GRADING STANDARDS

Peace Dollars


VERY GOOD:

OBVERSE: Hair is flattened and rays have weak spots. Part of motto is weak. Rim is complete

REVERSE: Most feather details worn away, with flattening on right leg, wing, and upper neck and head. Portion or rays, PEACE, and E PLURIBUS missing. Rim is complete.


FINE:

OBVERSE: All hair aroung face is smooth. Slight wear shows on hair at back of neck and on bun. Rays show a trace of wear.

REVERSE: All feathers on right leg are worn away. Lower third of neck feathers visible. Only the lower horizontal line of feather layers will show. Parts of PEACE and E PLURIBUS weak but readable.


VERY FINE:

OBVERSE: Very little hair detail visible around face. Wear shows on upper wave of hair. Hair above ear worn but some single strands are clear.

REVERSE: Detail on ritht wing worn but the three horizontal lines of feather layers show. Flattening visible on leg feathers and neck. Motto and talons lightly worn.


EXTREMELY FINE:

OBVERSE: Slight flattening visible on high pionts of hair; most hair strands clearly separated. Entire face and lower edge of neck lightly worn.

REVERSE: Wear shows on head behind eye and top of neck. Some flat spots visible on central wing and leg feathers.


ABOUT UNCIRCULATED:

OBVERSE: Traces of wear visible on neck, hair over ear, and above forehead. Cheek shows slight wear.

REVERSE: Traces of wear show on head on high point of feathers on right wing. Three-quarters of mint luster is still present. Surface abrasions and bag marks are noticeable.


MINT STATE (MS-60):

A strictly UNCIRCULATED coin with no trace of wear, but with bag marks and other abrasions more obvious than for MS-63. May have a few small rim mars and weakly struck spots. Has full mint luster but may lack brilliance, and surface may be spotted or heavily toned. NOTE: Business strike silver dollars were all placed in mint bags of 1,000 coins. Subsequent handling of bags caused bag marks and abrasions on virtually all coins, which should not be confused with circulation wear. Full mint luster and a lack of any wear are necessary to distinguish MS-60 from AU.


MINT STATE (MS-63):

A strictly UNCIRCULATED coin with no trace of wear. Mint luster may be slightly impared, but overall the coin is rahter attractive. Numerous small contact marks and a few scattered heavy marks may be seen. Small hairlines may be visible with out magnifiaction.



Grading Standards are set by the American Numismatic Association as outlined in the Official A.N.A. Grading Standards for United States Coins, Fifth Edition, copyright © 1996. This reference book is available for purchase for $13.95. Hyperlink to our Coin Supplies Page for more information.

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