1944 Mercury Dime

The luster looks flat on the obverse, but I think that may be due to the lighting and holder. Contact marks look very minimal. I'd say MS64 if the luster is better on the obverse than it appears.

since it is a Pcgs case I would say ms62 maybe ms63

Nice try all of you. but heres the answer....


MS65 It has very nice luster on both sides. its an overall nice coin.
here are the pics which aint the best but here they are....

I have to agree with you, Rick. I said MS64 because it was stated that the coin was in a PCGS holder and I added a point for that. I see it as an MS63 coin also.

Hi Demonboy

I was hoping you would ask this question !!

I agree that it is a very pretty coin !! and for sure nothing to be ashamed of,, PCGS has done you a favor by slabbing this coin as a 65 though.

My reasoning is one of experiance with this coin series,, but I will use the PCGS grading guide to simplify the process.

PCGS grading guide says this about an MS-65 coin,,Minor marks though NONE in the focal areas, the coin will have an above average strike.

Now that little nick is not a big deal and the coin could possibly grade as a 65 with it alone, but !!!! combine that with the strike on the coin,, we can use the reverse since it is the most notable strike problem for this particular coin,, look at the center of the facses sticks.. Ignoreing the center bands,, look at the center stick, do you see the flatness on this stick and some even spreading both east and west especially just below the center bands? that is a weakness in the strike of this coin, the obverse has similar weakness although not as noticeable but the curls on the forehead, and the lower wing feathers.


Now this is what PCGS says for an MS-63,, Moderate number/size marks/hairlines and the strike may not be full.

Thus my determination of an MS-63 for this coin.

Hope this helps you to understand,, it really is not that uncommon to find disagreement with grades of slabbed coins even those of the top tier companies,, and it is no way a push at you personally!!

Check out the reverse of this 1917, it is also a 63 but for reasons other than strike problems.



Rick

and btw its just not a great image. the strike is a pretty sharp strike. although its not the sharpest its better than shown.