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Uncirculated. An uncirculated bill comes straight out of a brand-new bundle of 100 bills with sequentially consecutive serial numbers, from the bank. All four corners are clean, straight, square and sharp. It has no folds, creases or wrinkles, and it does not have any evidence of having been counted, meaning that it has never been crushed or handled harshly to make sure there aren't two bills stuck together. An uncirculated bill is in the same state as when it left the printing press, without any type of markings in ink pen, marker or pencil. The most common abbreviation for uncirculated is UNC. Note: The security strip dimple, which looks like a crimp, is not a defect. Therefore, it does not detract any worth from an uncirculated bill. About Uncirculated. An about uncirculated bill shows very slight evidence of having been counted. However, the dent is not a strong one. In other words, it has not broken the surface of the bill. All four corners are straight, clean, square and sharp. A common abbreviation for about uncirculated is AU. Extra Fine. An extra fine bill has been creased in no more than one spot, whether an intentional fold or a harsh counting dent. All four corners are straight, clean, square and sharp. Abbreviations for extra fine are either EF or XF. Very Fine. A very fine bill has several creases, both vertically and horizontally. The paper has minimal dirt and some color smudging. The paper itself is still crisp, not floppy. The edges and corners show wear, but the edges have no tears, and the corners are not fully rounded. The letters VF stand for very fine. Fine. A fine bill shows considerable circulation, with many creases and wrinkling. The paper has no excess dirt and it is somewhat soft. The edges and corners show a lot of handling, and there are minor tears along the edges; however, the tears do not reach into the design. There is no center hole due to excessive folding. Colors are clear but not bright. It may have up to two staple holes. The abbreviation for fine is the letter F. Another term for fine is average circulated. Very Good. A very good bill has corners which are very worn and rounded, with tears extending into the design. It has discoloration, stains, staple holes, pinholes, and a small center hole from excessive folding. The bill is limp, and it has no missing pieces. VG is the abbreviation for very good. Good. A bill in good condition has excessive folding, stains, pinholes, staple holes, dirt, discoloration, edge tears, a center hole, rounded corners, small obscured portions, small pieces missing and graffiti. Good is abbreviated G. Fair. A bill in fair condition is completely limp, with large pieces half torn off or missing. It also has large tears, and large obscured portions. There is no abbreviation for the word fair. Poor. A bill in poor condition has been trimmed, and has pieces held together by tape. The word poor has no abbreviation. The grading standard above is for normal wear. However, if a bill has a single characteristic from any given classification, then it should be considered to be in that same classification. For example, if an uncirculated bill has staple holes, then technically it is in fine condition. The only exception are some bills from India, Nepal and Bangladesh, countries where strictly uncirculated bundles of brand-new bills were held together with a staple, even coming from the mint.
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