Abbreviations
ACE STAMP AUCTIONS ABBREVIATIONS
AAMC | Australian Air Mail Catalogue |
ACSC | Australasian Commonwealth Specialist Catalogue |
ASC | Australasian Stamp Catalogue |
BPA | British Philatelic Assoc. Expertising Ltd. Certificate |
b/s | Back stamped |
Cat. | Catalogue |
CDS | Circular Date Stamp |
CTO | Cancelled to Order |
Cert. | Certificate of Genuineness |
Cond. | Condition |
CPS | Counter Printed Stamp |
Cat Val. | Catalogue Value |
Dupl. | Duplicated |
Eng | Engraved |
Env | Envelope/Cover |
Exc | Excellent |
FDC | First Day Cover |
FDI | First Day of Issue |
F/U | Fine Used |
FV | Face Value ($) |
GU | Good Used (i.e. less than fine) |
h/s | Hand stamp |
Incl | Including |
Inv | Inverted |
Mc No. | McDonald PNC Catalogue |
M/S | Miniature or souvenir sheet |
MNG | Mint No Gum |
MUH | Mint Unhinged |
MLH | Mint Lightly Hinged |
MVLH | Mint Very Lightly Hinged |
O/C | Off Centre |
O.G. | Original Gum |
Ovpt | Overprinted |
PD | Postage Due |
Pmk | Postmark |
PPC | Picture Postcard |
PSE | Pre-stamped Envelope |
PTSA | Priced To Sell At |
Reg'd | Registered |
S/A | Self Adhesive (also known as Peel & Stick) |
SG | Stanley Gibbons Catalogue (£) |
SS | Seven Seas - An Australian made Pictorial album |
STC | Stated to catalogue |
UNUSED | Mint without gum |
U | Used |
Var. | Variety or flaw |
VG | Very Good |
VF | Very Fine |
W/C | Well centred |
WMK | Watermark |
COINS & BANKNOTES - Grading & terminology used in this catalogue
Proof: Proof coins are struck using specially hardened dies & highly polished blanks. The result is great clarity & depth of detail. Most modern proofs (1966 onwards) contrast a brilliant mirror background against delicately
frosted detail.
Prooflike: Often a non-official mint strike, or medallic in nature
Brilliant Uncirculated (B/Unc) or choice Unc: Uncirculated, but with higher than normal sheen.
Extremely Fine (EF): Coins shows only traces of wear to high points of the design & only light surface marks from circulating. Otherwise the design is clear and sharp & the coin will have much lustre. Notes are clean & crisp with only the slightest signs of creases and folds.
Very Fine (VF): Lustre has gone and there will be flatness on the design of a coin. Other traces of wear may
also be evident. Banknotes of this grade will show distinct signs of handling though the paper will still be reasonably crisp.
Fine (F): The effects of handling will be quite evident from the amount of flatness to the design of a coin. Notes will have clear signs of soiling & heavy creasing, possibly also some tearing.
Very Good (VG): Most details of a coin's design will be all but gone, but the basic design and date are still visible. Notes of this grade are near the end of their useful life & are of little value unless they are rare.
Choice: An exceptional example of the given grade.
Good (g): Use of the prefix good (e.g. gVF) indicates that the item is slightly better than the grade stated.
About (a): Use of this prefix (e.g. aEF) indicates that the item is almost at the grading designated.
What is PCGS Encapsulation?
PCGS is an independent grading company based in the USA. They use a numbered scale to award grades to each coin they inspect from "1" for "worn flat" to "70" for "flawless". Coins in mint state are given the prefix "MS" and are then divided further still with the award of between 60 and 70 points out of a possible maximum of 70. Each coin is then sealed inside a tamper-proof holder with the details of the grade awarded. You will note we have several examples of these in this auction.