Banknote Blog

Grading Guide · Numismatic Reference · Updated September 2026 Banknote Grading Scale Explained: What VF, XF, AU, and UNC Mean Every dealer listing, auction lot, and grading label uses the same short alphabet: G, VG, F, VF, XF, AU, UNC. Here is what each grade means in plain terms, how the letters map to the 70-point numbers on a PMG or PCGS holder, and how to grade a note in your own hands before you pay for someone else's opinion. Quick answer: Banknote grades run from Poor (a d …

Grading Guide · PMG · PCGS Banknote PMG vs. PCGS Banknote Grading: Which Holder Should You Buy? Two grading services certify the world's paper money, and both are trustworthy. The differences are in market share, designations, and what a single grade point does to price. Here is how PMG and PCGS Banknote compare, with real examples from the same notes in both holders. Quick answer: PMG (Paper Money Guaranty, founded 2005, Sarasota, Florida) and PCGS Banknote (relaunched 2020 unde …

Collector's Reference · July 2026 · 9 min read Why Queen Elizabeth II Banknotes Are Disappearing — and Why Collectors Are Paying Attention Her portrait appeared on more currency than any person in history. Since 2022, that entire body of money has been in slow, permanent retreat — country by country, denomination by denomination. Here is what is actually being withdrawn, what is being replaced, and what it means for the notes in collections today. Quick answer: Queen …