Going back to my roll of 1938-D nickels. I am curious what CCF think of the grade of this example. Providing a short vid too, which I've found might show the in hand look better. Thanks.
A well struck coin from not too tired dies (IMO) I'm thinking MS-64/65. But darn from the video it almost looks like a polished coin in my eyes, can't wait to hear what other members have to say.
While it does not appear cleaned/polished in the images, it does in the video. The luster showing in the video does not appear natural. I agree it could MS64 if straight-graded.
Thanks all for the feedback and comments thus far. I wonder if too bright of an overhead light in the vid could be creating an issue.
While it's possible, I really don't think these were cleaned/polished. Panzaldi noted in another thread that my overhead lighting was causing an issue. I'll try again this weekend and see what you all think. Thanks again.
Not sure if this is an improvement or getting further away from being helpful. But I tried again with less direct overhead light and more diffuse light overall. Thanks all for the comments
Like your others, this one has a typical strike and typical bag marks. The obverse die has had more die clash polishing than the reverse die, most notable on the Indian's face and eye. (That's the buffalo's right rear leg / LIBERTY clash polishing.) The vast majority of slabbed 1938-D Buffs are MS-66, but in the wild, the vast majority are MS-64 or MS-65. Except for bulk submissions, it isn't worth sending in any 1938-D that can't make MS-68. Your coin has several small nicks on the Indian's cheek and neck. The reverse, however, has more contact marks on the buffalo's left shoulder, flank, and upper back. IMHO, this coin likely is MS-64, and just short of MS-65 to a TPG. On a bourse floor, it would pass for MS-65.
Take a close look at the mint mark. This looks like a 1938-D/D, and my best suggestion for a starting point is 1938-D RPM-009 on Variety Vista, which is also WRPM-009 on Wexler. There are two diagnostic die scratches listed on Wexler's site, and I think I see them on your coin, but it's much better if you can verify it in hand. Look at both sites, because some of the RPMs are listed on one site, but not the other.
The 1938-D gets graded more strictly than some earlier dates because there are so many UNC coins preserved. The same state of preservation on a 1934 or 1934-D, for example, would make MS-65 without hesitation.
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Posted 05/16/2025 12:56 am
