What's wrong with this nickel proof?

Discussion in 'Coin Chat' started by tommypski, Mar 28, 2008.

  1. tommypski

    tommypski Coinaholic

    I am putting together a Jefferson set and I am now in the process of collecting proofs. This is the first time I have ever collected proof coins so I have very little knowledge of them. Anyway, this one here has that "frosting" effect on it, but not like I have ever seen it before. So I was just wondering if someone could give me some insight on what is going on with this coin. JUst looks kind of funky. Is it junk? Thanks!
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Avatar

    Guest User Guest



    to hide this ad.
  3. Phoenix21

    Phoenix21 Well-Known Member

    Looks more to me like wear from being circulated, than the cameo effect, but I could be wrong.

    Phoenix :cool:
     
  4. jon67

    jon67 Loves Lincoln's

    i would guess and say that
    1: it was improperly handled and got cloudy
    2: it was struck with some grease on the die which gave it the cloudy effect
     
  5. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    I don't think you are.
     
  6. Phoenix21

    Phoenix21 Well-Known Member

    Awesome. :D

    Phoenix :cool:
     
  7. tommypski

    tommypski Coinaholic

    So you guys think this coin was circulated? How can you tell that? I'm not disagreeing, just want to know!!!
     
  8. kanga

    kanga 65 Year Collector

    At a minimum it's been handled.
    But I agree with the "circulated" description.
    Features appear to be worn.
    Probably would help us if you removed it from the 2x2 and reimaged it.
     
  9. tommypski

    tommypski Coinaholic

    OK, I went ahead and took the coin out of it's holder. I blew on the coin a little and a bunch of the white stuff came off. So I dabed the coin a little with a dry tissue and the white stuff was easily blown off the coin. Go ahead, tell me I'm stupid for cleaning a coin. Fact is that I did not like the coin the way it was, it scored a big fat ZERO for eye appeal, so I figured, "what did I have to loose?" . Plus it is a very easy and cheap coin to obtain so,....
    I don't see any worn features, no marks , scratches nothing like that.
     

    Attached Files:

  10. jon67

    jon67 Loves Lincoln's

    looks a lot better now and not circulated
     
  11. tommypski

    tommypski Coinaholic

    Thanks for your help everyone!
     
  12. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    Tommy let me ask you - where do you think all of that "stuff" on the coin came from ? It came from the 2x2 holder you had the coin in. That "stuff" was pieces of cardboard that come off the holder and gets trapped on the coin. That "stuff" can and will scratch your coins and leave them covered with fine hairlines that greatly reduce the grade of your coins.

    Yeah, it was the scuffed up mylar in the holder that made your coin look like an impaired Proof. But continued storage in those 2x2 holders will turn your coin into an impaired Proof.

    Food for thought.
     
  13. Arizona Jack

    Arizona Jack The Lincoln-ator

  14. tommypski

    tommypski Coinaholic

    This is a coin a got off the bay. The cardboard residue did not show up in the sellers pics. Anyway, I do take my coins out of the 2x2's when I get them, but I tend to keep them in the 2x2 untill I have decided I am satisfied with my purchase. Many sellers will not accept a return if the coin is not in the original 2x2.

    Funny thing is when I dabed the coin with the tissue, the residue that came off the coin was light blue.

    Again, thanks for the help!
     
  15. Oldman

    Oldman New Member


    I agree.

    On top of that , Looks like a bait and switch if not he may have photoshopped it.
     
  16. spock1k

    spock1k King of Hearts



    i would recommend the SAFLIPs but i would like to know your thoughts on that and if there any better solutions out there
     
  17. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator


    Then I would say that your coin had been incorrectly dipped as well prior to your purchase. And that what you wiped off the coin was dip residue.
     
  18. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    I've made my recommendation for coin storage countless times - Air-Tites.
     
  19. Pocket Change

    Pocket Change Coin Collector

    Actually this is a very interesting thread for me. I've had the question about proofs and albums and air-tites.

    If this is the wrong place, could one of the moderators please start a new thread.

    Here's the question. You have a proof that isn't worth a whole lot - say a 1978 proof Jefferson Nickel. My understanding of proofs is that they are either PR-XX or are "impaired". In other words, they either are pristine or they've been handled, have fingerprints, have post-mint scratching, etc. In addition, I've seen cases where Toned proofs are less desirable - but I know the whole toning issue is up for debate.........

    So WHY, WHY, WHY would anyone ever put them in an album? Personally, I don't have that many proof coins, but they're all in Air-Tites.

    Comments?
     
  20. kanga

    kanga 65 Year Collector

    All coins struck using proof-production methods are Proofs, i.e., they all are graded PR-XX.
    Put one on a railroad track and let a train run over it and you end up with a PR-3 or PR-2, but they're still proofs, impaired though they may be.

    You're correct. Toning is another WHOLE (and somewhat contentious) topic.
    I tend to NOT like toning.

    Putting proofs into an album opens one to a couple problems:
    - handling the coin
    - toning

    BUT many people like to fill all the holes.
    And sometimes the holder (Air-Tite?) is worth more than the coin.
    And another group of people aren't worried about preservation.

    This is more a personal thing.

    My Lincoln album has 4 empty holes.
    I've got the coins, but they are in slabs, and that's where they'll stay.
    But that's my personal preference.
     
Draft saved Draft deleted

Share This Page