A Couple Of Mercury Dimes To Grade

Duke, IMO, I would grade the 1918 as VF-30 and the 1931-D as EF40. Noted the scratches in the hairline of the 1931-D. If those are really deep or significant enough to affect the eye appeal, then someone will want to talk you off of the EF-40 grade if you are trying to sell. Again, this is IMO. Very nice coins in any regard, and moving up the price charts I might add.

The were sold as EF, but I paid VF money for them. Once the arrived, I gave them each a VF35.

I wasn't sure about the lite appearance of the "18 myself. If both were taken under the same lighting conditions, I agree that it has been cleaned. That would definitely move it off of VF money, but it's still a nice coin in that grade. My original EF-40 on the 31-D was the presence of the diagonal banding visible across the fasces. However, I missed the fact that all of the vertical bands are not separated. Thus, I agree with a VF35 on that as well.