✨Banknote GRADING Guide | How to Grade Banknotes | Simplified Grading of Paper Money

❌Learn how to grade banknotes❌ Pictorial Guide to Grading Paper Money; Third Party Grading (TPG) of Banknotes; Banknote Condition Evaluation based on IBNS standards ; Banknote grading explained

00:00 Basics
01:12 Examine Banknote
01:56 Pictorial Guide
10:49 Personal Tip
11:53 Grading Scale
14:39 TPG
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DISCLAIMER: Images shown in this video are taken from many online resources, including eBay, Heritage Auction etc.
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UNC (uncirculated): is a pristine note that has no signs of circulation or wear. This is the investment grade note! Paper is crisp and colors are vibrant. Great embossing will earn it EPQ or PPQ designation by Third Party Grading companies. Corners are sharp! Absolutely no folds! Great centering and front-to-back registration can elevate it to even a higher status!
French=NEUF (new), German= BFR (bankfrisch)/KFR.

AU (almost uncirculated): is assigned to a note that has only a light corner counting bend, or a single light center fold. Margins may be slightly off-centered but otherwise the note is almost new.
French=SPL (splendide), German= I.

EF or XF (Extremely Fine): is a mid grade that has a very strict criteria of 3 vertical folds, or 2 vertical folds plus 1 horizontal fold, or one single crease. Paper is firm, overall note is quite appealing with only mild wear or handling.
French=SUP (superbe), German=II/VZGL (vorzuglich).

VF (Very Fine): is a low grade note and is probably the broadest category in the whole scale. If you look at the criteria in the table below, there is a lot of stuff. But keep in mind a note may only have some, and not all of these mentioned features to be included in this grade. No more than 8 to 10 folds total, but the overall design is still preserved and while the paper is dull, it is not limp. Additional issues like stains, tiny margin tears etc can all drag the note to the lower end of the "Very Fine" grade.
French=TTB (tres tres beau), German=III/SS (sehr schon).

F (Fine): is probably the lowest grade a collector would like to own especially if you are dealing with a rare or rather expensive banknote. Excessively wrinkled and soft paper with stains and center hole. start to negatively affect the overall design, but there are no big tears into the design.
French=TB (tres beau), German=IV/S (schon).

VG (Very Good): is just a misnomer, as there is nothing "Good" about this grade. Tears now extends into design, edges are torn, and paper is totally limp! But no large pieces missing.
French=B (beau), German=V/SGE (sehr gut erhalten).

G/F/PR (Good/Fair/Poor): grades can be lumped up together as the "rags", AKA badly torn notes with large missing pieces, and sometimes barely held together by tape!
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Leitfaden zur Banknotenbewertung
Gids voor het sorteren van bankbiljetten
지폐 등급 가이드
دليل تصنيف الأوراق النقدية
Руководство по оценке банкнот
Οδηγός ταξινόμησης τραπεζογραμματίων
Guide de classement des billets de banque
纸币分级指南
紙幣の等級ガイド
Guida alla classificazione delle banconote
Gabay sa pagmamarka ng banknote
คู่มือการจัดเกรดธนบัตร
Guía de clasificación de billetes
Hướng dẫn phân loại tiền giấy
מדריך לדירוג שטרות
纸币分级指南
Panduan penilaian uang kertas
बैंकनोट ग्रेडिंग गाइड
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STEP BY STEP BANKNOTE GRADING (IBNS):

1. Determine the Overall Condition:
- Examine the banknote closely to assess its overall condition and level of wear.
- Look for signs of circulation, such as creases, folds, stains, and other defects.

2. Evaluate the Paper and Printing Quality:
- Assess the condition of the paper - is it crisp, clean, and free of any blemishes?
- Inspect the printing - is it sharp, clear, and free of any smudges or irregularities?

3. Assign the Appropriate Grade (based on the overall condition and the quality of the paper and printing, assign the banknote grade):
- Uncirculated (UNC): Pristine, perfect condition with no signs of wear or handling.
- Extremely Fine (XF or EF): Minimal signs of circulation, with only minor handling marks or edge/corner wear.
- Very Fine (VF): Circulated, but still in very good condition with slight creases, folds, or minor stains.
- Fine (F): Moderate wear and handling, with visible creases, folds, and stains, but the design and printing are still clearly visible.
- Very Good (VG): Heavily circulated, with significant wear and handling, but the design and printing are still recognizable.
- Good (G): Extensively circulated, with severe wear and handling, but the design and printing are still discernible.
- Poor (P): Very poor condition, with severe defects, and the design and printing may be barely recognizable.

4. Consider Additional Factors:
- Take into account any special features, such as serial numbers, signatures, or overprints, which may affect the value & grading of the banknote.
- Consider the rarity, historical significance of banknote, as these factors can also influence its overall value.

[PolarCurrency]

Excellent job at putting together a 'how to' paper money grading video from the basics to the confusion! Thanks for doing this!

[NikonCrayzee]

Superbly done mate - thanks from Australia. This video helped demystify the grading process by taking what was in my mind a very subjective process, and turning it into objective artefacts to looks out for. Certainly raised my grading knowledge an order of magnitude, now to find some notes to practice on and see if my original grades still hold.

[pba]

This is a very informative. Thank you. As a newish collector, I am interested in colonials, confederate notes and fractionals. My question is/are there standard for grading these currencies?

[Guysimpsons]

Great video! Congratulations from Italy. Guido

[frankgarcia]

I have 3 straps of 100 dollar bills 1000 dollars they are small head from the 1970s are they worth grading or sell them as they are want to switch them to silver or gold

[andreykocherga]

Лайк 😊 ! Жаль что нет видео на украинском или русском языке .