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 Replies: 22 / Views: 4,050 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
997 Posts |
A couple times recently I have noticed that current (2012) Jefferson nickels seem to have a much brighter appearance than they did in the past. They almost appear plated like Canadian coins. I am talking not of the recut dies that made the designs clearer recently but the actual tone of the metal. Am I just imagining things? |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
I am wondering if they may have introduced nitrided hardened dies.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1227 Posts |
It may be what sel said, but n9, as a cashier, I have a different answer: They're new. I see plenty of gritty, grotty, buttnasty new (post-2005) nickels--in fact, most commonly when I see these from the edge I mistake them for War Nickels! On the flip side, I also see lots of nice older nickels. It all depends on the individual nickel, where it's been, and what's happened to it since it left the Mint. There is also this: the new portrait of Jefferson is not as "rumply" as the old portrait--the fields are larger, even though the portrait is more detailed. The larger fields will refract more light. Think of a diamond that's been cut--the large, flat facets will reflect lots of beautiful light, while a rough, uncut diamond looks dull and soapy. This is also what happens to coins--compare a gently-circulated Ike, for example, with a gently-circulated 1998 quarter. The Ike will look shinier and sharper than the quarter because the lines and fields of the Ike are larger and simpler, thus reflect more light, than the complicated ins and outs of the eagle on the quarter. |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
997 Posts |
The 2012's just seem so much brighter, with more of a token feel than they did in past years. When new the 2011 and earlier nickels just didn't have the same luster, they had more of a dull shine to them...
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1227 Posts |
I still say it's because they're new. I haven't noticed anything special about them, and I worked at this job starting in March last year--I certainly saw plenty of 2011s (and 2010s from late in the year) that were brand-new. Could just be me, but . . .
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
Im not sure why but the new ones do seem to feel lighter than than the older nickels. Cheaper metal quality maybe?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
965 Posts |
hmmmmm, they do seem rather shiny  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1796 Posts |
Just wait until they start to tarnish. There's a reason my eldest daughter calls them "Zombie Jeffersons". :-)
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19935 Posts |
They're new and the Mint is always improving their processes.
Lincoln Cent Lover!VERDI-CARE™ INVENTOR https://verdi.care/
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7840 Posts |
Do you think that the mint already changed the composition and did not tell the public about?  Kinda like the WEB Notes of late 80's - mid 90's. Edited by oih82w8
09/26/2012 3:13 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1903 Posts |
Anyone weight one? They still weigh 5 grams?
Addendum:
Just hunted up a 2012P out of my pocket change jar....it isn't super shiny but it does weigh spot on 5 grams
Yours a 2012D?
Edited by unholyroller
09/26/2012 4:42 pm
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Valued Member
Canada
262 Posts |
Same composition since 1866 [except mid-1942 to the end of '45], nothing to see here...yet.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Due to the economy being so poor and so many people out of work, the Mint started to hire people. This helps keep them off the unimployment lines. They sit them down, give them a can of auto polish and have them put a shine on all new Nickels one at a time. With election time approaching, the additional people working may sway people to vote a certain way.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
613 Posts |
Hope they're not doing spit polish.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1431 Posts |
Glad I'm not the only one who hates how cheap the post-'05 nickels look and feel. No relief at all, and what was the purpose of changing the obverse design? (at least they didn't stick with the '05 portrait. yuck!)
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1796 Posts |
Yeah, without a deeper relief the current nickels look like game tokens rather than coins.
I could see the current obverse looking nice if the relief was as pre-90s deep.
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Replies: 22 / Views: 4,050 |
Posted 09/26/2012 07:19 am
