These are dealer photos... Both are the same price and I would be curious which would you buy if any and why? I am considering a purchase with one of these but would like some opinions about grade/color and whether these would be worth paying a premium for and if so about how much.
I'd pick the bottom one, looks like more of the steps on the reverse are intact unless that's just some funky shading on the top one obscuring the view in the picture. Plus I like less rainbow tones with my coins.
They are both very nice. I like the top one very much. I think it is a reverse of 38, which would be the reason for the mushy steps. I believe the bottom is a reverse of 40, which would also explain the better steps. Believe it or not, I think the top one is a better strike. That said, there are 2 things I would think about before jumping on the top one... 1: There is a distracting mark on the reverse in a prominent area. 2: The more attractive coloration may be more in the photograpy, and it might be less attractive in hand. Conversely, the lower one could be more attractive in hand, and the person taking the pic may not have done a good job in portraying it. Without a doubt though, there are some dark spots that would be dark in hand, no matter if the pic is perfectly accurate or not. All in all, I am an 'eye appeal' type guy, so I would go for the top one. Even if the toning is not as pretty in hand, I don't see any splotchyness (is that a word?) to it. Add to that the sharper strike. However, the mark on the reverse might drive me to look for a 3rd choice. Neither is worth a 'premium' to me, for the negatives I listed for both. Just my opinion.
You make some very good points with regards to both. I do believe the top one is a reverse of 38 and the lower one, reverse of 40. As to the steps on the lower one, the 6th step is gone for sure, I thought perhaps it might hit a 5FS but, looking at it closely there appears to be the tiniest of bridging under the 3rd pillar right at the 6/5 step region but am not 100% sure from the photo. I do agree with the strike being just better on the top one but also the mark on the reverse above the "FIVE" is distracting. Also, I noticed something on top of the dome in the upper left area that I can't really make out. The obverse of both look very clean, though the shoulder area of the top one seems to be a bit more rough. The top one seems to have the better "eye" appeal at least based on the photos and the better strike, even if slightly from my observation. I'm just wondering if the bottom one would offer up the better grade in the long run. Guess I will see what some others also think.
There are more steps, but I just don't think it would make a 5FS. No way for a 6FS that is for sure. I guess a 5FS would be a luck shot if it were to get graded.
The hit across the steps would stop it from getting FS even if all 6 steps were clear as a bell, which they are not. But that has nothing to do with it. The hit being there is enough to stop it. That said, of the two, I like the top coin better. But were I shopping for me, I would keep looking.
I would no doubt pick the top one. I am a sucker for color like that though. The eye appeal is outstanding. When it comes to "almost" steps, I often debate with people about this. Some may argue that if it is "almost full steps", it is somehow more valuable. To me, that's like saying I have an airplane that "can almost fly". It either does or it doesn't. Both beautiful key date nickels though. If the price is right...
The bottom one has less ticks, there is a ding on the dome ( I like the sound of that but don't want any on mine ) on the top one. Nobody saw that? I just noticed a hit on the nose of The bottom one, which is the only distracting point I could find. I'd rather a light hit on my nose over a deep ding on my dome though. I dropped the MS66+ down to MS66 in my edit when I saw that. The bottom one has more steps and it is close to full steps too. The mint mark is excellent. The bottom one may lack the luster and colorful toning of the one on top shows but I think it goes MS66 while the other may be just shy of MS66. I'd like to own both if the price was right. I would not pay over $70.00 if I wanted one of them personally.
The top one would make 66 if not for that mark on the reverse. I don't believe a TPG would hold the mush around the steps against the grade because that IS a hallmark of the reverse of 38. The mark would probably hold it back, but that isn't even a for sure thing because it is a sharp strike for the Rev of 38. When it comes to full steps, I am not one that is concerned with that in my nickels. I figure that it is something that is not particularly necessary for a nickel to have GREAT eye appeal. Why sweat a detail that you can't see without a loupe? Just my opinion.
I do like the eye appeal of the top one and since it is the reverse of 38 a bit more scarce than the reverse of 39. Also, while the steps are a nice addition "if present" they are not really a requirement as is a good strike and great eye appeal. I did see the ding on the upper left section of the dome as well after looking closer at the reverse compared to the other one. I didn't notice the hit on the nose of the bottom one though but see it now. It appears to be very light indeed and as I would not be sending these for grading, it is not as evident as that dome ding. I don't believe a TPG would hold back the mushy steps either on the reverse of 38 as that is a design element. My concern there would be the dome ding and the mark above the "FIVE". Shame one couldn't combine the best of both between these 2 and go from there... I agree on the steps part for sure since it is a secondary issue for me. I just consider it an added bonus if they are present.
I don't know what you guys are seeing that makes you think the top coin is a reverse of 38, but they both look like reverse of 40 to me. The top step is too thick to be reverse of 38 and the vertical indentation on the left above the "N" in MONTICELLO is the hallmark of a reverse of 40. http://www.cointalk.com/t207768/#ixzz22EXN3MN3 I like the color on the top coin and the overall strike and surfaces are comparable. I would be inclined to choose the coin with the best luster and eye appeal which can really only be determined from an in hand inspection. Based on the photos, I believe the top coin probably has better luster and eye appeal.
That certainly does quiet that statement on the 38 versus the 40 reverse. Both are definitely reverse of 40 and thanks for sharing that link. I have now saved that one for future reference. My biggest concern with the top one are the dome hit and the rather out in the open mark above the "FIVE" on the reverse.
IMO, you should be just as concerned about the luster of the bottom coin. Given the choice, I will always take a few minor contact marks over muted luster.
Same here. I think the lighting was different on the bottom one compared to the top one, that's why it appears to be a better strike and likely to bring out the rainbow tone. Honestly I think both strikes on each are comparable but I'd really have to see them in hand to make an actual decision since I like my nickels with not-as-mushy steps, I'm still sticking to the bottom one since I can care less about rainbow tones on a coin. Now if the bottom had less luster, that would drastically change my decision, but I'm basing my decision on the quality of the photos given.
The steps are actually a poor choice for an indication of quality of strike. As a general rule most Jeffs are weakly struck. And if you want to judge one against another look to the details of Monticello, not the steps. IMO there is no doubt the first coin has the better strike.
Agreed, the first one definitely has a better overall strike, both sides of the entrance way are cleaner and more defined.
I can't agree, not by the photos. It's clear to me that the top one had different lighting used to bring out the tone, that's why you see much more details with the shading which is creating more of an outline effect on the details, etc. I think to get a good idea of the strikes, you'd have to see both in hand to be honest.
That would be nice but, I don't believe that is likely to happen since I couldn't afford both and since opinions and my own indecision I will most likely pass on them for now..
So true. I post a thread regarding this as not to hijack this thread. http://www.cointalk.com/t210964/
