What grade would you call this 42 walking liberty?

Just curious what you guys think? I'm trying to learn better about what grade to call. My best guess is AU55.

Bought it on eBay hoping it would be MS but looks like AU at best.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

AU 53

 

XF-45

 

XF 45. A bit too much wear for AU. Eagle looks kind of flat, and dress and flowers a bit worn. I would say a nice 45.

 

XF

 

http://www.pcgs.com/Photograde/#/Walker/Grades

 

This is PCGS photo grade for AU53. Looking at these pictures....I would put money on that my coin is a 53.

Tell me what I'm missing. I want to know what to look for so I can be as close as possible to accurate grades. Just for my own knowledge.

 

XF, Look at the fields. The luster is gone.

 

Definitely not AU in my opinion. I say between 30 and 40.

AU-50

Obverse: traces of wear on head, breast, arms, and left leg (yours has more than just "traces", IMHO)
Reverse: traces of wear on high points of wings and center of eagle's head; all leg feathers visible (again, yours has more than a trace of wear)
Surface: half of the mint luster is still present (I don't see *any*)

EF-45

Obverse: light wear on head, breast, arms, left leg, and foot. Nearly all gown lines are clearly visible. Sandal details are bold and complete. Knee is lightly worn but full and rounded. (I don't think any of these apply)
Reverse: small flat spots show on high points of breast and legs. Wing feathers have nearly full details. (No)
Surface: Part of the mint luster is still present. (No)

EF-40

Obverse: Wear shows on head, breast, arms, and left leg (YES). Nearly all gown lines are visible (maybe). Sandal details are complete (maybe). Breast and knee are nearly flat (NO).
Reverse: High points of eagle are lightly worn (YES). Half the breast and leg feathers are visible (I guess so). Central parts of feathers below neck are well worn. (YES)
Surface: Traces of mint luster may still show (again, no luster that I see)

VF-30

Obverse: Wear spots show on head, breast, arms, and legs (YES). Left leg is rounded but worn from above knee to ankle (YES). Gown line crossing body is partially visible (YES). Knee is flat (maybe). Outline of breast can be seen (YES).
Reverse: Breast and legs are moderately worn but clearly separated, with some feathers visible between them (YES). Feather ends and folds are clearly visible in right wing (maybe). Pupil in eye is visible (YES).

 

I would be at EF40 on this one.

 

Put me in the XF camp too ...

 

Yep, XF for me also. And that scratch across the sun rays is not doing it any favors.

 

xf40 The light scratch brings it down from a ex 45

 

40

 

XF-45 at best. Too much wear.

 

Here is a mid grade AU that I picked off eBay at random. Much less wear, and a lot more details. The eagle isn't worn flat, the feathers are pretty sharp, and the dress lines are clear. The OP coin is not close to AU:

 

40

 

ef 40

 

You came to the right place to learn! My guess EF 40 max