I read about this error but am still not sure. Was hoping to get some experienced eyes on it. P.S. I haven't read anywhere if there is a preferred method of posting images. Thumbs vs Full. (If I missed it I apologize) I have been just adding as attachments so far, so trying something new.
As long as you don't have too many pictures Full is a better way to see the coin you are posting. It's usually easier to see the damage or error you are seeking information about (as long as the pictures aren't too out of focus.) Your pictures here are pretty darn good, even when clicked for full size. PS, too me it looks like a clip, but better wait for more knowledgeable error collectors to drop by.
Circulation has worn away some of the detail required to be sure, but it certainly presents the correct details for a curved-clip strike. And your images are as good as could be asked for a question like this.
For 3-4 pictures usually go with Full so you made the right choice. Let me echo and add to @SuperDave it is hard to tell because we cannot determine if the coin has the Blakesley effect. This link explains it much better than I could. http://dniewcollectors.blogspot.com/2012/04/blakesley-effect-on-clip-error-coins.html It won't guarantee it's a curved clip, but if you cannot fit a nickel into the curved area, you at least know the clip didn't happen at the machine.
This seems so obvious but I never thought of that. It certainly isn't a perfect match, but I guess you'd expect the high points to be worn down more on a coin this old and apparently heavily circulated. The edges opposite the clip are indeed weak as I have read, but I wasn't sure if they meant it should be only weak the same size as the clip. In this case the size of the weakness in the rim opposite the clip is a good bit wider. I suppose this again could be due to circulation. In any case, I like it. Thank you all for the help!
I dont see any tapering of the rim, no metal pull on any of the letters near the clip area.. I am suspect on this one.
The tapering of the rim is definitely there. (OB & RE) More pronounced on the OB around the clip, and the opposite the clip. Just very hard to capture in a photo. Maybe I could try some different angles. The pulling of the devices I can't explain. I have hunted to find an example of this, but all the clipped examples I could find either doesn't show this, or the images aren't big enough to expose it to where I can see. I'd love to see some clear examples, regardless of this coin. The examples shown here and here are both smaller photos but very clear and I can't discern any "pulling". I also found this and it looks like it's worn down on the "L" around the clip on the OB, but the devices on the RE don't look like that. Anyway, still trying to learn so thanks for making me dig deeper.
Do you guys mind explaining in layman's terms tapering? I've read all the definitions but never really understood what it meant.
Our own @physics-fan3.14 "wrote the book" on clips ten years ago, in the forum post sense. Go here, and learn: http://boards.collectors-society.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=3563436#Post3563436 As mentioned, a strong strike can cancel out the Blakesley Effect by successfully filling the rim gutter on both dies opposite the clip, so the lack of a plain manifestation here isn't alarming. I see no reason - factoring circulation - to believe it isn't a clip.
Ak, if you see the tapering then I would also say its good. Photos are really tough sometimes to make a good judgement call on.. Thanks for the clarification. That is a really nice article by Jason. Wish he had sent it to me, I would of had it published in the Errorscope.
If you look at the edge of the coin on both sides of the clip where the curve starts, the rim generally will taper down at an angle to the clip instead of just being a straight 90 degree cut. I have seen it both ways actually, but the majority seem to be tapered down into the clip.
Nothing stopping you right now. PM him. With this coin, I'm making certain assumptions which factor "blurring" from circulation - the edges of the rims and lettering are no longer clear enough to be really definitive. It's more like a situation where the "preponderance of the evidence" tends to indicate what one should conclude it is. That's something we don't emphasize enough (I'm as guilty as the next) in our online conversations - many times the evidence is strong enough to opine but not conclusive.
Well this coin will never be worth enough to justify having it "authenticated" professionally. I am happy enough knowing that most of the experts here think it might be. I'll mark it as such and stash it away for now till I eventually pull it out and fondle it in the future. (That might not have come out right. ) I started this hobby after having a large amount of pocket change to roll and decided I should actually scrutinize the coins before blindly rolling them as I had always done before. Then I moved on to roll searching from advice I found online. I can honestly say it started as a purely financial proposition until I found my first Walking Liberty in a roll of halves and then something changed in me. It wasn't particularly well preserved, but it just mesmerized me. My plan had always been to cash in on anything I found that was worth something, but that never happened. I made a trade once from a Lincoln error I found for some Mercs, but other than that I still have every interesting coin I've ever found. Including that Walking Liberty that changed everything, and my best find to date. I had to take a long break from it due to RL circumstances, but I'm back trying to pick up where I left off. The people here have been great and I'm really glad I found this place way back then. Cheers and Thanks!
