Numismatist terms and acronyms

Interesting terms and acronyms 

PMG: Paper Money Grading. PMG is an internationally known and respected currency grading company. They have been grading currency notes since 2005. Each graded note is evaluated by a team of grading professionals and assigned a final grade. At that time, the note is placed into a flexible yet semi-rigied plastic holder and heat sealed. 

EPQ: EPQ - Exceptional Paper Quality - is an acronym used by PMG grading for currency notes in their original state. Here is a message from their site: Original means  “that a note has not been physically, chemically, or materially processed to lend the appearance of a higher grade. PMG graders examine the embossing, inks, and overall integrity of each note to make the determination whether it will qualify for EPQ. Notes exhibiting normal wear-and-tear for their respective grades are eligible; normal wear may include factors affecting grade such as counting marks and folds. Notes receiving the EPQ designation must furthermore be unrestored. A note receiving the EPQ designation will have the letters ‘EPQ’ appearing to the right of the grade on the PMG label.”

PCGS: Professional Coin Grading Service. PCGS is an internationally known and respected currency and coin grading company. Since 1985, their expert graders have been Determining the physical condition of a coin or note is critical to the determination of its value. This determination is called ‘grading.’ Once a grade has been determined, the note or coin is heat sealed into a tamper evident plastic holder. 

PPQ: Premium Paper Quality. PPQ is an acronym used by PCGS grading. Here is a note from their site: To distinguish notes that bear all the hallmarks of complete originality and outstanding paper quality for the grade, we will affix a “PPQ” (Premium Paper Quality) designation to the grade (e.g.: “Gem New 65PPQ”). These are notes that bear no visible evidence of restoration and that retain all signs of fully original paper quality, such as paper wave, embossing, and bold ink color and eye appeal. “PPQ” notes should also have above average paper for the grade that is free of defects such as tears, pinholes, or other problems. This system is designed to reward those notes, both circulated and New, that possess premium paper quality and complete originality. 

Mule:

For currency items, the "mule" refers to a designation in conjunction with the Fredberg number which ends with "m". Mule actually is where one currency item has the front and reverse from two different currency issues; thus, a mule note is a bank note made using back plates from a different series of notes. Most have different size plate numbers (front versus back).

Grading numbers from 1 to 70: 70 – Finest; 1 lowest

Pop: Pop is the population or census number of a particular coin or currency item, in that particular grade. The higher the grade combined with the lower population, the more rare and more valuable it is.

UNC: Uncirculated:  This designation refers to a note or coin that has not been circulated. 


Very Fine. A VF grade on a note or coin corresponds to assigned grades of 20-35. It refers to the amount of detail embedded into the item. 

Extremely Fine. An EF grade on a note or coin corresponds to assigned grades ot 40-45. An XF item will show light wear on only the most raised points and can often show mint produced shine. 
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Proudly, Treasuredstocks.com has excellent examples of GRADED Currency notes -- US and Foreign.  Call us at 870-670-4255 or email jeff@treasuredstocks.com  for help and support, as you venture into Currency Note Set collection. 

For more information about this and other collectable coins and currency, please visit our web site at http://www.treasuredstocks.com/or email  jeff@treasuredstocks.com