Grading Peace dollars is a skill that has taken even the top coin collectors many years to perfect. This guide will help you start grading Peace dollars by pictures and explanations. Remember that coin grading is the expression of an opinion that describes the condition of an individual coin that most dealers and collectors would come to an agreement with. Grading Peace Silver dollars is not an exact science, therefore a procedure cannot be applied where everyone comes out with the same result. Numismatists and coin grading services have agreed upon certain definitions, descriptions and Sheldon's numeric values that help coin collectors and dealers describe their coins accurately to each other. This guide will help you understand those expressions and descriptions so you can accurately grade your Peace Silver dollars.
Understanding Grades for Peace Silver Dollars
Photo courtesy of Teletrade Coin Auctions, www.teletrade.com
Peace Silver dollars are relatively large and are made out of silver that is soft and malleable. Although silver is easy to strike, the large size of the coin makes it difficult to get a full impression. Additionally, the large size also makes the coin susceptible to nicks and bag marks.
The photo at the left illustrates the highest points on the Peace Silver dollar design (indicated by the color red). If you think you have an uncirculated Peace Silver dollar, look at these areas on the coin first to see if you can spot any wear. If there is wear, then it is not uncirculated. (Clicking on the photo will open a new window with a larger version of the image.)
Peace Silver Dollars Grade: About Good-3 (AG3 or AG-3)
Photo courtesy of Teletrade Coin Auctions, www.teletrade.com
Summary: The coin is very heavily worn and barely legible. Some of the devices, lettering, legends and date may be worn smooth, but the date is still legible. Parts of the rim blend into the lettering.
Obverse: Liberty's head is almost worn smooth with only the rough outline of major details being evident. The rim has merged with the field of the coin in most places. Some lettering may have been worn away.
Reverse: The eagle is mostly just an outline. The rock that the eagle as standing on is only outlined and "PEACE" is missing. The rim is worn away and has merged with the field. Various lettering may be missing.
Tip: Click on the photos at the left to view a larger and more detailed image.
Obverse: Liberty's head is almost worn smooth with only the rough outline of major details being evident. The rim has merged with the field of the coin in most places. Some lettering may have been worn away.
Reverse: The eagle is mostly just an outline. The rock that the eagle as standing on is only outlined and "PEACE" is missing. The rim is worn away and has merged with the field. Various lettering may be missing.
Tip: Click on the photos at the left to view a larger and more detailed image.
Good-4 (G4 or G-4)
Photo courtesy of Teletrade Coin Auctions, www.teletrade.com
Summary: Overall, the coin is heavily worn. The devices, lettering, legends and date are readable but may have some indistinctness in a few areas. All major features are visible in at least outline form and the rim is mostly complete but may be lacking in a few spots.
Obverse: Liberty's head is well-worn but major details are visible. The rim is mostly intact and all lettering is at least partly visible.
Reverse: The eagle is well worn and the neck feathers are distinct from the wing feathers. The rim is worn but is mostly separate from the field. All lettering is visible but "PEACE" may be weak or missing in some spots.
Obverse: Liberty's head is well-worn but major details are visible. The rim is mostly intact and all lettering is at least partly visible.
Reverse: The eagle is well worn and the neck feathers are distinct from the wing feathers. The rim is worn but is mostly separate from the field. All lettering is visible but "PEACE" may be weak or missing in some spots.
Very Good-8 (VG8 or VG-8)
Photo courtesy of Teletrade Coin Auctions, www.teletrade.com
Summary: The coin is well-worn. The design is clear and major elements are defined but are flat and missing finer details.
Obverse: Liberty's hairline is now starting to show near the forehead and the cheek. The rim, although worn, is complete and does not bleed into the field. The hair that covers the lower part of the rays is worn but distinct.
Reverse: The word "PEACE" is complete. The rim is complete and does not merge into the field.
Obverse: Liberty's hairline is now starting to show near the forehead and the cheek. The rim, although worn, is complete and does not bleed into the field. The hair that covers the lower part of the rays is worn but distinct.
Reverse: The word "PEACE" is complete. The rim is complete and does not merge into the field.
Fine-12 (F12 or F-12)
Photo courtesy of Teletrade Coin Auctions, www.teletrade.com
Summary: The coin shows modest even wear over the entire surface of the coin. The major design elements are bold and all lettering, legends and date are clear and readable.
Obverse: The waves of hair above the forehead lack finer detail but are distinct from the other waves of hair. The rays show a trace of wear but are full and discrete.
Reverse: Feathers on the eagle's wing and leg are worn flat and some details on the neck feathers are starting to show. All lettering is full and complete but may be heavily worn.
Obverse: The waves of hair above the forehead lack finer detail but are distinct from the other waves of hair. The rays show a trace of wear but are full and discrete.
Reverse: Feathers on the eagle's wing and leg are worn flat and some details on the neck feathers are starting to show. All lettering is full and complete but may be heavily worn.
Very Fine-20 (VF20 or VF-20)
Photo courtesy of Teletrade Coin Auctions, www.teletrade.com
Summary: Moderate to minor wear exists only on the highest parts of the design where a slight flatness is beginning to show. The overall condition of the coin is pleasing and attractive.
Obverse: The waves of hair above the forehead and over the ear are worn but some of the finer details are starting to become apparent. All lettering, although worn, is full and complete.
Reverse: Major details in the eagle's feathers on the wing and leg are starting to become apparent. All lettering is full and complete. "PEACE" is full and complete but shows signs of wear.
Obverse: The waves of hair above the forehead and over the ear are worn but some of the finer details are starting to become apparent. All lettering, although worn, is full and complete.
Reverse: Major details in the eagle's feathers on the wing and leg are starting to become apparent. All lettering is full and complete. "PEACE" is full and complete but shows signs of wear.
Extra Fine-40 (EF40, XF40 EF-40 or XF-40)
Photo courtesy of Teletrade Coin Auctions, www.teletrade.com
Summary: Has only the slightest wear on the very highest points of the coin. All details are sharp and all design elements are well defined. Some traces of mint luster may still exist.
Obverse: All of the hairlines are complete with wear only apparent on the highest points. The rays are crisp and sharp. Some evidence of mint luster may be noticeable.
Reverse: All major details in the feathers show. Most wear is concentrated on the top of the eagle's wing. Other finer details are starting to become apparent. "Peace" is crisp and sharp with only some minor wear.
Obverse: All of the hairlines are complete with wear only apparent on the highest points. The rays are crisp and sharp. Some evidence of mint luster may be noticeable.
Reverse: All major details in the feathers show. Most wear is concentrated on the top of the eagle's wing. Other finer details are starting to become apparent. "Peace" is crisp and sharp with only some minor wear.
About Uncirculated-55 (AU55 or AU-55)
Photo courtesy of Teletrade Coin Auctions, www.teletrade.com
Summary: Very minor traces of wear or abrasions are visible on only the highest points on the coin. Mint luster is almost complete and the surfaces of the coin are well preserved.
Obverse: Most of the mint luster remains in the protected areas with a trace of wear on the hair covering the ear. The cheek shows minor wear and no signs of mint luster.
Reverse: All feathers are clear and identifiable but wear is apparent on the Eagle's wing feathers and leg feathers. "PEACE" is crisp and sharp with only slight wear noticeable on the tops of the letters.
Obverse: Most of the mint luster remains in the protected areas with a trace of wear on the hair covering the ear. The cheek shows minor wear and no signs of mint luster.
Reverse: All feathers are clear and identifiable but wear is apparent on the Eagle's wing feathers and leg feathers. "PEACE" is crisp and sharp with only slight wear noticeable on the tops of the letters.
Mint State-63 (MS63 or MS-63)
Photo courtesy of Teletrade Coin Auctions, www.teletrade.com
Summary: No traces of wear from circulation exist. Mint luster is complete but shows minor impairments. Many contact marks, bag marks and hairline scratches exist on the coin's field and major design elements and are visible without magnification. Overall, the coin has an attractive eye appeal.
Obverse: All details are crisp and complete. Some slight friction may have disturbed the luster on the hair over Liberty's hair, cheek and the lower neck. Bag marks and nicks are obvious in the field in front of Liberty's face and on her cheek.
Reverse: All of the feathers on the Eagle's wing and leg are crisp and complete, but the mint luster is disturbed. Some abrasions and nicks will be apparent on the rays and in the field behind the Eagle.
Obverse: All details are crisp and complete. Some slight friction may have disturbed the luster on the hair over Liberty's hair, cheek and the lower neck. Bag marks and nicks are obvious in the field in front of Liberty's face and on her cheek.
Reverse: All of the feathers on the Eagle's wing and leg are crisp and complete, but the mint luster is disturbed. Some abrasions and nicks will be apparent on the rays and in the field behind the Eagle.
Mint State-65 (MS65 or MS-65)
Photo courtesy of Teletrade Coin Auctions, www.teletrade.com
Summary: A high quality of mint luster completely covers the surfaces of the coin and is undisturbed. Contact marks and bag marks are few and small. The coin is well struck and a few hairlines may be seen under a magnifying glass. Overall the coin is brilliant and has an above average eye appeal.
Obverse: The mint luster is full and complete with only a few minor nicks and bag marks in less conspicuous places.
Reverse: All details in the Eagle's feathers are bold with no signs of wear. A few scattered nicks or bag marks may be found upon close inspection.
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Obverse: The mint luster is full and complete with only a few minor nicks and bag marks in less conspicuous places.
Reverse: All details in the Eagle's feathers are bold with no signs of wear. A few scattered nicks or bag marks may be found upon close inspection.
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