soiling - just noticeable	15
	Considerable soiling and/or banker's marks	10
	Very dirty, legibility is reduced	0
Folding	As printed  - flat and unfolded	20
	One or two folds leaving a very faint increase	15
	Several prominent folds	10
	Many fold and heavy creasing	0
Surface	As printed - crisp with no damage	20
	Slight, just detectable abrasions or damage	15
	Readily detectable damage in several places	10
	Extensive damage	0
Edges	As printed - perfectly straight and even	20
	Slightly rough or with very minor indentations	15
	Considerable indentation and/or with tears in the margins	10
	Badly damages edges and /or tears extending in the design	0
Puntures	As printed - no holes	20
	One or two pin holes only	15
	Several pin holes or a slightly larger puncture	10
	Several larger holes	0