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 Replies: 17 / Views: 3,749 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
781 Posts |
HI kids, I've only posted here a few times as I am not a "collector", as such, though I do hang on to any neat coins I come across. Yesterday I was working at a local auto upholstery shop and while stripping the old vinyl off of a set of 1960s-vintage seats, a nickel fell onto the floor. Not at all unusual. I picked it up, it looked slightly rusty, but I thought the date was 1959. So I pocketed it. This morning, I used a little toothpaste and my fingers to try and clean it up a bit, knowing real abrasives are frowned on. Wellp... turns out it is really a 1939 nickel. Soooo I just took a peek online and it seems there are some 1939 nickels without mint marks. I don't see any on the front OR back, THOUGH I may still be looking in the wrong place. OR it has worn off. Where would it be? I am sharing scans of both sides for folks to see. Even though it lived in a car seat for decades, it was already around 25-30 years old (minimum) when it got stuck in the seat. So it had time to acquire wear. I am curious as to what folks think about this little "find". Should I just put it into my little container if nifty coins? Or should I put in an order on a new car?    Edited by Nells250
10/23/2020 5:20 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Great story but just a spender, I'm afraid, especially with the scratches on the front.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
781 Posts |
I figured that... no new car! Do you know where the mint mark should be?
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Valued Member
United States
182 Posts |
This reminds me, I was thinking a good spot to go coin hunting may be the junkyard under seats/etc in old cars.... this kind of renewed my interest in doing that someday...
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Pillar of the Community
United States
781 Posts |
Not a bad idea SStash, BUT look out... if you've never been inside a junk car, you could A) hurt yourself B) get stung by a nasty flying insect C) get stuck
;-)
This nickle had been jammed between a spring and the burlap layer. BUT you may luck out if you live in a state with fewer rusty cars than we do... that means older cars still lingering in those yards!
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New Member
United States
10 Posts |
Wow! I inherited a '64 Ford from my Dad. I'm the second owner. Now, I can't wait to get it here,so I can take out the seats to look for coins. My luck, my brothers beat me to it years ago. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
781 Posts |
HAHHAHAHA! I needed that laugh! :-)
My 1974 Javelin didn't have anything interesting in the center console :-(
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Pillar of the Community
United States
600 Posts |
no mint mark = P (Philadelphia), which is standard for US coins. Aside from a brief period during WWII ( War Nickels) they didn't put the "P" mintmark on Philadelphia nickels until 1980. Dimes and quarters also started putting the "P" on Philly-minted coins in 1980, but Lincoln cents still don't have a mint mark on Philly-minted coins even today.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
819 Posts |
The mint mark would be on the right side of Monticello
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Moderator
 United States
34393 Posts |
Quote:
I am curious as to what folks think about this little "find". Not worth much if anything over face value, but I still save nickels this old when I find them. Save or spend, it is your choice.  "If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Moderator
United States
187662 Posts |
Nice find! |
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New Member
United States
5 Posts |
Reminds me of the time I received a 1939D nickle in change from a coke machine when I was a kid in the 60s! I collected pennies, nickles and dimes back then (anything bigger was to rich for me then). Man, I thought I'd hit the jackpot. And I still have that nickle. lol. Good hunting everyone.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
781 Posts |
chipjones - THANKS! Now I know, just in case ;-)
I'll just put it in with the rest of my "more interesting than usual" coins. I come from the world of stamps, so coins just go WAY over my head... then again, I have never jumped into the gazillion varieties of pre-1900 stamp issues, either!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3207 Posts |
I always liked finding 1939 nickels, they're the oldest nickel you have a reasonable shot at still finding in circulation.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4333 Posts |
Quote:
My 1974 Javelin didn't have anything interesting in the center console :-( Was worth a shot! Gonna check under front/back seats of my '71 Amx this winter when I pull 'em. When I was a kid back in the 70s, I'd check the chair and sofa frames below the cushions of my grandparents furniture, which was from the 1950's. Found a few silvers. When I listen to LED ZEPPELIN...so do my neighbors...
Roll hunting since '77
Dirt fishing since '72
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Pillar of the Community
United States
781 Posts |
Oooh, 1971 AMX? Pre-smog?
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Replies: 17 / Views: 3,749 |
Posted 10/23/2020 5:48 pm
