Grade my 1939-D Reverse of 38 Jefferson Nickel

Please vote in the attached poll for your opinion of the grade of this nickel.



As always, comments welcome!

 

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Pretty coin.

 

Nice coin. I went with MS66. Really wouldn't be surprised if it didn't go MS67.

 

MS-66

 

I am practicing, and perhaps confirmation bias due to lehigh's known preference to very high graded nickels is leading me astray. I voted MS67 because of the exceptionally clean fields, the reverse has almost no marks or hits, the added appeal of the toning, and the obverse is basically limited to three hits, the only one of consequence being the one below the ear. Since that is out of the front portion of the face, I let it be, but again that choice could have been confirmation bias driven.

I don't know from pics here if there is rub that makes it AU instead, still learning to try to spot.

 

Usually that area is weakly struck on Jefferson nickels. The jawbone area is notorious for not filling the recessed area of the die. I also have 5 1939-D reverse of 1938 coins graded from MS61-MS65. His coin is by far nicer than my MS65. Hence, my grade.

 

I feel without the coin under magnification and in hand, MS 65 at best, the hit on the cheek, if not on the holder, keeps it from MS 66.

 

I went with 66, though it could go 67. the areas on the high points that look like rub are usually a weakness in strike. The cut on his jaw I think is a bag mark, and in a very focal area. Not sure about the tick across the steps reverse, but could be a FS if it hasn't blended them. The pastels and hint of rainbow are marvelous.

 

Don't know the series at all, voted 65

 

Here is a 67+ (38 reverse) I voted 66.

 

Pretty 66...I want one of these

 

This coin has me absolutely scratching my head. At some angles, the obverse portrait appears to have significant wear. At others, those same areas simply appear to be untoned. For example, Jeff's neck and the back of his coat collar are toned in a bright shade of soft baby blue which dissipates to the areas that seem to be worn and display a dull grey color. But what if that toning wasn't there, or on the area of the face near the ear, the temple, or in the recesses of the hair, then the coin would display an even grey color. There are no signs of friction in the fields and the reverse shows no signs of wear at all.



I purchased the coin which was advertised as a gem at MS65 money because I thought with the cleanliness of the coin it had a good shot at MS66 or even MS67 dependent upon the luster which you can't truly evaluate until you have the coin in hand. After receiving the coin, I feel the luster would max the coin at MS66 but I just don't know how NGC is going to interpret the obverse of this coin. I think the coin has a 50/50 shot at either MS66 or AU58. Being a pessimist for my own submissions, I am guessing they will grade it AU58.

 

While I agree that the jawbone area is normally weakly struck, this particular coin shows no signs of planchet roughness and I firmly believe that is a contact mark and should be treated as such. However, it is the only major mark on the entire coin and I have seen NGC allow such marks and still award an MS67 grade as long as the remainder of the coin is superlative. Given that the luster on this coin is not booming, I grade the coin at MS66. As you pointed out, it is just nicer than what qualifies as an MS65.

 

It is definitely much nicer than those I have seen grade MS65

 

I'm having the same hard time you are having. This is a tough one to grade by photo. Half of me want's to call this an AU coin do to exactly what you pointed out with the odd appearance of the obverse. If it is indeed MS, I'd be more inclined to call it MS-65 due to the appearance of the obverse with the cut on Jefferson's jaw and what appears to be going on in the field between his nose and TRUST. But then again, that stuff in the field could just be something that looks like chatter and not really chatter at all. If it's not then I could see the 66 grade happening.

This is one of those coins that you have to see in hand, to really be able to grade.

 

LOL, I have it in hand, I still can't grade it. I thought a photo would solve the debate for me, it only complicated matters.

 

Look at it under 4X magnification and a halogen light. If an AU, it should show up as slight rubs as stated. Any hairlines will show as well.