Which of these 1938 D nickels got the higher grade?

Discussion in 'US Coins Forum' started by ValpoBeginner, Apr 25, 2018.

?

WHAT ARE THE GRADES OF COIN 1 AND COIN 2?

Poll closed May 25, 2018.
  1. PLEASE REPLY WITH YOUR GUESSES.

    2 vote(s)
    66.7%
  2. Or vote "I can't risk grading a photo, because my name indicates who I am."

    1 vote(s)
    33.3%
  1. ValpoBeginner

    ValpoBeginner Well Known Supporter

    I recently got my results but do not know which coin got the higher grade....they've been graded and Im awaiting shipping to send them back to me.

    They are both nicer 1938 D nickels.

    Please guess the grade of each coin from its picture?

    Also feel free to post your own 1938 D nickels. I will post the answer when I receive the graded coin back.

    Coin 1
    magnifier_20180424_234223-01.jpeg
    magnifier_20180424_234353-01.jpeg
    magnifier_20180424_235907-01.jpeg

    Coin 2
    magnifier_20180424_234042-01.jpeg
    magnifier_20180424_235042-01.jpeg
    magnifier_20180424_235837-01.jpeg

    I misplaced my submission sheet with the numbered coins on it so I really can only guess at their grades. Obviously one got a higher grade then the other one.

    Full Steps in this case would equal a higher grade even if the MS# is a grade lower.

    THANK YOU TO ALL WHO PARTICIPATE.
     
    ddddd likes this.
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  3. Omegaraptor

    Omegaraptor Gobrecht/Longacre Enthusiast

    Both coins would grade 66 IMO from the pics. Coin 1 is 66FB, Coin 2 is close but no cigar, 66.
     
  4. ValpoBeginner

    ValpoBeginner Well Known Supporter

    Cool..thanks for the guess.


    I forgot to include the pic with them side by side.

    Here it is...sorry for the orientation not being congruent.
    magnifier_20180425_013400-01.jpeg
     
  5. Paddy54

    Paddy54 Well-Known Member

    It would help to number or letter to distinguish between the 2. Your images are to vague to make a comparison between the 2.
     
    Pickin and Grinin likes this.
  6. dwhiz

    dwhiz Collector Supporter

  7. ldhair

    ldhair Clean Supporter

    I'll go 66 on both. The reverse of the first one looks to have really cool luster.
     
  8. ldhair

    ldhair Clean Supporter

  9. ValpoBeginner

    ValpoBeginner Well Known Supporter

    Sorry,

    I don't remember which one is which.
     
    Last edited: Apr 25, 2018
  10. ValpoBeginner

    ValpoBeginner Well Known Supporter

    I suppose we could call them A and B for now.
     
    micbraun likes this.
  11. Seattlite86

    Seattlite86 Outspoken Member

    I think coin 1 wins edit: both are upper 60s, but only coin 1 has FS, or at least 5FS
     
  12. mark_h

    mark_h Somewhere over the rainbow

    Not a nickel expert, but not sure I would give either a full steps designation. From the pictures hard for me to get a feel for the luster - but I think both coins look like 65's or 66's. Then which every had the better luster in hand is the one with the higher grade - at least to me. :)
     
    ValpoBeginner likes this.
  13. ValpoBeginner

    ValpoBeginner Well Known Supporter

    You might be surprised how many of the 1938 and some 1939 nickels get the Full Steps designation. The first design change came in 1939 when the mints struck both designs of the differently new differently 1940-style "well-defined steps" minted along with the older 1938 wavy style steps with less definition.

    I think that the mint was just glad that the Buffalo nickels which caused quite a few die breaks were done with. Creating quality grade hardened steel was still in its infancy before the war.

    I guess two things come to mind when thinking about what the war did to the world of numismatics. First stronger steel dies, and secondly clad coinage. I read somewhere that it was a new form of welding discovered in WWII by evidencing what happened to metals close together during an explosion. Cool effect, but I could've just settled for the metallurgical advances in die making; I prefer alloyed or pure metal coins, to sandwiched clad.
     
  14. ValpoBeginner

    ValpoBeginner Well Known Supporter

  15. ldhair

    ldhair Clean Supporter

    No. It's nothing special. AU at best.
     
    ValpoBeginner likes this.
  16. Pickin and Grinin

    Pickin and Grinin Well-Known Member

    I am not sure either would be full steps, although coin 1 looks like it has the strike, the bag mark between the left two columns- top step and second will most likely end your chances.
     
  17. Seattlite86

    Seattlite86 Outspoken Member

    When is the reveal?
     
  18. mynamespat

    mynamespat Well-Known Member

    I voted, "I can't risk grading a photo, because my name indicates who I am." because I thought it was a cute option.

    It's really hard to gauge either too intricately based on the photos. I'll say coin A wins, basing my opinion on the stronger steps photo. The reverse picture of the B coin appears to show more chatter on the rim also.
     
    ValpoBeginner likes this.
  19. ValpoBeginner

    ValpoBeginner Well Known Supporter

    They have finished the grading....They get shipped Fed-Ex with Signature Confirmation so I will have to find time to make it to the Michigan City receiving center to pick them up....

    But if you'd like I can post the grades that they were given and we can try to figure out which is which.
     
    Seattlite86 likes this.
  20. Seattlite86

    Seattlite86 Outspoken Member

    That would be fun :)
     
  21. ValpoBeginner

    ValpoBeginner Well Known Supporter

    Ok here are the grades MS 66FS, MS 65FS.

    I will post pics after I get them....
     
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