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 Replies: 12 / Views: 1,074 |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
6495 Posts |
I set this nickel aside about a week ago, and finally got back to it. I debated uploading it at all, as the nickel is worn and the defining features are not 100% clear. However, let's take a chance with this one. In advance, it is not going to hurt my feelings if you disagree with my diagnosis of FS-801. This Jeff has seen 77 years of circulation, and the details are correspondingly faded. The defining trait of FS-801 is the spread on E Pluribus Unum. Specifically, the giant Frankenstein feet on the N and M of Unum. Also, to a lesser extent, the feet of P and R, and also the huge bellies on the second U in Pluribus and the first U in Unum. Also clearly visible is the distorted shape of the last O in Monticello, which is warped to the outside. I have included three 1946 reference nickels from the jar. The FS-801 is the lower right coin. You can see that the obverse sides look basically similar, but the obverse of the FS-801 has much thicker letters, particularly E Pluribus Unum. The markers for this nickel are almost totally degraded by circulation wear. I believe we can still make out the remnants of the die chip in the left archway, and the remnants of the gouge/step doubling above the N in Monticello. References: Variety Vista: http://www.varietyvista.com/04a%20J...6PDDR003.htmNGC VarietyPlus: https://www.ngccoin.com/variety-plu...date/819696/Brian's Variety Coins: https://www2.briansvarietycoins.com...ngs/view/146           |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
73978 Posts |
I believe you have it. Nice find! Definitely a DDR. Errers and Varietys.
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Moderator
 United States
95517 Posts |
"Frankenstein Feet"  sure looks like Herman Munster's shoes at that.. Nice DDR  |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
6495 Posts |
 Thanks, guys! It's a Class VI doubled die, distended hub. If you look at the 1945-D nickel example, the same thing happened to the obverse die. All the bottoms of the letters get dragged out into clunky feet. Apparently it might also have something to do with the pointy elf shoes phenomenon on the WE for LWC DDO. http://www.varietyvista.com/25%20Wh...ed%20Die.htm |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3237 Posts |
Was the doubled step abraided away in later states? I agree that the lettering on EPU looks good, but the VV entry is defined by the enormous step through the middle of MONTICELLO that I don't see at all here.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6495 Posts |
If you look at Variety Vista, there are two complete entries. The early die state reference shows a complete wavy line of doubled extra steps. By the late die state, all that remains of that line is the bit above the N. From the die state descriptions at the bottom:
Stage A: Short, broad die gouge in lower Left archway - EDS
Obverse is EDS
Stage B: MDS (unconfirmed)
Stage C: Only the upper Left corner of the lower steps above the N of MONTICELLO remains of the extra steps - LDS
I also wouldn't rule out that 77 years of circulation wear scrubbed off a lot of fine lines and details. The chip above the N probably survived because it's sheltered by the huge mass of Monticello.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3237 Posts |
@Brandmeister thanks, good to know for the future, as I've always just looked under the memorial building for this variety and have not paid close enough attention to other devices!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6495 Posts |
Glad to be of help. The remainder is quite evident in the black and white pictures on Brian's coins. Maybe someone with more knowledge of the physical minting process could comment on why the step disappears. If I had to hazard a guess, the second hubbing was probably really shallow, and the long, thin groove was obliterated via metal movement by the late die state.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6495 Posts |
Just checking out the high MS-grade pictures on PCGS, it looks like only one of them really has that super-visible ridge over the word Monticello. Some have little bits remaining, and the others are down to the chip above the N. https://www.PCGS.com/coinfacts/coin...s-801/569497 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3237 Posts |
Yeah, after looking at the photos on Brian's page, I can see there are strong die scratches indicating heavy polishing in that area. I wonder if the mint saw the extra step but missed the rest of the doubling and thought it was just a die gouge or something and tried to polish it out...
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6495 Posts |
If you look to the left of Monticello on the PCGS images, there is a huge halo that indicates major die wear or polishing. I don't see the long line on any of the nickels with that halo beside Monticello. I'd bet your theory is a good one.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2731 Posts |
Nice find! I like the "Frankenstein Feet" description but they look more like barbell feet to me :)
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4618 Posts |
Wow! Nice catch and nice find! SamCoin said... Quote:
...as I've always just looked under the memorial building for this variety... I've always loved this design (and the older Jefferson $2 bill) because the Monticello was a private residence, not a Memorial Building, it was Jefferson's primary home. It changed hands a few times and even sold once for $2,500. It's now a 'House Museum' and educational institution. An interesting bit of trivia is that Macaroni & Cheese MAY have been invented at the Monticello. ANA ID: 3203813 - CONECA ID: N-5637 Clean a coin that may be worth collecting? Please DON'T! When in doubt, leave it dirty!! 
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Replies: 12 / Views: 1,074 |
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Posted 07/11/2023 6:32 pm
Uncirculated American Silver Eagles 
