1887 S Liberty Seated Dime grade opinions please

[jesbroken]

I would like your opinions as to the grade on this 1887 S LSD, please. I feel it is an EF40 coin, but then its mine.

Thanks

Jim

 

[James_OldeTowne]

Jim, from the image, I would have guessed VF-30, but the angle of photography may be suppressing some details. So, you could be right on with EF.

[RI AL]

In my humble opinion, it's on the cusp between VF and XF. If there was such a grade as VF 39, that would be my vote. The obverse is strong and the LIBERTY and scroll are sharp and raised, characteristics of an XF coin. I think the knees and head show just a bit too much flatness to qualify as XF...but if it's not XF...it's darned close.

[Just Bob]

My first reaction was VF-30/35.

[BillJones]

The photos may not be doing this coin justice, but for me eye appeal issues and the general look of the surfaces led me to grade this coin as a Choice VF. Given some of today's lax grading standards, however, you could call it a "commerical EF." I think a lot of bourse dealers who sell raw coins would grade this EF when they were selling it. When they were buying it, that would be another matter.

[jesbroken]

That's pretty much the way it has always been(this is why used car dealers have two different blue/black books to buy and sell from). Best way to buy cheap and sell high is to use different grading standards-buy vs sell.

Bill, this coin has beautiful lustre from the shield down and along the rock she sits on, it glistens in the light, I'm just no good at capturing it. The reverse has very little lustre, but some. It goes in my 7070 to upgrade an old 1875 CC in VG shape so I'm at least heading upwards.

Thanks all.

Jim