Grade This Barber Half: You Vs. PCGS

Can't say I agree with PCGS in the least. Hoping you got if for F12 $$$, but have trouble seeing how they didn't get it a VF20 at least.

Just looked at Photograde and I have to agree with nod2003. Their example for a VF20 the liberty looks slightly more worn than this one. F-12 is not even close unless I'm missing something.

I was at F-15 before seeing the posted grade. Liberty not bold enough for VF.

http://blog.davidlawrence.com/index...r-2-grading/

Another reference.

I would not go above a Fine 15.

Edit:

Within every series, devotees of that series use their own guidelines. We do not always rely upon the "Guides" when it comes to what we know.

The "LIBERTY" on a Barber coin, for well or ill, is what we look at.

To be a Very Fine, we want to see a complete band, both below AND ABOVE. This is not evident in the example posted.
Note the break in the band above "LIBERTY."

This is a dandy coin. Outstanding eye appeal. The reverse could pass for a VF. But the obverse is the deciding factor.

On the continuum of "fine" coins, this is about as nice as can be had on the high end of fine.

I'd like to change my opinion: I stand with PCGS and call it a F-12.

Yeah, I'm starting to agree with the others that it is not a VF although I think it is a F15 instead of a F12 but I'm only a novice.

Oh, Joe2007!
Those of us who have played with coins for 30, 40 or 50 years still second-guess ourselves.
The Barber series, which once lumped both the goods and the very goods together, are now understood to be more complex.
The difference between a fine and a very fine can be a large difference in price.
The 1905 Philadelphia is a common coin in good or very good.
But uncommon in fine. ANY Barber half dollar in fine is a true find.
The rare dates are much more difficult to acquire. Often requiring years of searching.
That is the challenge ...

Thanks for the fun.
I just recently purchased this coin. I have been collecting Barber half's exclusively for 10 years and have held, looked at and graded many,many Barbers along the way.
This is my first slabbed coin purchase and is one of the nicest looking coins in F I have ever seen.
I believe this coin to be F15, and I will likely be searching a long time for one as nice. For those that collect the Barber Half series know the difficulty it poses finding anything, let alone in F. Definately CAC worthy I think?