Expert: PAPAJACK - 2/7/2005

Question
What is a 1907 half dollar coin worth it is worn and somewhat scratchy. there is a d on the back under the eagle tail picture.

Answer
Hello Kari,
Not sure if I sent this answer before but here it is for you.
This is a 90% silver half dollar and even if totally defaced is worth about 4½ (four and a half) times its face value.

Collector Coins are graded on a scale from 1 to 70. The 1907 Liberty Head (or Barber head) Half dollar, as for a collectable numismatic item will sell for from $6.00 to $140.00 dollars in grades from GOOD (grade 4) to Almost Uncirculated (grade AU55). In mint condition  to $400 dollars. And Mint State (grade MS65) and higher thousands.
They made 2.5 million from the Philadelphia mint, 3.8 million from the Denver mint, more than 3.9 million from the New Orleans mint and only 1.2 million at the San Francisco mint, this low mintage makes it  more valuable.
The grading scale runs from 1 to 70 for coins. Most circulated coins grade between 3 and 55.   
A quick guide for grading Barber Halfs :

Grade Good-4...... The date and letters plain Headband smooth.
Grade Very Good-8. At least 3 letters visible in LIBERTY on headband.
Grade Fine-12..... All letters on headband visible, some are weak.
Grade Very Fine-20 All letters evenly plain.
Extremely Fine-40 .All lettering sharp and  features arre strong and distinct.

Approximate values For your Denver coin May be:..
Very Good=$7  
Fine=$27  
Very Fine=$55  
Extremely fine=$115  
Almost Uncirculated=$145

If you can borrow a blue or red book titled " A Guide to U.S. coins by Yoeman " they have a grading guideline and value for all United States coins. But the values are not always what the market dictates.

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Thank You and Good Luck

PapaJack