I have some liberty head nickels and have been reading about them and what constitutes each grade. I keep reading about "corn grains." I keep looking at pictures of beautiful AU/MS nickels. I keep not finding "corn grains." Could someone tell me where I should be looking and what exactly I should be looking for? Please use more words than "corn grains" and "wreath." Google hasn't been any help... Thanks for answering my lame question! :smile
A key striking point for Liberty Nickels is the left corn ear. The kernels are typically weakly struck, as is plainly evident in the coin posted above. Compare the striking of that coin to a proof, a relatively well-struck business strike, and a very weakly-struck coin below:
Would that be strictly true? I have seen many of them weakly struck and not showing, but the coin showing no signs of wear. I would say them showing would be a sign of a MS coin AND full strike, not just a sign of MS. I have also seen AU examples with this area showing, as it is a higher point but not the highest typically. I have an AU 1912d that under your definition should be MS, (well todays grading may give it MS anyway, but still, its just a well struck AU). Chris
Forgive me Chris. Last nite the Yankee/Chisox game was on, the lighting was bad, and I was working out of an 1987 Red Book. XF-40 mentions the corn grains showing. MS mentions no trace of wear and mabe a few light blemishes with no reference at all to corn grains. I was reading the wrong line. Mea Culpa........
OK Here's a rundown from the (more up to date) 2011 Red Book........ G-4, Good- No details in head. LIBERTY obliterated VG-8, Very Good- Some letters in LIBERTY legible. F-12, Fine- All letters in LIBERTY legible. VF-20, Very Fine- LIBERTY bold, including letter L. EF-40, Extremely Fine- LIBERTY sharp. Corn grains at bottom of wreath visible on reverse. AU-50, About Uncirculated- Traces of light wear on only the high points of design. Half of mint luster present. MS-60, Uncirculated-No trace of wear, but many contact marks possible. Surface may be spotted, or luster faded. MS-63, Choice Uncirculated-No trace of wear. Light blemishes.
Good info Green. Always be careful OP though that these are simply recommendations as to a normal wear pattern. Soft strikes, uneven wear, etc can change these. I always hate when they point out specific things like corn ears in a grade like that, since worn dies or weak strikes can completely change that. These guidelines are helpful, but not set in stone. You have to look at the overall coin as to level of preservation. I used to make really good buys on buffalo nickels and other coins because so many people were fixated on one certain feature to determine grade. Some buffalo issues had weak horns, but to many people the horn was the only aspect of the coin they would consider while grading.
Not to my knowledge, but the collector who has an interest in acquiring a fully struck example should pay close attention to this (and other) feature(s).
Yep, the words "on reverse" are what I was missing! I know they are just recommendations, but I do like to look at them, particularily when it is something I'm not terribly familiar with. On a positive note, I do have a couple with full Liberty and corn grains, so I did well for $6 on ebay!
Terriffic! And do pay particular attention to what Mike (Leadfoot) and Chris (Medoraman) have mentioned. They're scholars and I value (as well as you should too) their opinions........
Thanks! That helped me immensely this morning! No wonder I couldn't see the grains of corn... I was looking in the wrong place. Doug
