GTG (guess the grade) 1892 Barber half dollar

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lordmarcovan
lordmarcovan Posts: 45,335 ✭✭✭✭✭
edited August 4, 2026 12:39AM in U.S. Coin Forum

Certified by a major TPG. Guess the grade, be it AU, MS, Details, whatever.

These are cellphone photos, not professional shots, so we're working within those limitations, here. The coin is mostly white, with the peripheral toning you see, and some decent luster which doesn’t entirely show in these images.



Collector since 1976. On the CU forums here since 2001.

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  • lordmarcovan
    lordmarcovan Posts: 45,335 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited August 4, 2026 1:13AM
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    Being conservative, and based on these photos, if I was seeing this coin blind, in someone else’s GTG thread, I’d likely guess one point lower than the actual grade. The fact that the luster doesn’t entirely come through is a factor in that.

    Edit: here is an admittedly low-quality GIF to show the luster somewhat.

    Collector since 1976. On the CU forums here since 2001.

  • lordmarcovan
    lordmarcovan Posts: 45,335 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited August 4, 2026 1:14AM
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    (Edited post above to add the GIF.)

    Collector since 1976. On the CU forums here since 2001.

  • TallahasseeCoinClub
    TallahasseeCoinClub Posts: 474 ✭✭✭✭
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    Inaugural Barber half-dollars tend to be pretty coins, so I'll guess MS-63.

    Official PCGS account of:

    www.TallahasseeCoinClub.com

  • ajaan
    ajaan Posts: 18,004 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Unc details, spot removed.


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  • coinkat
    coinkat Posts: 24,542 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    We are all in the same boat in terms of the challenging images. I am not the best at interpreting these types of images. I do see promise. I don’t think MS62 is unreasonable. This has the potential to grade higher depending on the quality of the surfaces. Good luck with your evaluation.

    Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.

  • lordmarcovan
    lordmarcovan Posts: 45,335 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited August 4, 2026 5:03AM
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    @coinkat said:
    I don’t think MS62 is unreasonable. This has the potential to grade higher depending on the quality of the surfaces. Good luck with your evaluation.

    Me neither, and 62 would have also been my guess (based on these pics) if I didn’t know the real answer.

    Collector since 1976. On the CU forums here since 2001.

  • oih82w8
    oih82w8 Posts: 13,206 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Nice one. MS63

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  • coinkat
    coinkat Posts: 24,542 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Oh no… wrong again… lol

    Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.

  • Coins3675
    Coins3675 Posts: 1,138 ✭✭✭✭
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    I am thinking AU-58, it looks like there are some dark spots on the high points

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  • Morgan13
    Morgan13 Posts: 2,691 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Ill go MS64

    Student of numismatics and collector of Morgan dollars
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  • lordmarcovan
    lordmarcovan Posts: 45,335 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @coinkat said:
    Oh no… wrong again… lol

    Not entirely- your assessment was sound.

    Collector since 1976. On the CU forums here since 2001.

  • Mr_Spud
    Mr_Spud Posts: 7,272 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    63

    Mr_Spud

  • jedm
    jedm Posts: 3,266 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I like it as a 58

  • johnny9434
    johnny9434 Posts: 34,051 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Ms 62

  • shish
    shish Posts: 1,223 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    MS-63, nice example.

    Liberty Seated and Trade Dollar Specialist
  • Davidk7
    Davidk7 Posts: 675 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    You can see the grade in the gif for a brief second by the way

    Collector of Capped Bust Halves, SLQ's, Commems, and random cool stuff! @davidv_numismatics on Instagram

  • lordmarcovan
    lordmarcovan Posts: 45,335 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited August 4, 2026 9:57AM
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    @Davidk7 said:
    You can see the grade in the gif for a brief second by the way

    Did tip my hand there, didn’t I? 😜

    PS- To see that, I think you’d need to freeze on that frame and look up the cert #. I don’t see the part with the grade, but most of the cert # does flash past in less than a second. Blink of an eye.

    Collector since 1976. On the CU forums here since 2001.

  • Davidk7
    Davidk7 Posts: 675 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Just a little! Wanted to let ya know in case you didn’t see it!

    Collector of Capped Bust Halves, SLQ's, Commems, and random cool stuff! @davidv_numismatics on Instagram

  • lordmarcovan
    lordmarcovan Posts: 45,335 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @Davidk7 said:
    Just a little! Wanted to let ya know in case you didn’t see it!

    Thanks. I’ll be doing the reveal and posting the unredacted GIF with the answer soon enough, anyway. I’ll wait just a little bit longer to give a few more folks the chance to guess.

    Collector since 1976. On the CU forums here since 2001.

  • clarkbar04
    clarkbar04 Posts: 5,027 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    My guess is 64.

    MS66 taste on an MS63 budget.
  • dunkleosteus430
    dunkleosteus430 Posts: 595 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    AU-58

    I collect world proof sets, coins featuring composers, mid-20th century U.S. proof coins, U.S. type coins, and whatever else I want.

  • jesbroken
    jesbroken Posts: 11,252 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    While it appears to have Unc features, I feel with the muted luster and what may be shelf storage slides or felt marks, I would have to say AU-58. A beautiful coin, nonetheless. If wrong, good for you.
    Jim


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  • TomB
    TomB Posts: 23,189 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    It definitely looks MS and doesn't appear chippy. It also doesn't appear to be a full blown gem like these can be found. My guess is MS63, but keep in mind we are using so-so images for this.

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    image
  • lordmarcovan
    lordmarcovan Posts: 45,335 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @TomB said:
    It definitely looks MS and doesn't appear chippy. It also doesn't appear to be a full blown gem like these can be found. My guess is MS63, but keep in mind we are using so-so images for this.

    Very true. While I have upped my game in the photography department, I’ve still got a long way to go.

    Collector since 1976. On the CU forums here since 2001.

  • MarkInDavis
    MarkInDavis Posts: 1,752 ✭✭✭✭
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    MS 64. The video looks better than the photos.

    image Respectfully, Mark
  • Eldorado9
    Eldorado9 Posts: 2,822 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I'll go 63...She looks quite decent!

  • marcmoish
    marcmoish Posts: 6,936 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Clnd/dtls UNC.

  • jfriedm56
    jfriedm56 Posts: 3,101 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Looks to be at the MS63 grade level. Difficult to tell from those pics.
    Zack.

  • 2windy2fish
    2windy2fish Posts: 1,143 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Cannot be a details coin as the back of the slab doesn’t say “Genuine, not gradeable “

  • lordmarcovan
    lordmarcovan Posts: 45,335 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I’ll eventually have to have a pro photograph this one.

    Collector since 1976. On the CU forums here since 2001.

  • NumisOxide
    NumisOxide Posts: 11,048 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    MS63 Im gonna guess. Looks flashy from vid

  • lordmarcovan
    lordmarcovan Posts: 45,335 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @2windy2fish said:
    Cannot be a details coin as the back of the slab doesn’t say “Genuine, not gradeable “

    Aha! Observant. Yep, it’s a straight graded coin.

    Collector since 1976. On the CU forums here since 2001.

  • marcmoish
    marcmoish Posts: 6,936 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Well I guessed details only b/c you mentioned it Lord, and it looks a bit clnd, so hence my guess ;)

  • PKing
    PKing Posts: 43 ✭✭✭
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    The op photos look 63 but Imo the luster could carry her to 64 if you have the willpower for a few resubs

    May the wind always be at your back and the road rise to meet you
  • BigFrankie
    BigFrankie Posts: 60 ✭✭✭
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    AU58. Appears to have light wear on a few Rev high points.

    The GIF makes it look much better than the pictures.

  • 2windy2fish
    2windy2fish Posts: 1,143 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I’m on the 64 train btw…although this is a train with pretty limited information!

  • pursuitofliberty
    pursuitofliberty Posts: 7,926 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Looks Unc, without question. I'm going to say it straight graded as a 63


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  • seatedlib3991
    seatedlib3991 Posts: 1,629 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Straight holder or not, my guess is that it is an unc. coin that had a baking soda cleaning sometime in it's past. James

  • Maywood
    Maywood Posts: 4,382 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    MS63, go to the bank.

    "Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety," --- Benjamin Franklin

  • WinLoseWin
    WinLoseWin Posts: 1,912 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Have not refreshed the thread, so maybe already revealed but I'll guess anyway.

    Based on the stills I would have said 61, 62 or 63 and gone with the middle of 62.

    However, seeing the GIF luster bumps it up to 62, 63 or 64 and going to go with the middle again at 63.

    Of course it could be all of those grades if you send it in enough times. Now for the refresh.

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  • marcmoish
    marcmoish Posts: 6,936 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    What a cool one, no way details, whoever thought so should be flogged :D

  • hummingbird_coins
    hummingbird_coins Posts: 1,671 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @lordmarcovan said:

    @Davidk7 said:
    You can see the grade in the gif for a brief second by the way

    Did tip my hand there, didn’t I? 😜

    PS- To see that, I think you’d need to freeze on that frame and look up the cert #. I don’t see the part with the grade, but most of the cert # does flash past in less than a second. Blink of an eye.

    Also, the number after the PCGS coin number is the grade. 6461.(63)

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  • Davidk7
    Davidk7 Posts: 675 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Yeah that’s what I was talking about lol

    Collector of Capped Bust Halves, SLQ's, Commems, and random cool stuff! @davidv_numismatics on Instagram

  • sedulous
    sedulous Posts: 3,552 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Nice luster

    A Barber Quartet is made up of Nickels, Dimes, Quarters, and Halves.

  • TallahasseeCoinClub
    TallahasseeCoinClub Posts: 474 ✭✭✭✭
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    The 1892 half-dollar (and for that matter, the dime and quarter as well) can frequently be found "nice", which is fortunate for type collectors who prefer first-year-of-series examples.

    I guessed the grade correctly for once, but my guess was assisted by knowledge of how reasonably common this coin is in Choice BU. I am sure hundreds are certified at that grade and probably far more that have never been certified would also grade MS-63

    Official PCGS account of:

    www.TallahasseeCoinClub.com

  • lordmarcovan
    lordmarcovan Posts: 45,335 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @TallahasseeCoinClub said:
    I am sure hundreds are certified at that grade and probably far more that have never been certified would also grade MS-63

    Yep. PCGS population in MS63 is 252, with 476 higher, as of this typing. So not extremely high-end, but definitely nice enough to be my representative Type coin. Besides, I couldn’t afford much nicer without crossing my financial pain threshold. I did once have a lovely ex-Benson 1898 PCGS PR63 CAM with black and white contrast and lots of frost. I miss that one. If I ever upgrade, I’ll look at proofs.

    Collector since 1976. On the CU forums here since 2001.

  • lordmarcovan
    lordmarcovan Posts: 45,335 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited August 6, 2026 4:50AM
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    PS- I acquired this coin as part of a larger swap deal this Spring, for the equivalent of about 700 bucks in trade. I note the PCGS trend price is $1,075, so I think I did reasonably well? Seemed OK to me, anyway.

    Collector since 1976. On the CU forums here since 2001.

  • TallahasseeCoinClub
    TallahasseeCoinClub Posts: 474 ✭✭✭✭
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    Top of head, I would have guessed retail at $1000 so $700 in equity seems very reasonable to me!

    Official PCGS account of:

    www.TallahasseeCoinClub.com

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