Grading help with a few different coins

I'm still new at grading coins, and sometimes I'm at a loss with coins that only have writing, or an already flat looking design, etc. These are some of the higher value coins I've recently purchased, and would like more opinions on their grade. In some cases, the grade determines a significant difference in catalog value, so I would like to get these right. I'll offer my grade, but please let me know if you think I am way off. I'm still learning to use the scanner, so apologies if these aren't the best scans.

Great Britain Farthing, 1900. I gave it overall F, although the obverse is really quite beautiful in person and the separated grade might be VF/F IMO.


German States (Schleswig-Holstein) 2 1/2 schilling, 1812. VG is my guess.


Norway, 1/2 skilling, 1840. VG again?


Norway, 25 ore, 1876. F?


Ottoman Empire, 10 kurus, 1844. This one jumps in value significantly with each grade, so I want to get it right. I gave it F for general wear.


Japan, 5 sen, 1901. VF, maybe? It has some nice luster to it still underneath the tarnish.

Australia, 1 penny, 1931. I gave it VF in hand, for the detail on the crown and mustache tip, but now looking at the scan it looks a lot more beat up than I originally thought. F?


Thanks again for your comments!

Just giving my honest opinion on grades:

Farthing F corroded

German States schilling good VF corroded

Norway Skilling F corroded

Norway Ore Good F

10 Kurus VF

5 Sen XF

Australia Penny F corroded

How much does the corrosion bump the value down?

I would be pleased indeed if I could justify a VF grade for the 10 kurus!

I'm pretty much in agreement with apuking throughout.

The Farthing warrants a F+ as the obverse is markedly better than the reverse.

The 5 Sen coin is most definitely EF.

The 10 Kurus could well be VF except for those horrible rims. It's not a coin I'm familiar with, does it have prominent rims which would take an unusual amount of wear? It might be worth trying to find pictures of a few more examples for comparison before deciding, especially if there is a very large price difference. If such wear really is typical then I'd agree that a VF is appropriate, with a note about the rim issue. Settle on a value in between the prices F and VF examples.

The corrosion is only really a problem on the Schleswig-Holstein 2 1/2 schilling. If you are keeping them it might be wise to drop a little dot of light oil on the affected spots just to stop it from continuing. Don't get carried away though and fall into the temptation of wholesale oiling. It does give a nice sheen to old copper but it's an artificial surface and upsets the purists. If you are swapping or selling them then I'd let the next guy worry about it. A small amount of corrosion isn't at all unusual on older coins and as they are not very high value it should only have a marginal effect on price.

It's good that you are erring on the side of caution when deciding on a grade. Don't worry if you find yourself changing your mind over a grade several times. It's very difficult (impossible) to be 100% consistent and I very often find myself revising the grade of my coins. Sometimes I even have to just shake my head in a "What the hell were you thinking?!" manner. Different lighting, tiredness, how much beer even.... they are all factors. As long as you are generally arriving acceptably close you'll be just fine.

Thank you both for your advice! I intend to keep these unless I end up with a higher quality replacement, but I do like knowing the value of what's in my binders. And I want to get better at grading, especially the older copper coins that don't give you a lot to go by.

Do you really think the Schleswig-Holstein coin is VF? It looks so beat up and rough. Apparently it has a three-digit catalog value in VF, so that would really be a jackpot if it truly merits it (considering I only paid a buck for it!). The Ottoman Empire coin is also what I would consider high value in VF. (I think the rims look better in person that in the scan. The reeded edge is in good shape. And that's a good idea about looking for pictures of other specimens.)

By the way, Phil, I can see why you like the veiled bust effigy. Even on a small coin and at a lower grade, the obverse of that farthing is quite striking and the coin has worn and tarnished in a pleasing way that gives a real three dimensional sense of depth to the portrait. I'll be keeping my eye out for more of these!