<P> In 1948, well - known numismatist Dr. William Herbert Sheldon attempted to standardize coin grading by proposing what is now known as the Sheldon Scale . Sheldon's 1 to 70 grading scale, included in his book "Penny Whimsy", was originally devised for U.S. large cents but it is now applied to all series . </P> <P> European countries use various, roughly equivalent, grading systems . The main features of their systems are presented in the following table: </P> <Table> European Grading System <Tr> <Th> Adjective </Th> <Th> Design remaining </Th> <Th> United Kingdom </Th> <Th> France </Th> <Th> Spain </Th> <Th> Italy </Th> <Th> German - speaking </Th> <Th> Scandinavia </Th> <Th> Netherlands </Th> <Th> Portugal </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Good </Td> <Td> 10% </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> AB (Assez Beau) </Td> <Td> RC </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> GE (Gut erhalten) </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> G (Goed) </Td> <Td> REG </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Very Good </Td> <Td> 25% </Td> <Td> VG </Td> <Td> B (Beau) </Td> <Td> BC </Td> <Td> B (Bello) </Td> <Td> SGE (Sehr gut erhalten) </Td> <Td> 1 - </Td> <Td> ZG (Zeer Goed) </Td> <Td> MREG </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Fine </Td> <Td> 50% </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> TB (Très Beau) </Td> <Td> BC+ </Td> <Td> MB (Molto Bello) </Td> <Td> S (Schön) </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Fr (Fraai) </Td> <Td> BC </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Very Fine </Td> <Td> 75% </Td> <Td> VF </Td> <Td> TTB (Très Très Beau) </Td> <Td> MBC </Td> <Td> BB (Bellissimo) </Td> <Td> SS (Sehr schön) </Td> <Td> 1 + </Td> <Td> ZF (Zeer Fraai) </Td> <Td> MBC </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Extremely Fine </Td> <Td> 90% </Td> <Td> EF / XF </Td> <Td> SUP (Superbe) </Td> <Td> EBC </Td> <Td> SPL (Splendido) </Td> <Td> VZ (Vorzüglich) </Td> <Td> 01 </Td> <Td> Pr . (Prachtig) </Td> <Td> Bela </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> About Uncirculated </Td> <Td> 95% + some luster </Td> <Td> UNC </Td> <Td> No use </Td> <Td> No use </Td> <Td> MSPL (MoltoSplendido) </Td> <Td> UNZ − (Fast unzirkuliert) </Td> <Td> 0 - 01 </Td> <Td> No use </Td> <Td> No use </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Mint State (MS - 60 to 65) </Td> <Td> 100% + luster </Td> <Td> UNC </Td> <Td> SPL (Splendide) </Td> <Td> SC </Td> <Td> SPL / FDC </Td> <Td> UNZ (Unzirkuliert) </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> FDC (Fleur de Coin) </Td> <Td> Soberba </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Mint State (MS - 66 to 70) </Td> <Td> 100% + full luster </Td> <Td> FDC </Td> <Td> FDC (Fleur de Coin) </Td> <Td> FDC </Td> <Td> FDC (Fior di Conio) </Td> <Td> STGL (Stempelglanz) </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> FDC </Td> <Td> FDC (Flor de Cunho) </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> Adjective </Th> <Th> Design remaining </Th> <Th> United Kingdom </Th> <Th> France </Th> <Th> Spain </Th> <Th> Italy </Th> <Th> German - speaking </Th> <Th> Scandinavia </Th> <Th> Netherlands </Th> <Th> Portugal </Th> </Tr>

What does ms stand for in coin grading