Grading opinion on 1897-O barber half plz **Got grades**

aussielover

I'd grade it VG10 but how technical is "Fine" -- notice a line showing in the letter "E"

Thanks in advance

Brian


You guys remember this..

Believe it or not pcgs graded.. F12


Brian

JadeRareCoin

Looks like a strong Fine to me. F-15. You can't always go by the technical standards, such as "how many letters in LIBERTY". You have to look at the entire coin: rims, surfaces, all 3 sides, etc. Sometimes coins are weekly struck, and sometimes only certain areas of the coin will be weak. The coin you posted looks like it has slightly rough surfaces, but F-15 in terms of detail. However, you may have trouble commanding Fine money for it.

ARCO

Using LIBERTY which is the grading criteria the coin looks to grade VG10. Those early O mint coins were sometimes softly struck and the detail overall can be stronger when LIBERTY is more worn away. Overall the detail looks Fine to me. I would say F12, but I doubt I would pay full Fine price for it.

Here is one I sold as a VG10 about six months ago.



Tyler

DrPete

The details of the LIBERTY detail are either VG8 or F12 depending on your own criteria. I typically take into consideration the remainder of the coin and in this case, it has a fairly pleasing look and the reverse looks decent for a fine, so my overall judgement is a just-makes-it F12. Most 1890's barber halves have markedly greater wear on the reverse than the obverse and this one matches better and that gives it a plus in my book. The trick is to figure out how to price such a coin as there is a HUGE jump from a VG to a F 1897-O. Hopefully if you are contemplating purchase of the coin, you can get it for a price that makes sense to you.

TomB

I don't care for the requirement of a full LIBERTY for a fine coin as it is too similar to those designations that I dislike such as FB, FBL, FT, FH and anything else. The coin is what matters, not a small detail that may or may not be indicative of general wear patterns. Your coin seems to have the overall meat of a F12 and I think it fits the F12 "looK" very nicely.

Pennycase

As a barber coin collector, I must be way undergrading my coins, and getting some good deals on coins, that coin would only be a VG in my book ( my opinion ), regardless how much detail shows in the remainding area of the coin, A full sharp LIBERTY has to be present before I will accept anything that someone is selling for Fine money, anything that doesn't have a full liberty, is a VG-10 at best. And as I am strict to these guidelines, I always get good deals on my barber coinage, I'm kind of like PCGS, if your coin doesn't give ALL the signs of a full blown F-12 or a Full blown VF etc etc ( full liberty included), then the coin will not get the grade designation. That's just my opinion though

dorkkarl

for me, it's a picture-perfect f-12.

K S

Cratylus

As usual, I'm agreeing with Tyler and DorkKarl. It just barely makes a F-12 in my book, but I wouldn't pay full Fine money for it, tough date or not.

Regarding TomB's message... extremely well said and I couldn't agree more. I'm glad somebody else espouses the same ideal I've been saying for years: Grade the ENTIRE COIN and not just one little tiny area of it.

MFH

Grading the coin as a whole, I have to agree that its a F12. The faint E in Liberty is the coin's only detraction from a F 15. Its a tad nicer than the VG 10 that Tyler sold. Just a tad though.

Brian, what are they asking for the coin ?

aussielover

Thanks for all your opinions and comments.



Brian

aussielover

Got grades.. see top

Coinhusker1

Deserves a F-12. Nice, original coin. Congrats.