In recent years, services have become popular in which PCGS and NGC guarantee authenticity and place coins graded out of 70 in plastic cases. These are called "slabs" due to their shape, and are becoming the mainstream way of judging the condition of collectible coins.
With 50 years of experience in coin appraisal, we use the following criteria to indicate the condition of coins that are not in a slab.
| Slabs | State notation | Japanese | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| PF(PR) | Proof | proof | An item that has been specially finished for some purpose. A term indicating the manufacturing method, and is distinct from grading. |
| SP | Abbreviation for Specimen or Special Strike. Like PF, it is distinguished from grading. | ||
| MS70 | FDC | Perfect | This is such a perfect item that it is thought to be impossible to find among coins produced for circulation. |
| MS67 | |||
| MS66 | -FDC | Completely unused | It is exactly as it was produced by the mint and is free of any typical blemishes. |
| MS65 | UNC/FDC | ||
| MS64 | UNC+ | ||
| MS63 | UNC | Unused item | The surface shines in the same way as when it was manufactured and there is no wear, but there are slight scratches such as bag marks and marks from impacts. |
| MS62 | -UNC | ||
| MS61 | AU/UNC | Nearly unused | There is little wear, but the item shows some signs of wear. |
| MS60 | AU | ||
| AU58 | EF+ | Very good condition | Although there is some wear, the surface still retains the shine it had when it was manufactured. |
| AU55 | EF | ||
| AU50 | -EF | ||
| XF45 | VF/EF | ||
| XF40 | VF+ | In good condition | Although there is considerable wear, the details are still sharply discernible. |
| VF35 | VF | ||
| VF20 | F+ | Average quality | Although it is considerably worn, the year and other characteristics are clearly visible. |
| F15 | F | ||
| F12 | -F | ||
| VG8 | V.G. | Inferior product | Although the letters and year have worn away, the item is still legible at a glance. |
| G8 | G | Very inferior product | The letters and dates have worn away, making it possible for only an experienced person to read it. |
*Abbreviations for FDC=Fleur de coin, UNC=Uncirculated, AU=About Uncirculated, EF=Extremely Fine, VF=Very Fine, F=Fine, VG=Very Good, G=Good, PL=Prooflike
*Some slabs have defects such as "UNC Detail", "AU Detail", "XF Detail", "VF Detail", etc. that do not have a "detail" or grading number. For these coins, the overall condition excluding the defect is also listed, so please refer to it.
*The ★ mark placed after the grade, such as "MS64★", indicates that the coin has particularly excellent eye appeal among coins of the same grade.
*There are some exceptions regarding valuation, such as antique gold and silver.
| State notation | Japanese |
|---|---|
| GU(Gem-UNC) | Completely unused |
| CU (Choice-UNC) | Unused item |
| EPQ (Exception Paper Quality) OPQ (Original Paper Quality) |
This item retains the paper quality from the time of printing. |
Thank you for using the online store of World Coins Japan Co., Ltd. We put customer satisfaction first and strive to operate our store so that you can shop with peace of mind, but due to the nature of an online store, there is a possibility that we may cause you unexpected inconvenience or trouble. Please read the following contents and understand them before using the store.
[Sales Information]
[About product description]
[Price Information]
[Disclaimer]
Normally, we plan to ship within 2 business days after payment. After receiving your order, we will pick up the product from the store or warehouse, inspect it, pack it, and ship it. However, there may be cases where it takes longer than usual, such as when exhibiting at special events. In that case, we will contact you again.
If we determine that we need to confirm the information you have entered, we may contact you by email or phone. Also, if there are many errors in the information you have entered and we determine that delivery is difficult, we may cancel your order. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
The following shipping fees are charged per order:
*Shipping charges will be incurred for each order, regardless of the number of items ordered.
| region | postage |
|---|---|
| All of Japan (excluding Okinawa and islands) | 1,000 yen |
| Okinawa and Islands | 1,600 yen |
*Shipping costs include consumption tax and packaging fees.
Delivery areas for regular orders are limited to within Japan. For sales and shipping to overseas destinations, please refer to this page and contact us.
We accept the following payment methods:
・Bank transfer ・Postal transfer
*Please note that any fees and other charges incurred when making a remittance will be borne by the customer.
*As of January 29, 2025, we will be temporarily suspending credit card payments for the time being.
Due to procedural reasons, the payment deadline is "one week after the stock reservation email is sent."
We apologize for the inconvenience, but we ask that you complete the payment procedure within one week.
If you are unable to make payment within one week, please let us know.
![[Japan] Princess Aiko's Birth Commemorative Medal, 2002 [B-0000185]](http://coins.co.jp/cdn/shop/files/B-0000185_01.jpg?v=1734332383&width=1445)
![[Japan] Princess Aiko's Birth Commemorative Medal, 2002 [B-0000185]](http://coins.co.jp/cdn/shop/files/B-0000185_02.jpg?v=1734332398&width=1445)
![[Japan] Princess Aiko's Birth Commemorative Medal, 2002 [B-0000185]](http://coins.co.jp/cdn/shop/files/B-0000185_03.jpg?v=1734332405&width=1445)
