Paper Money Grading Guides (No Fluff)

Practical, step-by-step guides to help you grade paper money with confidence. Whether you're new to the 1-70 scale or refining your eye for centering and folds, our articles cut the fluff and give you repeatable methods.

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Grading Basics

The 70-point scale, how PMG and PCGS actually differ, and the hidden mechanics that create price gaps at auction.

2 articles

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Authentication & Fakes

Print method verification, serial number forensics, UV checks — everything you should do before money changes hands.

1 article

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Folds & Paper Quality

Fold count, fold weight, paper body, and handling — four variables that interact in ways that trip up most beginners.

1 article

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Eye Appeal

Centering, margins, color brightness — the variables that explain why two notes with the same fold count sell at different prices.

1 article

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Errors & Varieties

What qualifies as a genuine error, why varieties are different, and how to tell a real find from wishful thinking.

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Latest articles

Paper Money Grading Scale: The Numbers, The Names, The Reality

4 min read • Grading Basics

A simple mental model for 1–70, what “EPQ/PPQ” actually signals, and the fastest way to stop overgrading your own notes.

How to Count Folds Without Fooling Yourself

6 min read • Folds

Creases vs. bends vs. corner folds—plus a quick inspection routine you can do in under 60 seconds.

Centering: What Actually Matters (and What Doesn’t)

7 min read • Eye Appeal

Why two notes with the same folds can sell wildly differently—and how to judge margins consistently.