This guide is for beginer ebayers that are new to coin collecting and are not aware what all the acronyms stand for yet. Like if you happen to see a title reading along the lines of "1971 Ike PR-69DC NR", you probably understand that the seller is selling a 1971 Eisenhower dollar, but the rest may have you stumped. PR is proof, DC is Deep Cameo and NR means No Reserve.

I'll start with grades first. (P)=poor, (AG)=about good, (G)=good, (VG)=very good, (F)=fine, (VF)=very fine, (EF)=extremely fine, (EF-45)=choice extremely fine, (AU-50)= about uncirculated, (AU-55)= choice about uncirculated, (MS)=mint state, (MS-60)=uncirculated, (MS-65)=choice uncirculated, (MS-70)=perfect uncirculated, (PR)=proof, (PRC)=proof cameo, (PRDC)=proof deep cameo.

Mint marks are kind of like an acronym so I'll list them all, along with when they opened, and or closed.

W- West Point, New York            1984 - date.

P- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.         1793 - date.

D- Denver, Colorado.                    1906 - date.

S- San Francisco, California.          1854 - date.

O- New Orleans, Louisiana.           1838 - 1909.

D- Dahlonega, Georgia. (gold coins only)    1838 - 1861.

CC- Carson City, Nevada.             1870 - 1893.

C- Charlotte, North Carolina. (gold coins only)   1838 - 1861.               

During 1965-1967, the US Mint did not make proof or mint sets, but they did make Special Mint Sets, so every once in a while you may see a sellers title as MS 1966 SMS, the SMS stands for Special Mint Set.      

Coins and coin sets sold through the US Mint and other mints around the world may sometimes include a certificate of authenticity, sellers (myself included) will often have it in their description as C.O.A. included. C.O.A. stands for Certificate Of Authenticity.

I hope I have been some help to you new ebayers!

P.S. Would like to leave you with one more thought. When purchasing a slabbed coin, you'll be much better off using a better known grading service, this alphabet of acronyms I'm about to give, may confuse you but I'd much rather not explain what they all stand for, when you want quality just look for these acronyms on slabbed coins, ANACS, PCGS, NGC, ICG and SEGS. I would think twice or even thrice about buying anything else, these newer slabbed companies may sell cheap, but that's because they are cheap. (hair today, gone tomorrow.)