Clear details of folding or creases on circulated notes can be
clearly seen when held at slanting eye level against the light.
Criterion for grading currency notes are classified under 9 grades as
follows:
Uncirculated ( UNC )
A perfect
note which had been well preserved and apparently not released out for
circulation. Such UNC notes are firm with sharp clean edges and corners.
The color should be original and without finger print marks.
About Uncirculated ( AU )
AU notes
may have gone into circulation as evidenced by slight counting folds on
the surface, but still well preserved with minimal defects. The note
still look new with the surface being clean and smooth. There should be
no visible signs of folding and creases.
Extremely Fine ( EF )
EF notes
have gone through circulation but still in cleanly preserved
maintaining the original sharp corners and without discoloration on the
surface. Exremely fine grade criterion is not more than 3 light folds;
or just allowed to have 1 serious fold impact.
Very Fine ( VF )
VF notes are still considered
attractive although they have gone through horizontal and vertical
folding as well as rough handling in circulation. There can be some
dirty marks or stains, but the note must still retains the original
firmness and texture. The corners will look slightly crumpled, but not
torn.
Fine ( F )
Fine notes are wrinkled with numerous folds and creases, have dirty marks and minor tear at the edges. Design features of the note is still clear,but the color is less bright. One or two pinholes may appear near the border.
Very Good ( VG )
VG notes texture still look fine but the corners are slightly out of shape. The note
is less firm, disclored and has some dirty stains. Usually a small hole
will appear in the note center point due to numerous folding both
horizontally and vertically. The note surface is not smooth with minor notch.
Good ( G )
The appearance condition of Good note
is poor, dirty, have stains, pinholes, discolored, torn edges and
rounded corners, center hole, and even visible cases of graffiti. Such
notes had been roughly used with numerous severe folds here and there.
Fair ( FA )
The note condition is soft, dirty and torn with some portion missing.
Poor ( P )
Such ( P ) condition notes are almost beyond
recognition from the original feature with severe tear and wear, stains,
graffiti, large holes and missing portions. Transparent tapes are also
being used to fixed back torn pieces.
