Need Help with Mercury Dime.

Lori

Received this Mercury Dime today and want some opinions on grade. I would also like to know what to look for when grading these. Thank you.

Lori


Big Picture


Big Picture

smprfi

Looks like an AU-53 to me.I could be wrong but it looks like there is wear in the helmet wings and the hairline.
I don't collect this series in earnest but you want to grade it like you would most other coins.The other thing you want to learn is what year the coins had a known weak strike.This applies to any coin series.
You also want to look at the bands on the reverse to see if you have full split bands.

This is how I approach coins and grading them.You'll find out what you really need to know from the experts in this series.We have a few here.
I like the golden toning too.Looks real to me.

construct

Here is a thread that JTrusty is posting showing how to grade Mercs according to ANA standards. He hasn't gotten that far yet, but he's posting away.

thread

wingedliberty

MS63. Weak strike and bands are 90% split , but not full.
ANA grading standards a must. PCGS grading guide essential. Looking at thousands of Mercs, priceless.
David Lange's Complete Guide to Mercury Dimes a must for every serious Merc collector.
Nice coin.


Brian.

marcmoish

Likely AU-55 maybe AU-58 at best. Nice toning but its masking the wear. It would pass easy as MS64FB with someone using flimsy grading standards.


Marc

Fairlaneman

Lori:

Grading opinions based on Images- forget about it.

But if you do want a opinion PM me.

Ken

oldshep

Thanks for the tutorial link, the text is ANA but the photos are much more informative. I have just finishe going through 872 dimes, more then half mercurys trying to learn the grading on circulated coins.
This coin is a beauty - does anyone think that the reverse is actually better than the obverse?

Fairlaneman

Shep the reverse is often better than the obverse on a Merc. I'm not really sure but this may be a reason. On a Merc the Reverse is the Hammer Die which is not so with many other coin series.

Ken