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 Replies: 27 / Views: 2,992 |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1931 Posts |
I have decided to sort out my bin of nickels. I am not sure what to look for though.
Any tips?
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10284 Posts |
Hello! I think I have my favorites. It depends if we are talking circulated or UNCS. Of course, I am chomping at the bit to see what is released and what you keep.  CirculatedAll 1938 PDS VF or better 1939 XF or better All 1939 D's F or better All 1939 S's VF or better XF 1940 D and S XF 1941 S all 1942 XF or better 1942 D F or better All War Nickels set aside ch XF and AU as singles XF and better 1946 1947 1948 D's S's All 1949 PDS XF and better VF 1950 and of course 1950 D any grade. All 1951 PDS VF plus XF/AU 1952 PDS 1953 S XF plus 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 and 1959 AU dark alloy (black beauties) and sharp strikes 1954 D look for S over D otherwise no big deal 1954 S AU well struck 1955 D look for D over S AU / BU 1971 many are baggy 1982 P and D many are mushy 1983 P and D any 2009 LOL! UNCLook for full steps or even well struck with some steps Main coins HTF 1938 PDS 1939 PDS 1940 S 1941 S 1942 and 1942 D but these are usually well struck anyway All GEM War NickelsAll GEM 1949 PDS 1950 and 1950 D 1951 PDS 1952 1952 S ( tough with steps ) 1953 1953 D 1953 S ( almost impossible to find GEM with 5 steps ) 1954 P and D 1954 S ( almost impossible to find GEM with 5 steps ) 1960 through 1970 D any with full steps 1962 D 1963 D 1964 D 1965 1966 1967 1968 D 1969 D are really tough and pretty valuable with even 4 steps 1963 D and 1968 D and 1969 D are truly RARE with full steps in GEM. 1982 P and D are usually 3.5 steps to 4 steppers and very mushy same with even worse 1983 P& D Anything dazzling after this in Full steps 1976 are tough and so are 1979. There you have it. That's what I hoard. Actually I wish I had some nice common ones to put together nice sets as I don't have a lot of the easier ones to find stocked. Edited by TNG
06/10/2009 12:39 am
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Pillar of the Community
 Canada
1931 Posts |
WOW!! I didn't quite realize it would be that many! I found a few that have strange lettering and doubling and I guess now I will restart the first pile and take an actual look at the years. lol A lot of mine are baggy, but I guess so since they are just sitting in a bin. I do remember that I went through once and separated everything that had full steps or close to full steps. I will have to find that bag too I think.
thanks wheezy! you sure know a lot about nickels :)
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2669 Posts |
 This list will definitely come in handy when I get to my pile of them! |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10284 Posts |
You're welcome,
I just threw that out there off the top of my head. Just remember, your nickel has to be well above average and have eye appeal, otherwise it will be passed over should you want to sell it.
The details I posted are a little bit for basic picking over, like in your case.
Look for
1942 D over horizontal D,
1946 D over inverted D
1949 D over S
and there are many doubled dies.
The sound of words like a bag or a bin .... Eeeeeek !!
Like fingernails on a chalkboard.
G-nite folks!
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1931 Posts |
ok, since I have pretty much no experience grading nickels I am going to post one that is bugging me. And then maybe the master of nickels... wheezydog :) can help me out. Is it worth it to keep ones in lesser condition than this one? (most of them lol)    |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3098 Posts |
Also, don't really bother with 1964s. They were minted in the millions (billions, possibly? Help me here, wheezy!) to take care of the gap of all the silvers being withdrawn.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1931 Posts |
also I am noticing some of the nickels seem to either have letters missing or barely visible. But it isn't wear because the other letters are there just fine. Is this what you meant by mushy wheezydog?
Should I keep ones that are really obvious or does that not count as a mint error at all?
How can I tell if it is wear or mushiness? Or do they add up to kind of the same thing?
thanks for putting up with my interrogation
Edited by malissadawn
06/10/2009 01:34 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2589 Posts |
since many dates have poor strikes, the grade can be difficult to determine from the steps. It is much easier to look at the detailes in the triangle above the pillars to determine the grade on the reverse.
-XoG
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1931 Posts |
oooh I didn't know that. Are there any other "high points" that really factor in?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4113 Posts |
wheezydog: - Excellent list and thanks for all the info! malissadawn: I would also check for newer jeffersons like wheezydog also pointed out, anything after 1982 etc that really stands out. Example- here are a few pics of a 1989P Jefferson I pulled from a roll search a few years ago- its toned and has real nice step features.    |
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Moderator
 United States
56855 Posts |
Can any one post photos of the (black beauties)1954-1959 dark alloy Jefferson nickles? Also any info about them including price and where to buy them.Thanks much. John1  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
62064 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4113 Posts |
Hi John1: Here is a pic of a 1959P Jefferson that I have- Its a dark pewter color, but not sure if this is a black beauty or not (improperly annealed) -probably my coin is not. HSN was selling 1959 Black Beauty's (NGC certified MS64) for around $250.00.   Edited by chuckster 125
06/10/2009 10:33 am
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10284 Posts |
Oh I love this topic! Love those pictures! The three pictures so far would be keepers for me. That 62 is an exceptional strike for that date and ( no mint mark) If it were a D Wowee! Still unusual.I think it would get MS 64 from the likes of PCGS but there are a few light ticks on the steps that might make it miss a FS designation. I still think it's a dandy and I would keep it if I had it. 64's were minted by the billions yes, therefore well struck gems with full steps are very scarce anyway due to die wear from overuse. Show me a GEM 5 step 1964 D in MS 65 and better and somebody might easily show you a $15.00 bill. That is a nice 1989 P and they too are a bit scarce with that good of a strike but what is that on the obverse in the letters WE? verdigris? If so, that's a shame. I would soak this one in olive oil or mineral oil and try to get that off using the acetone and minimize the spot best I could. That is a nice example of a "black beauty" 1959 but looks to be under BU, still nice, a keeper to me. I know the flash is making it lighter. These are a dark, almost gun metal in color. Not black, but a strange shiny dark grey/black. You'll know when you have one. I have seen some from the 60's as well. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4113 Posts |
whezzydog: Thanks for the info- my 59P is a gun-metal color. Here are 2 pics of the Obv and Rev under less light. Also,here is a closeup of the W on the 1989P It looks like a few tiny die chips inside, but no verdigris that I can see.    |
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Replies: 27 / Views: 2,992 |
Posted 06/10/2009 12:55 am
