When buying Cavalry badges the following are give aways as fakes: KDG - The 1898 to 1915 pattern - a very common copy but the fakes come with 2 lugs on the scroll (rather than at chest level or on a slider)...
THE ADJECTIVAL GRADING SYSTEM* I use the adjectival grading system, and for the sake of consistency, I will state here the eleven full grades in order of merit: Fleur de Coin, Gem Uncirculated, Choice...
Assigning a grade to a coin is an art, not a science. It is often highly subjective, especially when working with Mint State coins where small differences in grade make big differences in price. Even so,...