Grading U.S. Silver Dollar Coins
Of the silver dollar coins minted in the United States, we are buying the following:
- Flowing hair silver dollars, 1794-1795 ~ We buy all flowing hair type dollars.
- Draped bust 1 dollar silver pieces, 1795-1803 ~ We buy all draped bust type one dollar coins.
- Gobrecht dollars, 1836-1839 ~ We are buying all Gobrecht type dollars.
- Liberty seated dollars, 1840-1873 ~ We buy all seated Liberty type 1 dollar coins.
- Trade dollars, 1873-1885 ~ We buy all Trade dollars.
- Liberty Head "Morgan" 1 dollar silver pieces, 1878-1921 ~ We buy most Morgan dollars.
- Peace silver dollar coins, 1921-1935 ~ We buy some Peace dollars.
Call us toll-free at 888 380-6468 if you have questions.
Below you will find information about various details of grading U.S. silver dollar coins 
which may be useful for you to determine the value of your coins. These descriptions of grades use official American Numismatic Association (ANA) terminology, both in general descriptions of grades on this website, as well as coin-specific grading terminology on these coin grading pages.*
Examples of coins in various grading conditions are shown, graded by various professional grading services companies, as indicated by their abbreviations. If you wish to get a fast, fair and free appraisal from a professional coin dealer, go here for more information about how to send in your coins.
SILVER DOLLARS (2 of 3)
P:poor F:fair AG:about good G:good VG:very good F:fine VF:very fine EF:extra fine AU:about uncirculated MS:mint state (Uncirc.) PR:proof |
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1798 Draped Bust
heraldic eagle, VF-30 (PCI)
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1839 Gobrecht Dollar
Proof
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1846 Liberty Seated
VF-35 (PCGS)
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AG-3, Outlined design. Parts of date and legend are worn smooth. Obverse: Head is outlined, with nearly all details worn away. Date is readable but very weak. Stars merge into rim. Reverse: Entire design is flat and partially worn away. Legend merges with rim. |
VF-20, Light to moderate even wear. All major features are sharp. Obverse: Over half of the details show in the gown. Hair, shoulder, and legs are worn but bold. LIBERTY and shield lines are visible but possibly weak at the center. Reverse: Three-quarters of the feathers are visible. Breast and talons are worn, but some details are visible. |
AG-3, Parts of date and legend are worn smooth. Outlined design. Obverse: Liberty is outlined, with nearly all details worn away. Date is readable but very weak. Stars merge into rim. Reverse: Entire design is partially worn away. Legend merges into rim. |
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G-4, Heavily worn. Draped bust design and legend are visible, but faint in spots. OBV: Entire design is worn smooth, with very little detail remaining. Legend, stars, and date are well worn but visible. REV: Heraldic eagle is worn flat and only outlined. Tops of some letters are worn nearly smooth. Only half of the stars are completely outlined. Rim is partially worn away. |
VF-30, Light to moderate even wear. Major Gobrecht silver dollar piece features sharp. OBV: Wear spots show on shoulder, breast, knees, and legs. Neckline is weak but has some visible details in center. LIBERTY and scroll are bold. Fingers at pole are flat but separated. All lines in shield are distinct. REV: Breast is worn but three-quarters of details are visible. Most details in feathers and head are clear. Wing tips show a trace of wear. |
G-4, Design and legend are visible, but faint in spots. Heavily worn liberty seated dollar coin. OBV: Date is weak but visible. Entire design is well worn, with very little detail remaining. Shield is worn smooth. Most of rim is visible. REV: Eagle is worn flat but completely outlined. For 1866 through 1873 pieces, the motto is partially visible. Tops of some letters are worn nearly smooth. |
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VG-8, Well worn. Design is clear but flat and lacking details. OBV: Entire head is weak, and most hair details and drapery are worn smooth. Date and LIBERTY are weak but clear. Parts of the eye and ear are visible. Stars are outlined, with some tips worn flat. REV: Eagle is boldly outlined with only a few details showing in wings. Clouds, head, and top of shield are smooth. Some letters in legend are very weak; parts of motto are missing. Rim may be incomplete. |
EF-40, Very light wear on only the highest points. OBV: Wear shows on knees, head, and shoulder. Drapery is lightly worn at neck in spots. LIBERTY is complete and scroll edges are raised. REV: High points of eagle are worn, but each detail is clearly defined. Partial mint luster still visible. |
VG-8, Liberty seated design is clear but flat and lacking details. Well worn. OBV: Entire shield is weak, and most gown details are worn smooth. A few letters in LIBERTY are clear. Rim is complete. REV: Eagle shows only bold outline. Most horizontal lines in shield are gone. Legend and rim are clear. |
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GRADING U.S. 1-DOLLAR SILVER COINS |
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DRAPED BUST, heraldic |
GOBRECHT |
SEATED LIBERTY |
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F-12, Moderate to heavy even wear. Entire design is clear and bold. OBV: Some details show in hair ends, curls, and at left of ear. Date, all letters, and stars are visible. The eye and ear are clear. Bust is worn with a few drapery lines remaining. REV: Half the feathers re visible in the wings. Breast and head are smooth. Letters in legend are worn but clear. Clouds and top of shield show considerable wear. |
EF-45, Very light wear only on high points. Half of the mint luster is still present. OBV: LIBERTY is sharp and scroll edges are raised. Slight wear shows on high points of knees, breast, and hair at forehead. Drapery is worn at shoulder and bust line. REV: High points of eagle are lightly worn. Head is clearly defined. Neck feathers are fully separated. |
F-12, Entire design is clear and bold. Moderate to heavy even wear. OBV: Some details show in bottom folds of gown, hair, and cap and at shoulder and breast. Shield lines are weak at center. Some letters in LIBERTY are clear. Foot and sandal are separated. REV: Some details in feathers are visible. Talons are flat but separated. Most of shield border is visible on right side. Letters in legend are worn but clear. Horizontal lines in shield are heavily worn. For 1866 through 1873 pieces, "IN" and "ST" of motto are weak. |
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VF-20, Light to moderate even wear. All major draped bust dollar features are sharp. OBV: More than half of the details still show in hair. Forehead and bust are worn but bold. Parts of drapery are smooth. Letters and star centers are plainly visible. REV: Head and breast of heraldic eagle are worn but some feathers are visible. Some lines in shield are merged together. About three-quarters of details in wings are clear. Motto is complete. |
AU-50, Small traces of wear are visible on Gobrecht 1 dollar coin highest points. OBV: Traces of wear show on knees, breast, and edge of hair line. Foot is separated from sandal. REV: Traces of wear show on talons, neck, head, and tips of wings. |
VF-20, All major Liberty seated $1 features sharp. Light to moderate even wear. OBV: More than half the details show in the gown. Hair, shoulder, and legs are worn but bold. LIBERTY and shield lines are visible but possibly weak at center. REV: Three-fourths of feathers are visible. Arrowheads and talons are worn, but some details are visible. Horizontal lines in shield show wear. Half the details in leaves are clear. |
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VF-30, Light to moderate even wear. Major features sharp. OBV: shown. Three-quarters of hair details show. Parts of drapery are worn smooth Hair at back of head is worn but has some bold features.. REV: Wing edges are worn but three-quarters of central details are visible. Clouds, head, and motto show wear. Horizontal shield lines are worn but separated. |
AU-55, Small traces of wear evident on only highest points. OBV: Only a trace of wear shows on highest points of hair above eye, breast, and right leg. REV: A trace of wear show son head, beak, and above eye. Most of the mint luster is still present, although sometimes marred by light surface abrasions. |
VF-30, Major Liberty seated features sharp. Light to moderate even wear. OBV: Wear spots show on shoulder, breast, knees, and legs. Neckline is weak but has some visible details in center. LIBERTY and scroll are bold. All lines in shield are distinct. Fingers at pole are flat but separated. REV: Leaves are worn, but three-quarters of details are visible. Most details in feathers and talons are clear. A trace of wear shows at center of horizontal lines in shield. |
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To sell your old U.S. silver dollars ...
888 380-MINT |
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
MONDAY - FRIDAY
US Central Time
GMT -6 |
... please call for free appraisal! |
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EF-40, Very light wear on only the highest points. OBV: Wear shows on hair from forehead to ear, and lightly on the cheek and bust. Drapery is lightly worn at neckline in spots. REV: High points of clouds and wings are worn, but each detail is clearly defined. Head and breast are slightly worn. Lines in shield are separated. |
AU-58, Slight traces of wear visible on high points. Has some signs of wear: high points of Liberty's right leg, breast, and hair above eye; beak, eagle's head, and breast. Weak spots in the design are usually caused by striking. |
EF-40, Very light wear on highest points only. Partial mint luster is still visible. OBV: Wear shows on knees, head, and shoulder. Drapery is lightly worn at neck in spots. LIBERTY is complete and scroll edges are raised. REV: Neck feathers and talons are distinct. High points of eagle and arrows are worn, but each detail is clearly defined. |
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EF-45, Very light wear only on high points of draped bust silver dollar. Trace of mint luster is still present. OBV: Slight wear show son high points of hair from forehead to ear. Drapery is worn at shoulder and bust line. REV: High points of heraldic eagle wing edges, breast feathers, and clouds are lightly worn. Lines in shield are clearly defined. |
MS-60, Absolutely no trace of wear. A strictly uUncirculated Gobrecht silver coin with no trace of wear, but with bag marks and other abrasions more obvious than for MS-63. Has full mint luster, but may lack brilliance, and surface may be dull, spotted, or heavily toned. May have a few small rim mars and weakly struck spots. |
EF-45, Very light wear on Liberty seated silver dollar coin high points only. Half of mint luster is still present. OBV: Slight wear on high points of knees, breast, and hair at forehead. Drapery is worn at shoulder and bust line. LIBERTY is sharp and scroll edges are raised. REV: High points of eagle and arrows are lightly worn. Talons are clearly defined. Neck feathers are fully separated. |
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AU-50, Small trace of wear is visible on highest points. Part of the mint luster is still present. OBV: Traces of wear show on hair above and beside forehead. Drapery has trace of wear at shoulder and bust line. REV: shown. Traces of wear show on clouds and breast feathers. |
MS-63, No trace of wear, at all. A Mint State coin with attractive mint luster, but noticeable detracting contact marks or minor blemishes. |
AU-50, Small trace of wear is visible on Liberty seated coin's highest points. Three-quarters of the mint luster is still present. Surface abrasions and bag marks are more noticeable than for AU-55. OBV: Foot is separated from sandal. Traces of wear show on knees, breast, and edge of hair line. REV: Traces of wear show on talons, head, neck, and tips of wings. |
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GRADING U.S. ONE DOLLAR SILVER COINS |
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DRAPED BUST, heraldic |
GOBRECHT |
SEATED LIBERTY |
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AU-55, Small trace of wear visible only on high points. Some of the mint luster is still present. OBV: Only a trace of wear shows on highest points of hair above forehead. REV: A trace of wear shows on the clouds. |
MS-65, Absolutely no wear evident. No trace of wear; nearly as perfect as MS-67 except for minute bag marks or surface marks. Has full mint luster but may be unevenly. A few barely noticeable nicks or adjustment file marks may be present. |
AU-55, Small trace of wear visible only on high points. Most of the mint luster is still present, although sometimes marred by surface abrasions and light bag marks. OBV: Only a trace of wear shows on highest points of hair above breast, eye, and right leg. REV: A trace of wear shows on beak and head, above eye. |
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AU-58, Slight trace of wear visible only on highest points. Has some signs of abrasion: high points of draped bust Liberty's shoulder, bust, and hair above forehead; heraldic eagle's head and breast, edges of wings, and clouds. Shallow or weak spots in the motto are usually caused by improper striking, and not wear. |
MS-67, No trace of wear. Virtually flawless Gobrecht one dollar silver piece, but with very minor imperfections. |
AU-58, Slight trace of wear on Liberty seated dollar's highest points only: Liberty's right leg, breast, and hair above eye; eagle's head and beak and above eye. Weak spots in the design are usually caused by the mint strike. |
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MS-60, Absolutely no trace of wear. May lack full mint luster, and surface may be dull, spotted, or heavily toned. A strictly uncirculated coin with no trace of wear, but with blemishes more obvious than for MS-63. |
MS-70, Absolutely no wear visible. Must have full mint luster or light toning. A flawless coin exactly as it was minted, with no trace of wear or injury. |
MS-60, Absolutely no trace of wear. A strictly uncirculated coin with bag marks and other abrasion more obvious than for MS-63, but with no trace of wear. May have a few small weakly struck spots and rim mars. Has full mint luster, but may lack brilliance, and surface may be dull, spotted, or heavily toned. |
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1798 Draped bust, heraldic
reverse AU-50 (ICG)
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1839 Gobrecht dollar, rev.
Proof
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1871 Seated Liberty, rev.
MS-61 (PCI)
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MS-63, Absolutely no visible wear. A Mint State coin with attractive mint luster, but with noticeable detracting contact marks or minor blemishes. |
NOTE: Gobrecht dollars were minted as proof coins only, although some found their way into circulation. |
MS-63, A Mint State coin with attractive mint luster, but with noticeable detracting contact marks or minor blemishes. Absolutely no visible wear. |
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MS-65, No trace of wear, at all. Nearly as perfect as an MS-67 draped bust one dollar coin except for some additional blemishes. Has nearly full mint luster but may be unevenly toned or lightly fingermarked. A few minor nicks or adjustment file marks may be present. |
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MS-65, No trace of wear on this Liberty seated silver piece. A few barely noticeable nicks or adjustment file marks may be present. Has full mint luster but may be uneven. No trace of wear; nearly as perfect as MS-67 except for minute bag marks or surface mars. |
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MS-67, Absolutely no evidence of wear. Virtually flawless, but with very minor imperfections. |
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MS-67, Virtually flawless, but with very minor imperfections. Absolutely no evidence of wear. |
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GRADING U.S. SILVER DOLLAR COINS |
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DRAPED BUST, heraldic |
GOBRECHT |
SEATED LIBERTY |
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MS-70, Absolutely no wear evident. A flawless coin exactly as it was minted, with no trace of wear or damage. Must have full mint luster and brilliance or light toning. |
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MS-70, Must have full mint luster or light toning. Absolutely no wear evident. A flawless coin exactly as it was minted, with no trace of wear or injury. |
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To sell your old U.S. Silver Dollars ...
888 380-MINT |
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
MONDAY - FRIDAY
US Central Time
GMT -6 |
... please call for free appraisal! |
|
Get a free appraisal and grading of your coin s from Midwest Mint. As experienced coin dealers, we can offer you top prices. Call 888 380-MINT for more information. |
