For many years the topic of coin grading has vexed collectors, dealers and auctioneers alike. This short blog presents the British and Sheldon grading schemes and then illustrates a small group of Victorian young head coins. Readers are asked to grade them using the Sheldon system.
The results can be compared with the ‘official grades’ as all of the pieces have been encapsulated or slabbed by third party graders – TPGs. A similar variability is seen when dealers and collectors grade the same coins.
BNS Research Blog 
Hello Gary Oddie,
I found your note and competition “a good read” especially the competition ,coin specific, judgements about cleanng. I feel sure your thoghts on that issue would be of great interest to BNS collectors.
As a novice collector of Soho Mint , George III , almost all copper coins, I routinely get appropriate new additions to my colllection (c200 coins ,tokens and medals) graded by NGC. Almost all these additions come from (online) auctions and most are eventually graded 60+. However a “Details “ assessment due to cleaning is not unknown and slightly annoying.
Hi David,
Many thanks for your comment, and glad you found the blog of interest. Whilst the general theme was not-too-serious, the subject of cleaning and deception is another matter, especially with copper and bronze. Whilst most of the “details” attributions are correct, they are not always so. I would recommend keeping photos of the piece from the original sale and also when it is returned in the slab and take another look every few years. Starting at MS60, you should be ok, but only time will tell.