Grading Barber Halves

chiefbob

I bought a Barber half on the Bay last week, and it's in a PCGS holder labeled VG08. What surprised me, though, was that I can't see any letters in Liberty at all, even with a 10x loupe. It's my understanding that at least 3 letters must be visible for a VG grade.

I also bought some others, raw, that were listed in VG condition. I know how the pics on eBay aren't the best and it's hard to see the Liberty letters anyway unless it's a real closeup shot. They look exactly the same as the slabbed, with full rims and some only have a partial letter.

Is the VG grade for Barber halves a gray area? Is the "3 letters visible" rule a hard and fast one?

Thanks,

Bob

Placid

pcgs grades on the % of overall detail.

Steve27

"Is the "3 letters visible" rule a hard and fast one?"

Yes, I have a PCGS VG08 Barber Quarter with two whole letters and two half letters (three total). I also have a PCGS G06 Barber Half which has one full letter.

TheRaven

Pictures?

It should be 3 letters or 2 letters and 2 partial letters.....

I see alot of coins selling for "VG" grade that I would not call VG.....

Barberman55

Although PCGS takes the detail of the overall coin in mind when grading Barber halves, the amount of detail in "Liberty" is one of the key area's that are used for grading. Part of 3 letters in Liberty is usually the rule of thumb for a VG-8. In the past 4-5 years of collecting Barber halves I have never seen a Barber half, graded by PCGS VG-8, with no letters of Liberty visible. There must be alot of detail on the rest of the coin in order to get the grade or maybe it's just an oversight on PCGS's part.

Dave99B

Sounds like a PCGS boo-boo.

If possible, a pic would be great. It would be interesting to see the overall general detail of the this example.

BTW, is it an O-mint by any chance?

Dave

chiefbob

My mistake. I didn't realize that I needed a coin scope to see any letters! I put the coin under my Coin Scope at 30x and now see some letters.



I'm still learning how to grade Barber Halves since my recent acquisitions. Is it normal to have to use a scope to see the letters? Maybe I need Lasik surgery!

Dave: no, not an O mint.

TheRaven

I think I could see that as a VG-8.

Appears to qualify as 3 letters.....