Grading for Beginners

Grading Canadian banknotes

Legend:

  • The firmness of the bill (crispy / crunchy), of its fibers.
  • Folds, ripples and counting marks.
  • Brightness/color intensity and clarity of the design (drawings, landscapes, figures, reliefs, signatures, serial numbers, date).
  • General cleanliness of the bill, including wear on corners and edges, dirt, tears, perforations (stapler, pin), bank or any company stamps, taping, writing mark)

Grades:

G (Good)

No firmness at all.
Folds and major counting marks.
Altered colors and details deleted. Sometimes blackened ticket.
Major signs of circulation, dirt, tears and perforations or major stamp mark may be present.

VG (Very Good)

Little or no firm.
Folds and major counting marks.
Pale colors and details often altered and deleted.
Major signs of circulation, dirt, tears and perforations or major stamp mark may be present.

F (Fine)

Used fiber with a little firm.
Several folding marks and major and minor counting marks.
Less intense colors and signs of wear on the details.
Signs of wear on corners and edges.

VF (Very Fine)

Fibers slightly worn, maintaining a certain firmness.
Several folding marks and major and minor counting marks.
Less intense colors and signs of wear on the details.
Signs of wear on corners and edges, but still a clean bill.

EF (Extremely Fine)

Broken fibers by an honest fold in the center, but intact elsewhere.
A major fold in the center. Can also show up two or three counting marks.
Bright colors and details present.
Without alteration.

AU (About Uncirculated)

Firm.
A major ripple (no fold) OR slight counting marks.
Vivid colors and details present.
Without alteration.

UNC (UNCirculated)

Firm, almost perfect.
Can show three minor defects, 3 demerit points. The marks left by binding machines or marks left by ATMs are acceptable.
Bright colors and an attractive bill to the eye. Less bright colors on older banknotes are acceptable.
The bill can be offset with near intact corners and edges. Must not have been restored or pressed.
Banknotes showing defects disturbing to the eye (like variations in the brightness of the colors, small tear, fold with broken fibers) should not receive the grade uncirculated (UNC).

 

CUNC (Choice UNCirculated)

Firm, almost perfect.
Can show a minor defect, 1 demerit point.
Bright colors and an attractive bill to the eye. Less bright colors on older banknotes are acceptable.
The bill can be offset with near intact corners and edges. Must not have been restored or pressed.

GUNC (Gem UNCirculated)

Firm, almost perfect, the paper is fresh and bright.