And Now For Something Completely Different - 1944-P BU Nickel With Lams? Or What?

Adding my opinion that it all looks like delamination which is readily seen in the War Nickel series.

Especially the lamination on edge which has not yet peeled off.

Great photos indeed - they really show what is going on and make it so much more positive to offer informed opinions.

edit for spllgening

WOW, Cool - not one PMD in the 'opinion lot'! This is a great day. thanks all.

Just curious though, did the blue arc showing off the edge of the rim come in handy? (that was a pain to get right)

Rarely I see some such clear photos. No idea how you took, but look like back when I worked the medical photos was took.

All the imperfections on the left side appear to be the result of delaminating metal. The thin line on the right may be a die crack or a lamination crack -- I can't tell from the photos. If it is a die crack, it's obviously unrelated to the defects on the left side.

I think the line in the middle may be a lamination - it seems to lift up in 2 different directions. I'll post up better images tomorrow when I have better lighting.

Nice photos. These War Nickels were changed to 56% copper, 35% silver and 9% manganese from 25% nickel and 75% copper previously and this copper, silver, and manganese alloy was found later to be difficult to work with despite the initial benefit findings that it would still work in the eras vending machines both by weight of coin and is also checked by its electrical properties. Lamination problems and irregular oxidation of the coins are found to be common with the War Nickels. I would consider both sides to be lamination errors (delamination) and the middle lamination does have the appearance more like a die crack further down but is actually a lamination crack. Over the years many varieties and errors have also been discovered on Wartime Nickels so its also a good series to look through because most dealers and collectors never consider the error/varieties on these.

Great pics and interesting conversation, Dearborn. I don't really have anything to add other than I have the same Tomlov scope, but with everything going on the past months at home I've not really made much use of it. I'll have to get back on that...

Excellent, I stay with my statement for the middle right side been a combinations of delamination with a Die Crack. Nice coin and very interesting. Thanks Dear to post this one here.