Obverse: A slight amount of wear now appears on the highest parts of the design. Slight wear defines the Extremely Fine grade.

Waves of hair just above Liberty’s eye show a small area of flatness on the forward most strands. Much of the fine strands are missing.

In front of the ear, separation remains between waves and curl of hair. A clear but small flat area is found on the tops of each element but all are separated.

Above the coronet, hair strands are showing signs of flattening due to wear. Missing strands of hair is confined to a small area in front of the first cord tying the hair.

Liberty’s ear remains well defined with much of the contours forming the ear well rounded. Only light wear is present.

Reverse: Uppermost leaf of each grouping is now showing a small flat area. Inner detail of these top leaves is flattened. Although the uppermost leaf is somewhat smooth it remains separated and defined from lower leaves.

The ribbon holding the beginning stem and ending leaves of the laurel branch is often well struck. A touch of wear is smoothing the ribbon as it passes over the branch. Edges of the ribbon remain well defined.

Obverse: Moderate to heavy wear defines a large cent’s condition in Fine grade.

Heavy wear has removed all details to the highest points of the design. Liberty’s face is now a flat area from above her eye to chin line.

Remaining hair strands still show around portions of ear. These strands are lower within the design and their presence helps define a Fine grade.

A small area of finer detail within the hair is evident above “T” in Liberty. Evidence of a cord tying the hair remains.

Reverse: Wear has now flattened the uppermost leaf of each grouping. Very little central detail – if any – remains.

Each leaf is still separated, helping place this coin in the Fine grade. Edges of leaves are well defined although faint in areas.

Ribbon is showing large areas of flatness. The area of the ribbon crossing over the stem portion of the laurel branch is lacking any high point and often blended at the edges. A mostly complete out-line of the full ribbon remains. The right most area of the ribbon still indicates it passes under the stem.

Obverse: Heavy wear flattening all minor and most major detail is the condition of a large cent in the Good grade.

Liberty’s face in now a smooth flat surface. No contours indicating a cheek, eyebrow ridge and separation of chin from neck are visible.

Date remains complete, readable and raised from the field of the coin. A strong rim is a key feature defining the good grade.

Notice all stars are distinct, and raised. On occasion a weak star is present due to a weak strike area.

Reverse: Wear has removed all minor detail of upper most leaves of each group. A strong indication separating individual leaves remains. Lower leaves are defined.

Ribbon tying the stem at the bottom is now lacking most detail. Lines separating parts of the ribbon are gone resulting in a large flattened design.

Lettering is plain and readable. Tops of letters near the rim are weak but most remain separate from rim and field of coin. Occasionally a weak area of strike is causing a merging of legend with rim but limited to the tops of letters. A defined rim and lettering is preferred by collectors as it clearly separates the coin from a lower condition.

Obverse: A truly scarce coin and highly valued are Large cents in uncirculated – mint state condition. To reach this grade a deciding factor is no wear to the surface. All surfaces of a coin are inspected with highest areas of design a focal point.

A braided feature to Liberty’s hair is now a design element. Each braid has a high area, subject to first signs of wear. Judge these high points of hair for any smoothing of texture to the metal, this indicates a slight amount of wear.

Liberty’s ear is centrally located on the coin and just above are waves of hair, first to show a flattening or smoothing due to wear.

An open area high in relief is the cheek and neck areas of Liberty. A close look at the texture of the metal and noting it’s the same as protected areas helps confirm a mint state surface.

Reverse: A very bold laurel stem encircles One Cent as a design to the reverse. Each group of leaves has an upper most leaf subject to initial wear.

Within each upper leaf is a high point running through. High areas of all upper leaves are inspected for a texture change or smoothing of metal.

A ribbon is the design holding the stem at the bottom of the wreath. High parts of the ribbon draping over the stem receive any initial wear. Edges of the ribbon are also carefully inspected. Any flattening indicates wear.

Surfaces of both One Cent and the legend are judged. Any wear to the tops of the letters shows as smoothing.

Obverse: A slight amount of wear merging small areas of fine detail defines the condition of a large cent in Extremely Fine grade.

Although wear is evident, it is confined to very small areas of high points. The braids of hair above Liberty’s forehead show touches of wear flattening only small portions of the braids.

Just above the ear, waves of hair are smooth in a small area. Individual strands of hair are visibly worn and about to merge. Any definition of separate strands surrounding the ear adds appeal and value to these large cents.

Confirm strands of hair are separated in the waves in front of Liberty’s ear.

Reverse: Clearly defined elements of the laurel stem are needed to achieve a grade of Extremely Fine.

Upper most leaves are showing areas of flatness. Small central details of top leaves are missing. Lower leaves of each grouping are well-defined, edges are slightly worn but distinct.

The ribbon at the bottom of the wreath remains crisp. Edges of ribbon display a trace of wear and smoothing. A high relief area of the ribbon passing over the stem is just beginning to show flatness, remaining well detailed. All folds and waves of the ribbon are clear.

Obverse: Overall appearance of a large cent in Fine grade is a presence of flat areas within Liberty’s hair and facial features.

Notable is any flatness observed is disconnected and confined to the separate design elements.

Hair above and surrounding the ear is merged with the ear and a separation remains from the face.

A large area of hair is flat at the back of neck remaining defined from the neck. “Liberty” within the coronet is faded along upper parts but readable.

Reverse: Leaves of wreath remain boldly separated. Upper leaves are worn smooth with lower leaves showing flat areas.

Minor detail of raised edges within lower leaves indicates a Fine grade.

At the bottom, securing the ends of the laurel branch a recognizable ribbon remains. All edges and loops of ribbon show. Wear is concentrated on three main areas of the ribbon part passing over the stem.

Obverse: Heavy wear and connected areas of flatness defines the Good grade.

Facial features of Liberty are now merged with many areas of hair line. Above the eye, missing is most of the defining lines of braided hair. Liberty’s eye is now surrounded by flat areas.

Curls and waves of hair at back of neck are flattened and blending with neck.

Across the top of Liberty’s head is a flat area extending to the two hair ties. A few lines of hair detail are present close to the coronet.

In the central area, a few letters of “Liberty” and some beads to the cords often remain, helping with a pleasing appearance to an otherwise heavily worn coin.

Reverse: Often the reverse fairs well despite heavy use, presenting a recognizable wreath.

Many of the leaves are separated although worn smooth, with the wreath still bold from the field.

The ribbon tying the wreath at the bottom lacks most minor and major edges. Ends of the ribbon are just beginning to fade into the field of the coin. Note: Boldly struck reverses often show a bolder ribbon.

Corrosion

Corrosion is evidence of long-time storage in humid to wet conditions. Also, coins found in the soil corrode, leaving the surface pitted as evidence.

Damage

Once a hole is made in a coin, value is lowered considerably. Collectors consider damage caused by holes as severe, destroying any appeal a coin has as a collectible. The 1847 cent pictured is nice, would grade Fine plus. With the hole, value is just a couple of dollars.