Grading U.S. Silver Dollar Coins, pt. 3
Of the silver dollar coins minted in the United States, we are buying the following:
Call us toll-free at 877-770-7040 if you have questions.
Below you will find information about various details of grading U.S. silver dollar coins 
which may be helpful to appraise the value of your coins. These descriptions of grades use official American Numismatic Association (ANA) terminology, both in general grade descriptions throughout this website, and coin-specific grading terminology on our 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 fair, fast, and free appraisal from a professional coin dealer, go here for more information about how to ship us your coins.
SILVER DOLLARS (3 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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1877 Trade Dollar
XF-40 (NNC)
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1893 Morgan Dollar
EF-40 (NGC)
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1928 Peace Dollar
XF-40 (CSN)
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AG-3, Outlined design. Parts of date and legend are worn smooth. Obverse: Date is readable but worn. Design is outlined, with nearly all details worn away. Rim merges with stars. Reverse: Entire design is partially worn away. Rim merges into legend. |
G-4, Morgan silver dollar design devices, legends visible but may be faint in spots. Obverse: Hair well worn, little detail remains. Date, letters and design clearly outlined, rim full. Reverse: eagle worn almost flat but outlined. Design elements and legends smooth, but visible. Rim full. |
P-01: All legends and numerals worn completely away. Obverse and reverse designs barely discernible. |
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G-4, Heavily worn. Trade dollar design and legend are visible, but faint in spots. OBV: Nose and mouth are visible. Eye is visible as a spot. Shoulder is smooth. Very little detail remains in wheat. Motto is gone, and rim merges with stars in spots. REV: Eagle is worn nearly flat but is completely outlined. Motto is gone, and rim merges with letters in spots. |
VG-8, Well worn Morgan dollar, with design devices clear but flat. Lacks details. OBV: hair worn smooth. All letters, date clear. Cotton bolls flat, leaves merging in spots. Half of reverse eagle's right wing and a third of left wing smooth. All wreath leaves worn. Rim complete. |
F-15, Moderate to heavy, even wear, but entire peace dollar design is clear and bold. All hair around face smooth, rays show trace of wear. REV: Parts of legends weak but readable. feathers on right leg worn away. |
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VG-8, Well worn. Design is clear but flat and lacking details. OBV: Shoulder has a garment line at top. Hair at back of lower neck and over left shoulder is visible. Some wheat stems are separated. Motto is partially visible. REV: Slight spot is visible for eye. Parts of wing feathers show. Motto is partially readable. Rim is complete. |
F-12, Entire design clear, bold. OBV: hairline clearly defined. Lower two cotton leaves smooth but distinct from cap. Cotton bolls flat but two lines clear. Some wheat grains merging. REV: Quarter of eagle's right wing and edge of left wing on reverse smooth. Head, neck, breast flat. |
VF-20, On obverse, very little hair detail visible around face, wear on upper wave. Hair above ear worn, but some single strands clear. On reverse, wing detail worn but three horizontal lines of feather layers show. Leg feathers, neck flat. Slight wear on talons and motto. |
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GRADING U.S. 1-DOLLAR SILVER COINS |
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TRADE DOLLARS |
MORGAN DOLLARS |
PEACE DOLLARS |
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F-12, Moderate to considerable even wear. LIBERTY is worn but readable. Entire design is clear and bold. OBV: Coronet and surrounding details are partially visible. Hair knot shows details. Most stems in wheat are separated. REV: Eye, ear, and nostril are visible. Some wing feathers are visible. Talons show little or no detail. Motto is readable but very weak. |
VF-20, Light-moderate even wear. All major features sharp. On obverse, smooth spots visible from forehead hair to ear. Wear on wheat grains. Cotton leaves heavily worn, separated. REV: wreath leaves well worn. Eagle's breast smooth, few head feathers show. |
VF-30, Hair details weak around face on obverse. Light wear on upper hair wave; hair above ear worn but single strands defined. On reverse, motto shows trace of wear. Right wing feather details weak. Wear on leg feathers, neck. |
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VF-20, Light to moderate even wear. All major trade dollar features are sharp. OBV: Very little hair detail is visible around coronet. Wear shows on knee and leg, but knee points are clear. Breasts, shoulder, and wheat are worn. REV: Parts of head details and wing details are visible. Lettering shows wear, and there are wear spots under E and M of motto. |
VF-30, Wear on morgan dollar obverse visible on high points of hair from forehead to ear. Some strands visible in hair above ear. Some smooth areas on cotton leaves, top of cotton bolls. On reverse, wear visible on wreath leaves, wing tips. Few feathers visible on breast, head. |
EF-40, Peace dollar, shown. Partial Mint luster. Slight flattening on high points of hair, most strands separate. Slight wear on face and neck. On reverse, wear on head behind eye and top of neck. Flat spots on central wing, leg feathers. |
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VF-30, Light to moderate even wear. Major features sharp. OBV: Head is worn, but coronet is outlined with some hair details above and below. Knee and leg show wear; both knee points are sharp. Left breast is visible. Wear shows on shoulder and wheat. REV: Most details show on head. Some details are visible in wings. Left talon has some separation. Trace of wear show son ribbon under E of motto. |
EF-40, shown. Very light wear on highest points. Wear shows on obverse hair above date, forehead, and ear. Light wear on cheek. Lines in hair well detailed. Flat spots on cotton leaf edges. Reverse eagle breast feathers almost all absent. Leg tops, wing tips, head feathers show wear. |
EF-45, 50 percent of Mint luster remains. On obverse, light wear on hair around face but most strands visible. Lower neck lightly worn. On reverse, top of neck, head behind eye exhibit slight wear as do central wing and leg feathers. |
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To sell your old U.S. silver dollars ...
Call 877-770-7040 |
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. Partial mint luster is visible. OBV: shown. Wear shows on head, left leg, foot, and breast. Wear is visible on shoulder and wheat. REV: Head shows wear, but eye is visible and beak is clear. Wear is visible on leaves at right. |
EF-45, Wear slight on hair above date., forehead, ear. Lines in hair detailed, sharp. Slight flat spots on cotton leaf edges. Minute wear on cheek. On reverse, high points of breast slightly worn. Wear visible on leg tops, right wing tip. Talons slightly flat. Half of morgan silver dollar mint luster present. |
AU-50, 75 percent of Mint luster present. Noticeable contract marks, surface abrasions. Traces of wear visible on neck, hair over ear, above forehead and cheek on obverse; head and high points of feathers on right wing on reverse. |
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EF-45, Very light wear only on Trade dollar's high points. Half of the mint luster is still present. OBV: Wear is visible on head above ear, left breast, and leg. Traces of wear shows on wheat and shoulder. REV: Wear shows on head and wings. |
AU-50, Traces of wear on hair above eye, ear, cotton leaf edges, upper folds of cap. Partial detail on cotton bolls. No luster on cheek. On reverse, traces of wear on eagle's breast, leg tops, wing tips and talons. Three-quarters of Morgan dollar mint luster present. Surface abrasions and contact marks noticeable. |
AU-55, Trace of wear on hair over ear, above forehead and on cheek on obverse. Trace of wear on high points of feathers on reverse. Most of Peace dollar Mint luster remains. Light contact marks, surface abrasions. |
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AU-50, Small traces of wear are visible on highest points. Three-quarters of the mint luster is till present. Surface abrasions and bag marks are more noticeable than for AU-55. OBV: Traces of wear are visible on head above ear, left breast, and kneecap. Shoulder and what show a trace of wear. REV: Traces of wear show on head and both wings. |
AU-55, On obverse, slight traces of wear evident on hair above ear, eye, cotton leaf edges, upper cap fold. Luster fading from cheek. On reverse, slight trace of wear on eagle's breast, leg tops, talons. Most of Mint luster present. Light surface abrasions, contact marks. |
AU-58, Small trace of wear on one or more of the high points of design. No detracting contact marks in prime and secondary focal areas. Attractive eye appeal; nearly full Mint luster. |
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GRADING U.S. ONE DOLLAR SILVER COINS |
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TRADE DOLLARS |
MORGAN DOLLARS |
PEACE DOLLARS |
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AU-55, Small traces of wear on highest points. Most of the mint luster is still present, although sometimes marred by light bag marks and surface abrasions. OBV: Trace of wear shows on head above ear, left breast, and kneecap. REV: High points of left wing and head show a trace of wear. |
AU-58, Small traces of wear on highest points. On obverse, some signs of wear on hair above ear, cotton leaf edges, bolls, upper cap fold. On reverse, some signs of wear on eagle's breast, tops of legs. |
MS-60, Uncirculated coin with heavy contact marks in all areas and noticeable hairline scratches on the surfaces. Luster can be original or impaired. Generally poor eye appeal. |
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AU-58, Slight trace of wear visible on only the high points of these Trade dollars. Has some signs of wear: high points of Liberty's head above ear, left knee, and breast; eagle's head and left wing. |
MS-60, Heavy contact marks on the cheek, numerous light marks in the left field and the neck. Morgan dollar luster is good. |
MS-61, Generally unattractive uncirculated Peace dollar. May have a few heavy or many light contact marks in prime and secondary areas; noticeable patch or continuous hairline scratches. |
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MS-60, Absolutely no trace of wear. A strictly Uncirculated coin with no trace of wear, but with bag marks and other abrasions more obvious than for MS-63. May have a few small rim mars and weakly struck spots. Has full mint luster but may lack brilliance, and may be spotted or heavily toned. |
MS-61, Very noticeable contact marks, including reed marks to the left of the ear and long cuts to the left of the chin. Morgan silver dollar luster is average, strike is sharp. |
MS-62, May have distracting contact marks in prime and secondary areas; may have scattered or noticeable patch of hairline scratches. Original Mint luster may be impaired. |
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1876 Trade dollar, reverse
MS-65 (NGC)
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1892 Morgan dollar, rev.
MS-65 (NGC)
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1922 Peace Dollar, rev.
MS-67 (NGC)
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MS-63, Absolutely no wear. A Mint State coin with attractive mint luster, but noticeable detracting contact marks or minor blemishes. |
MS-62, Numerous contact marks on the cheek, neck, and fields, but none that are heavy or disfiguring. Morgan silver dollar luster is original, strike is sharp. |
MS-63, Uncirculated with attractive Mint luster, which may be slightly impaired. May have distracting contact marks in prime focal areas and a few scattered or small patch of hairline scratches. |
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MS-65, shown. No trace of wear; nearly as perfect as MS-67 Trade dollar, except for a few minute bag marks or surface mars. Has full mint luster but may be unevenly toned. |
M-63, Contact marks are lighter and less concentrated. Morgan dollar luster is original, strike is sharp. Overall eye appeal is pleasing. |
MS-64, Average, full original Peace dollar luster. May have light, scattered contact marks with a few in prime focal areas. May have a few, small hairline scratches. Pleasing eye appeal. |
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MS-67, No trace of wear, at all. Virtually flawless, but with very minor imperfections. |
MS-64, Contact marks are lighter and more scattered. Cheek reasonably clean, with no heavy marks or hairlines. Luster is original, strike is sharp. Overall eye appeal is very pleasing. |
MS-65, No trace of wear. May have a few light, minute contact marks. Must have full original Mint luster. Very pleasing eye appeal; may exhibit uneven toning. |
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GRADING U.S. SILVER DOLLARS |
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TRADE DOLLARS |
MORGAN DOLLARS |
PEACE DOLLARS |
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MS-70, Absolutely no evidence wear. A flawless coin exactly as it was minted, with no trace of wear or injury. Must have full mint luster and brilliance or light toning. |
MS-65, Morgan silver dollar, shown. Contact marks are very light, with none that distract the eye. The light contact marks on the cheek, neck and left field are minor and separated. Luster is full and original, strike is sharp. Eye appeal is excellent. |
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MS-66, Contact marks are minimal. The cheek is nearly perfect, with a small grouping of marks to the left of the chin being the main blemish. Luster is full and original, strike is sharp. Morgan dollar eye appeal is excellent. |
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MS-67, Contact marks are virtually nonexistent. (The only marks allowed for the MS-67 grade must be small and difficult to see.) Luster is full and original, strike is full. Eye appeal is exceptional. |
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To sell your old U.S. Silver Dollars ...
Call 877-770-7040 |
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
MONDAY - FRIDAY
US Central Time
GMT -6 |
... please call for free appraisal! |
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Get a free appraisal and grading of your coin s from Midwest Mint. As experienced coin dealers, we can offer you top prices. Call 877-770-7040 for more information. |
