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 Replies: 15 / Views: 1,841 |
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Valued Member
United States
210 Posts |
I was hunting a box of nickels and came across a bunch of these 59's and 61's with really nice strikes. They all have sharp rims and pretty good steps. I'm just not used to getting such good looking coins in those years, so I figured I would see what you guys think about a grade. Appreciate it! First one is a '59 D.   And here's a '61 D.   |
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
12477 Posts |
There are both very nice roll finds!  The 59-D actually looks to have a fairly weak strike. I would venture to guess it is low AU (50-53). The 61-D is clearly the better of the two and I would have to give it AU-58. Again, nice finds! In Memory of Crazyb0 12-26-1951 to 7-27-2020
In Memory of Tootallious 3-31-1964 to 4-15-2020
In Memory of T-BOP 10-12-1949 to 1-19-2024
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Rest in Peace
United States
18456 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1609 Posts |
I'm jealous. I can't find anything earlier than 1990 with that good of detail.
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Valued Member
 United States
210 Posts |
Thanks! This box has quite a few 59's and 61's that are about the same quality. I was trying to figure out if I should keep them. Sounds like they aren't worth too much, but are good finds.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10284 Posts |
Your 61 D is a bit unusual to find with such good steps. Both really. I have to tilt a coin to look for wear when they are AU/BU. I don't look at the flatness of the jaw and determine it as wear. From what I understand it can appear worn but it has to do with metal flow and the die. The design of the coin has areas that are shallow and deep and it can lack metal flow in striking in certain areas. I do look at the contact marks to detract from higher MS grades. If you look at a mint state nickel at the edge, there are vertical lines from the planchet being punched out that remain only a short time after it is circulated. Sometimes that is a good indication if it has been out there in circulation for just a short time. If you have another unc handy, take a 10x look at the lines I am talking about. They are very very very shallow. You might see them in this image. I was taught this by some nickel experts a long time ago.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5825 Posts |
The 59 was struck with dies that had been used for quite a while.
I believe all that "noise" in the fields is known as the "orange peel effect".
Characteristic of worn dies.
The strike on the 61 is a bit soft, best seen by looking at the main door and steps on the reverse.
Buy an inexpensive proof so that you can get a feeling for what a full strike looks like.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10284 Posts |
There's a chance that a couple uncirculated rolls got mixed in the counter and wrapping machine and these could be uncirculated. Sometimes 3.5 steps or 4 steps is the best you may ever find for a certain date and mint.
Don't be so quick to dismiss them as not being "good ones".
Edited by TNG
01/22/2018 09:55 am
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
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Rest in Peace
United States
17900 Posts |
Both are close to but not quite uncirculated.
Good trading stock at a coin show (not dealers and not at the tables) or coin club. Nothing wrong with saving your best five examples of both dates.
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Valued Member
United States
210 Posts |
Makes sense to keep a few I guess. Pretty minimal investment. Thanks for the tips everyone!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8715 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5029 Posts |
I am in at AU53 & AU55. Nice finds! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1409 Posts |
I'm also going to say both are AU with the 61 being slightly better. Nice finds.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19951 Posts |
Not being a nickel collector, I've alway struggled with the AU to MS transition. The strikes seems to be garbage in general and they usually don't have cartwheel luster.
What helped me is just looking at the luster. Mint state nickels have a lot of it. On an AU coin it is subdued or totally flat. I also use the rims as an indicator. Numerous, well spread contact marks can indicate wear.
Agree with others, nice coins but they seem to be AU.
Lincoln Cent Lover!VERDI-CARE™ INVENTOR https://verdi.care/
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19951 Posts |
Here's a set I found in an old change hoard, the 1982's are TOUGH coins. Both of these had blazing luster:   Edited by BadThad
01/25/2018 10:09 pm
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Replies: 15 / Views: 1,841 |
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Posted 01/22/2018 08:48 am
