Abbreviations
ACE STAMP AUCTIONS ABBREVIATIONS
| ACSC | Australasian Commonwealth Specialist Catalogue (Brusden White) |
| 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 followed by the year of issue |
| Cond. | Condition |
| CPS | Counter Printed Stamp |
| CV | Catalogue Value |
| 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 |
| M/S | Miniature or souvenir sheet |
| MUH | Mint Unhinged |
| MLH | Mint Lightly Hinged |
| MNG | Mint No Gum |
| MVLH | Mint Very Lightly Hinged |
| O/C | Off Centre |
| OG | Original Gum |
| OVPT | Overprinted |
| PD | Postage Due |
| PMK | Postmark |
| PPC | Picture Postcard |
| PSE | Pre-stamped Envelope |
| PTSA | Priced To Sell At |
| REGD | 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 |
| VAR | Variety or flaw |
| VF | Very Fine |
| WMK | Watermark |
Grading and terminology used in this catalogue for coins & banknotes
Proof: Proof coins are struck using specially hardened dies & highly polished blanks. The result is great clarity & depth of detail. Modern proofs 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 life & are of little value unless they are very scarce or 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.