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 Replies: 8 / Views: 460 |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
4374 Posts |
It was hard to make out from the seller photos, but this War Nickel had deep rims, slight rim fins from high pressure, super crisp steps, narrow text, and well defined arches and side steps. The fields look flat and polished. Is this an early 1942-P circulation strike with perfect steps, or was my guess about a proof correct? Either way, I will be quite happy with the purchase. =)   Left-to-right: circulation 1942-P War Nickel, this coin, 1956 proof nickel  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5999 Posts |
Tough call...going back and forth from GC archives, what I see that would lean me towards a proof coin is the extreme depth of detail to Toms hair also (as you noted) reverse devices just screams proof to me Quote:
slight rim fins from high pressure, pictures are always deceiving to me as far as rim definition goes, where does the fin start and end ? |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
4374 Posts |
On the obverse, from Liberty down to the date. Rim Fin might be the wrong term. But that slightly separated line appears on many nickel proofs from 1938-1942. There is another on the reverse from E down to United. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1755 Posts |
Hard to tell from these pics. The fields don't look mirrored here but that could just be the lighting or haze. The extremely strong strike would suggest a proof coin. I've never seen a better struck Jefferson nickel than this and a silver issue to boot. Very nice coin! Edited by MisterT
03/24/2025 4:58 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
865 Posts |
I don't know if it's proof or business, but it's one of the nicest looking nickels I've ever seen.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4374 Posts |
I would probably prefer it to be a business strike, with those steps! Any other nickel proof, and I wouldn't hesitate to call it a proof nickel. But it isn't as super reflective as cupronickel proofs. That could be toning (or mishandling), the silver alloy, or because it's actually a business strike. I've never had a 1942-P War Nickel proof in-hand to examine. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1391 Posts |
I spent some time looking at PCGS photos. I couldn't see many (if any) business strikes with the amount of detail your coin shows in the areas you mentioned (side steps/arch).
I also did not see any business strike coins with as much detail in the railings on the roofs. The coin is also free from contact marks and seems to only have the blemish under the bust.
This and the hammer strike has me leaning toward proof. Either way it looks like a minimum of a 66FS. If it is a business strike, chances are it could be worth twice as much as a proof.
It is a spectacular example!
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
13469 Posts |
It's a spectacularly well struck Jefferson thats for sure.
I'm leaning towards a Proof coin only because of the nature of the detail in the locations you pointed out.
Take a look at my other hobby ... http://www.jk-dk.artToo many hobbies .... too much work .... not enough time. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4374 Posts |
Also worth pointing out: I don't see any die scratches or other markers of any significant size. To me, that suggests die polishing. Apart from that rim ding above the E of EPU, and those small toned or stained areas on the obverse, I really don't see imperfections. Oddly, the rim ding does not appear to show any metal movement, just a crisp notch. I'm wondering if it's a strikethrough. The reflectiveness is not like a 1950+ proof nickel, though. It's a much softer gleam, more like a Kennedy SMS. Surely some CCF members own a proof War Nickel? |
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Replies: 8 / Views: 460 |
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Posted 03/24/2025 2:25 pm
