[The following excerpt is published courtesy of DLRC Press and its author, David Lawrence This information was originally published in 1991 in The Complete Guide to Barber Dimes]

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GRADING

 

Barber Dimes are an easy series to grade but, like many U.S. coins, the strike must be taken into consideration. Coins from the New Orleans Mint are almost always weakly struck, often lacking detail around the periphery. For some dates, notably I898-0, 1900-0 and 1907-0, the word LIBERTY is particularly weak and may be incomplete even on uncirculated coins. In this case other details and surface characteristics must be carefully examined to determine the grade.

Coins wear continuously not in discrete steps, and the different standard grades represent levels in the process. It is not surprising that coins often fall between grades and so called “split- grades” have come into standard use in today’s market.

AG 2 (ABOUT GOOD)

The rim is worn away on both obverse and reverse sides.

G 4 (GOOD)

The rim is complete or nearly so. OBVERSE: Details of Ubert)h wreath are completely worn. The rim is usually complete. REVERSE: The rim may be incomplete in one area.

 

G 6 (GOOD/VERY GOOD)

The rim is complete on both sides. OBVERSE: Some of Libenyk wreath detail will show also the beginning of the word LIBERTY Usually the “L.” REVERSE: The wreath will start to show detail.

 

VG 8 (VERY GOOD)

OBVERSE: Three letters of LIBERTY show, usually the L, T and Y. Liberty’s head wreath will show more detail. The rim will show three-dimensionality. REVERSE: The design will show more three-dimensionality than in the previous grade.

Note, 1895-P and some other weakly struck issues often lack obverse wreath detail though showing the requisite detail in the word LIBERTY. 

VG 10 (VERY GOOD/FINE)

OBVERSE: Five of the letters in LIBERTY will show. REVERSE: The wreath will show still more detail It well struck, the corn ear and leaf under the D in DIME will start to fill out. However, many issues will not show this detail in this grade.

 

F 12 (FINE)

This and the following grades are determined almost entirely from the obverse, barring damage and problems on the reverse. OBVERSE: All seven letters in LIBERTY can be seen, though the BER may be weak. REVERSE: The wreath will show more detail.

 

F 16 (FINE/VERY FINE)

OBVERSE: LIBERTY is almost complete with only a slight weakness in the lower part of the ER. REVERSE: The wreath will have more detail, as shown.

 

VF 20 (VERY FINE)

OBVERSE: LIBERTY is complete. Liberty’s head wreath will show considerable three-dimensionality with weakness in the area left of the eye. REVERSE: The wreath will have more detail.

 

VF 30 (VERY FINE/EXTRA FINE)

OBVERSE: There is a partial band under LIBERTY. REVERSE: The wreath will have still more detail.

 

XF 40 (EXTREMELY FINE)

OBVERSE: The band under LIBERTY is complete. The hair over the forehead down to the ear shows three- dimensionality. REVERSE: Wreath detail is strong. Usually the corn ear has all of its kernels.

 

XF 45 (EXTREMELY FINE/ALMOST UNCIRCULATED)

OBVERSE: There is three-dimensionality to the band under LIBERTY and detail to the hair over the forehead. If uncleaned and not too dark, there is a hint of luster around the periphery. REVERSE: The coin has sharp detail and some luster around the periphery.

AU 50 (ABOUT UNCIRCULATED)

 Surface is important in this grade. Both sides of the coin should have mint luster, unless the coin is dark or harshly cleaned. OBVERSE: All details are complete with only slight signs of rub. LIBERTY’s cheek should be rounded. REVERSE: All details are virtually complete.

 

AU 55 (CHOICE ABOUT UNCIRCULATED, SLIDER)

On both sides the coin should be very close to mint state. Only the slightest signs of wear will be detectable and the coin will usually have nice luster. OBVERSE: There is very slight rub on Liberty’s cheek and a few light wear lines in the field. REVERSE: A few light wear lines will show in the field.

NOTE: O-mint coins generally lack sharp hair detail on the forehead and around we periphery. Often the date is a bit shallow and the corn ear and other reverse wreath details are missing. Some other dates like the 1910-D are also poorly struck. See the chapter on Year and Mint Mark Analysis for further information.

MS 60-70 (MINT STATE)

This coin has not been in circulation, but may have picked up marks from mishandling, sliding album pages, or stacking. Dimes are light and bag marks are generally small compared with those of larger coins. “Dipped” coins may qualify for mint state, but not those which have been mechanically cleaned. Surfaces of the latter have been impaired and signs of wear may be obliterated.

Toning subdues luster and can hide friction. Such coins are difficult to grade and sometimes fool professionals. Relying on third-party grading is recommended for coins grading MS 63 and higher and for lower grade uncirculated coins when there is a large price difference between grades.

OBVERSE: Liberty’s cheek may show light lines or marks. The fields may have “hits” or scratches, but light lines in these areas are usually a sign of circulation (and/or cleaning). Luster should be uniform and unbroken throughout the fields and devices.

REVERSE: There must be no sign of circulation. If not dark the coin will be lustrous.

Note: It is easier to determine if the coin is mint state from the obverse than the reverse.