Grading Barber Dimes
This article was written by a club contributor and may or may not represent the overall opinion of the club as a whole. The information is intended to be a guide for grading Liberty nickels and is not intended to replace or contradict the opinion of a professional grader, but rather to offer another visual guide to the contributor's interpetation of current grading standards. IMPORTANT: Most photos use earlier dates that tend to come lesser struck than later issues in order to provide the lowest reasonable floor per grade. Dates that often come poorly struck include: 1901-O, 1895-O, 1896-O, 1894-O, and 1893-S. Later dates, especially from Philadelphia, tend to be more consistently produced. Dime struck from through 1900 have broader rims and the ribbon on the reverse was modified twice during the production run.
Fair : FA-2
- date and mintmark (or absence of one) must be identifiable
- rims on both sides merge into perihperal lettering
- Liberty's portrait fully outlined but wreath is incomplete in many areas
About Good : AG-3
- obverse rim typically complete or barely merges in one area
- reverse rim not complete and touches the wreath, which is otherwise mostly outlined
- earhole frequently not quite present
Good : G-4
- ideally, both rims are completely but some dates were struck with worn reverse dies and may lack full rims
- earhole and a small recess beneat the ear show, with "Y" often present on the coronet
- E PLURIBUS UNUM nearly worn completely off
Choice Good : G-6
- rims must be complete and the wreath fully outlined, inside and out
- "L" and "Y" show on the coronet, and a few leaves barely show part of their outlines
Very Good : VG-8
- equivalent of three letters visible on coronet, almoat always "L", "Y" and portions of at least a couple other letters
- grains start to show some limited finer detailing but the lower left grape leaf flat
Choice Very Good : VG-10
- "LI...TY" shows well along with parts of other letters, but LIBERTY is not fully legible
- right segment of lower left grape leaf may show some veining
Fine : F-12
- LIBERTY should be barely legible and leaves in Phygian cap mostly outlined
- lower left grape leaf definitely starts picking up internal details
Choice Fine : F-15
- all letters of LIBERTY present and practically complete
- far right ear of corn typically has almost all rows of kernels visible and separated
Very Fine : VF-20
- LIBERTY plainly visible, top line over word is 2/3 complete, and bottom line is half complete
- dentilation virtually complete on both sides
- rows of kernels for far right ear of corn nicely separated
Very Fine : VF-25
- 3/4 of line above, and 2/3 of line beneath LIBERTY emerge from the foreheat
- dentilation virtually complete on both sides
- just about each individual kernel for far right ear of corn is visible
Choice Very Fine : VF-30
- all leaves in Phygian cap seem fully outlined
- top line above LIBERTY complete but weak while bottom line is nearly complete
- significant internal detailing of grain heads on reverse
Gem Very Fine : VF-35
- barely discernible from VF-30 but each line above and below LIBERTY appears complete
- overall bold on the reverse yet the left grape leaf continues to have incomplete internal details
Extremely Fine : EF-40
- hints of luster possible, especially in outer fields of the reverse
- heads of grain all display visibly complete individual kernels
- image purposefully shows a weakly struck reverse; grape leaf poorly detailed
Choice Extremely Fine : EF-45
- most display trace luster in protected areas, especially within reverse peripheral ornamentation
- this is the grade at which the lower left grape leaf retains over half the veining, except for lesser strikes
About Uncirculated : AU-50
- luster will be visible on both sides, with the reverse showing a third or more cartwheel energy
- all leaves on the reverse have pleasing internal details
About Uncirculated : AU-53
- noticeable luster and wear takes the form of wide areas of rub on the cheek and neck
- some wear within fields causes breaks in flowline effect
Choice About Uncirculated : AU-55
- substantial luster except where broad rub on the cheek and about a third of the neck have depleted flowline texture
- scant rub looks more like variations of lightened surface hue and texture over slightly darker, unworn overall surface
- continue to inspect hair waves above forehead for slight friction
Gem About Uncirculated : AU-58
- very limited wear, barely detectable in the image as pale color and texture shift on the cheek and neck
- reverse frequently appears fully UNC with no detectable friction because the design has no broard, elevated areas of detail
