44-S Merc Grading Needed.

It is hard to tell if it is wear or just a weak strike on the wing and hair details found on the obverse. So it could go between AU-58 and MS-61. I think it is more towards AU-58 than being MS.

There is some Machine Doubling on the year and letters on the reverse. Overall, a very nice looking coin.

This site has nice photos for grading:
(052) Not Allowed - Auto-Removed .com/How_To_Grade_Mercury_Dimes.html

Well, I'm getting there at least. A decent coin for the collection for now and another nugget or two of learned lessons.

Does the Machine Doubling affect the value at all?

Capn Fwiffo seems about right to me. But I think its glare that gives it more luster

I feel wary buying coins with pictures like this because they're obviously trying to make it look better in some way. Slight blur, extra light/glare... easy to hide hairlines, ugly toning, or lack of luster. The glare on the reverse makes it really hard to evaluate the fields... if there was luster it would have some evidence of a cartwheel effect I think.......

I also think this picture looks like it was converted from a natural color image into a grey scale image.

Edit: Forgot to rate, sorry - I think it looks like AU53 to AU58, depending on whether the high points have worn or it was just a weaker strike. Hard to tell with the glare.

what is "FSB's"?

Ah, I see now. Thanks.

Well, it depends on your budget. If you're building a set, a lot of dates are hard to find with full strikes and fully split bands, or are prohibitively expensive. Only a few collectors can afford more than a handful of the pre-depression dates in uncirculated condition, let alone full-band gems.

With a little more familiarity with the series, you'll get better at where to look for wear, for the quality of strike, how to tell if it's been cleaned, how to tell die abrasions from scratches, which dates are easy/difficult, which would make the best dates for a type set, etc.