An uncirculated coin has never been used in everyday commerce, it will have no wear.
It has to come from a dealer, a newly-opened roll at a bank, or be in a mint package. If you found it in change, it's circulated by definition.
The term "Uncirculated" means any coin that has not been put into circulation.
If the coin is uncirculated the retail value is about $4.25 if it's not, bullion value is $3.00 as of today.
AU is an abbreviation for About Uncirculated. It means a coin which is very close to uncirculated by not quite.
An uncirculated coin has never been used in everyday commerce, it will have no wear.
Uncirculated means that the coin has never been used. So if it shows any wear, it can't be uncirculated.
If the coin shows lots of wear, scratches, and dirt it is circulated. If it is still shiny, with very few scratches it will probably be uncirculated.
"Uncirculated" means a coin has never been spent, and is in the same brand-new condition it was when it came from the mint. If your coin has any wear from being in change, it's no longer uncirculated.
If it shows very little ware it is uncirculated.
In the related links I have added links to the front and back of an uncirculated Barber quarter, yours should look the same if it is uncirculated (or possibly almost uncirculated) only with a different date. Keep in mind that if you want to sell your coin as uncirculated, you need to have it graded by a professional grading company before you will find buyers willing to pay a significant premium on it. Also, to the untrained eye, uncirculated and almost uncirculated coins look nearly identical, but a reputable coin dealer or grading company can tell the difference. And there is a huge price jump from an almost uncirculated coin to a mint state coin.
You can't unless you pay the $20+ to send your coin to NGC/PCGs even under magnification the ordinary person cannot tell the difference between a pf69 and pf70 coin. Of course, it is easy to tell if your coin is uncirculated or proof, a proof silver eagle will have very shiny, mirror like fields that are easy to see yourself in. An uncirculated silver eagle will be shiny, but won't be mirror like. Also, the raised part of the coin will look frosted on a proof coin but not on an uncirculated coin.
If it looks like it has any wear it's not. take it to a dealer or collector, most will grade it for you.
A professional coin dealer or a professional coin grading service can determine if a coin is circulated or uncirculated. They will assess various characteristics of the coin, such as its condition, surface quality, and wear, to make this determination.
It has to come from a dealer, a newly-opened roll at a bank, or be in a mint package. If you found it in change, it's circulated by definition.
A uncirculated coin has no signs of wear and the coin should have full mint luster, but other things like contact marks and quality of strike may confuse a novice collector, take it to a dealer for an opinion.
An uncirculated silver dollar will have no signs of wear or damage, such as scratches, discoloration, or nicks. The coin will appear as if it has never been used or handled and will have its original luster and details intact. Grading by a professional coin grading service can also verify if a silver dollar is uncirculated.