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1985-P Jefferson Nickel / Need Help, Please

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Pillar of the Community

United States
1238 Posts
 Posted 12/24/2025  8:13 pm Show Profile   Bookmark this topic Add snailking1 to your friends list Get a Link to this Message Number of Subscribers
Just came across this.
Looks interesting, but sorry, couldn't figure out what to call it
The full obverse pic, sort of makes it look like the section above Jefferson's head is high and goes down to the rim. It's the opposite - it's actually slightly cupped there. The reverse also seems to be slightly cupped.
As always - all help is greatly appreciated.
Thank You!


1985-P-Jefferson-Nickel-/-Need-Help,-Please
1985-P-Jefferson-Nickel-/-Need-Help,-Please
1985-P-Jefferson-Nickel-/-Need-Help,-Please
1985-P-Jefferson-Nickel-/-Need-Help,-Please
1985-P-Jefferson-Nickel-/-Need-Help,-Please
1985-P-Jefferson-Nickel-/-Need-Help,-Please
1985-P-Jefferson-Nickel-/-Need-Help,-Please
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Errers and Varietys's Avatar
United States
73698 Posts
 Posted 12/24/2025  8:23 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Errers and Varietys to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
What you're seeing is the result of Die Deterioration. Both dies that struck your coin were worn out.
Errers and Varietys.
Pillar of the Community
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 Posted 12/24/2025  8:27 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add snailking1 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Thank You, E&V

I didn't know if the raised section behind the tops of LIBERTY was anything special (sorry, I also should have specified that is what I was looking at)

Merry Christmas!
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ijn1944's Avatar
United States
19118 Posts
 Posted 12/24/2025  8:44 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add ijn1944 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Yes, appears to be a case of Die Deterioration (a rather tired die near the end of its useful life).
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Brandmeister's Avatar
United States
6460 Posts
 Posted 12/24/2025  8:51 pm  Show Profile   Check Brandmeister's eBay Listings Bookmark this reply Add Brandmeister to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Wow, that is one tired die. Look at the word Monticello, you can see the die cavities for the letters are just widening and making poofy words.

I would assume that bar under Liberty is the edge of the die and rim gutter just wearing away. Sort of like a Ridge Ring on a cent, but chunky and flowing into the rim.
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Dearborn's Avatar
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94786 Posts
 Posted 12/24/2025  9:06 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Dearborn to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply

Quote:
Sort of like a Ridge Ring on a cent, but chunky and flowing into the rim.

I was thinking a fold over Rim Fin, but could be a worn down Ridge Ring too.
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United States
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 Posted 12/24/2025  9:07 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add snailking1 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply

Thanks everyone!


Quote:
edge of the die and rim gutter just wearing away

Gotcha!!
Guess that's why I couldn't find it on error-ref.

Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, or any other holiday you choose to celebrate!
Pillar of the Community
United States
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 Posted 12/24/2025  9:12 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add snailking1 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply

Quote:
you can see the die cavities for the letters are just widening and making poofy words

Seems like a lot of nickels from about '81 through '85 are like that!

Dearborn, I was thinking of something like a Rim Fin, except that the letters are not covered. Wouldn't a folded Rim Fin sit on top of the letters?
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Brandmeister's Avatar
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 Posted 12/24/2025  9:51 pm  Show Profile   Check Brandmeister's eBay Listings Bookmark this reply Add Brandmeister to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
To my understanding, a Rim Fin would be folded over the surface of the letters, not appear behind them.

The Mint ran the dies hard in the 1980s. It's also possible that they used different techniques to harden the die surfaces or extend their longevity that resulted in that peculiar form of Die Deterioration.
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