In addition to grade, other attributes of a coins condition, quality of manufacture and appearance are described by NGC. These include strike characters and designations.
A strike character most often describes how well an area of a coin was struck, and is used when this information is of specific interest to collectors. For example, Mercury Dimes are described with the notation FB for Full Bands which immediately follows the grade when, on the reverse of the coin, the central bands on the fasces are fully split. A number of similar strike characters are employed by NGC.
A designation usually indicates something about the appearance of the coin. For example, NGC describes Proof coins (coins struck for presentation or display purposes) that display contrast between the central devices and the field area as being CAMEO. This is one of the many designations used by NGC. Some special designations indicate when a coin was minted. For example, NGC uses the special designation FIRST DAY OF MINTAGE for Presidential Dollars received for certification on their official day of release or by overnight courier on the day immediately following. More information about this type of designation can be found on the Early Release Designation portion of this website.
A comprehensive list of strike characters and special designations follows.
| CENSUS | LABEL | DESCRIPTION | APPLICABLE COIN TYPES |
|---|---|---|---|
| (how the strike character appears in the NGC Census) | (how the strike character appears on the NGC label) | (a verbal description of the strike character) | (the types of coins to which it applies) |
| 5DP | 5FS DPL | Five Full Steps, Deep Prooflike | Jefferson Nickels Only |
| 5FS | 5FS | Five Full Steps | Jefferson Nickels Only |
| 5PL | 5FS PL | Five Full Steps, Prooflike | Jefferson Nickels Only |
| 5SC | 5FS CAMEO | Five Full Steps, Cameo | Jefferson Nickels Only |
| 5SU | 5FS ULTRA CAMEO | Five Full Steps, Ultra Cameo | Jefferson Nickels Only |
| 6FS | 6FS | Six Full Steps | Jefferson Nickels Only |
| 6PL | 6FS PL | Six Full Steps, Prooflike | Jefferson Nickels Only |
| 6SC | 6FS CAMEO | Six Full Steps, Cameo | Jefferson Nickels Only |
| 6SU | 6FS ULTRA CAMEO | Six Full Steps, Ultra Cameo | Jefferson Nickels Only |
| BN | BN | Brown | All Copper Coins, Mint State and Proof |
| BNB | BN BRILLIANT | Brown, Brilliant | Proof Copper Coins |
| BNC | BN CAMEO | Brown, Cameo | Proof Copper Coins |
| BND | BN DPL | Brown, Deep Prooflike | Mint State Copper Coins |
| BNM | BN MATTE | Brown, Matte | Proof Copper Coins |
| BNP | BN PL | Brown, Prooflike | Mint State Copper Coins |
| BNS | BN SATIN | Brown, Satin | Proof Copper Coins |
| BNU | BN ULTRA CAMEO | Brown, Ultra Cameo | Proof Copper Coins |
| CA | CAMEO | Cameo | All Proof Coins |
| DFM | DPL FIRST DAY OF MINTAGE | Deep Prooflike, First Day of Mintage | Presidential $1 Coins Only |
| DME | DPL MINT ERROR | Deep Prooflike, Mint Error | Mint errors |
| DPL | DPL | Deep Prooflike | All Mint State Coins, esp. Morgan Dollars |
| FB | FB | Full Bands | Mercury Dimes Only |
| FBD | FB DPL | Full Bands, Deep Prooflike | Mercury Dimes Only |
| FBL | FBL | Full Bell Lines | Franklin Half Dollars Only |
| FBP | FB PL | Full Bands, Prooflike | Mercury Dimes Only |
| FD | FIRST DAY OF ISSUE | First Day of Issue | Presidential $1 Coins Only |
| FDD | DPL FIRST DAY OF ISSUE | Deep Prooflike, First Day of Issue | Presidential $1 Coins Only |
| FDP | PL FIRST DAY OF ISSUE | Prooflike, First Day of Issue | Presidential $1 Coins Only |
| FH | FH | Full Head | Standing Liberty Quarters Only |
| FHD | FH DPL | Full Head, Deep Prooflike | Standing Liberty Quarters Only |
| FHP | FH PL | Full Head, Prooflike | Standing Liberty Quarters Only |
| FLD | FBL DPL | Full Bell Lines, Deep Prooflike | Franklin Half Dollars Only |
| FLP | FBL PL | Full Bell Lines, Prooflike | Franklin Half Dollars Only |
| FM | FIRST DAY OF MINTAGE | First Day of Mintage | Coins in US Mint Covers, so designated |
| FT | FT | Full Torch | Roosevelt Dimes Only |
| FTD | FT DPL | Full Torch, Deep Prooflike | Roosevelt Dimes Only |
| FTP | FT PL | Full Torch, Prooflike | Roosevelt Dimes Only |
| MA | MATTE | Matte | Used Infrequently |
| ME | MINT ERROR | Mint Error | Mint errors |
| PFM | PL FIRST DAY OF MINTAGE | Prooflike, First Day of Mintage | Presidential $1 Coins Only |
| PL | PL | Prooflike | All Mint State Coins, esp. Morgan Dollars |
| PME | PL MINT ERROR | Prooflike, Mint Error | Mint errors |
| RB | RB | Red Brown | All Copper Coins, Mint State and Proof |
| RBB | RB BRILLIANT | Red Brown, Brilliant | Proof Copper Coins |
| RBC | RB CAMEO | Red Brown, Cameo | Proof Copper Coins |
| RBD | RB DPL | Red Brown, Deep Prooflike | Mint State Copper Coins |
| RBM | RB MATTE | Red Brown, Matte | Proof Copper Coins |
| RBP | RB PL | Red Brown, Prooflike | Mint State Copper Coins |
| RBS | RB SATIN | Red Brown, Satin | Proof Copper Coins |
| RBU | RB ULTRA CAMEO | Red Brown, Ultra Cameo | Proof Copper Coins |
| RD | RD | Red | All Copper Coins, Mint State and Proof |
| RDB | RD BRILLIANT | Red, Brilliant | Proof Copper Coins |
| RDC | RD CAMEO | Red, Cameo | Proof Copper Coins |
| RDD | RD DPL | Red, Deep Prooflike | Mint State Copper Coins |
| RDM | RD MATTE | Red, Matte | Proof Copper Coins |
| RDP | RD PL | Red, Proof Like | Mint State Copper Coins |
| RDS | RD SATIN | Red, Satin | Proof Copper Coins |
| RDU | RD ULTRA CAMEO | Red, Ultra Cameo | Proof Copper Coins |
| SA | SATIN | Satin | Used Infrequently |
| UC | ULTRA CAMEO | Ultra Cameo | All Proof Coins |
Star Designation
The Star Designation is NGC’s unique identifier of coins with exceptional eye appeal or characteristics that distinguish them from other coins of the same technical grade. This does not mean that they just miss the next grade, but it can mean that they verge on the next designation. For example, an untoned PF 65 Cameo coin is not necessarily close to the PF 66* grade, but may be close to an Ultra Cameo designation.
The online NGC Census will show population figures for Star Designated coins on each coin’s respective coin detail page. All Star Designated coins will also be eligible for the NGC Registry where they receive a score premium to recognize their special characteristics.
There are a few exceptions in which NGC will not provide a Star Designation. It is used exclusively for US coins, and as the ultimate grade, any coin graded MS 70 or PF 70 will not be eligible for the star.
Last Updated October 1, 2008.