1943 Jefferson nickel metal composition question, 54S, 54D/D?

Discussion in 'What's it Worth' started by i2i, Jun 19, 2019.

  1. i2i

    i2i Active Member

    Hi!
    I just bought some Jefferson nickel, which is a new item for me.
    I've read some things about metal composition but I dont know how to verify, validate, or distinguish them.
    If anyone can provide info, I'd appreciate it.
    I've lined up 6 nickles. The top are the standard composition, as I understand, but the others are not grey and the bottom right has more of a copper tone?
    The second pic is of the 2nd & 3rd right column, of 1st pic.
    Also, a 54 S is in good (enough) condition?? Or not?
    ...I decided to add a '54 D that looks like it might have a repunched D? 20190619_081108.jpg 20190619_080932.jpg 20190619_070029.jpg 20190619_070037.jpg 20190619_080728.jpg 20190619_080804.jpg
     
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  3. Michael K

    Michael K Well-Known Member

    All nickels, every series are 5 grams and 75% copper and 25% nickel.
    The only nickels that are different while still 5 grams are the war nickels.
    35% silver 56% copper and 9% manganese.
    (Not including 3 cent nickels or half dimes.)
    Can't really tell on the D mark.
    The 54-S seems to be in excellent condition. MS.
     
    Last edited: Jun 19, 2019
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  4. Lehigh96

    Lehigh96 Toning Enthusiast

    The war nickels all look like standard circulated war nickels to me. They are notorious for turning black when circulated. The ones that you have shown closeup have been cleaned but still have the same metal composition.

    The 54-S you showed is a very nice coin with good luster and probably deserves a gem grade.

    In order to determine if you have a 54-D/D, we would still need a better photo of the mintmark. Shown below is the example from NGC Variety Plus.

    [​IMG]
     
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  5. i2i

    i2i Active Member

    Thanks! Do u think th '54 S should be graded? I actually have 5 that show some stairs and many others in nice condition but no stairs. The 54 d/d would be a significantly off struck mint mark, a new find...if real? I dont know if these pics help? 20190619_080728.jpg 20190619_080722.jpg 20190619_080713.jpg
     
  6. i2i

    i2i Active Member

    ...like this
    20190619_090337.jpg
     
  7. Lehigh96

    Lehigh96 Toning Enthusiast

    A 1954-S is only worth about $25 in MS65 so submitting that coin would only be worth your time/money if it had a reasonable chance at getting a premium gem grade. Although your coin is nice, I do see enough imperfections that should limit the grade to MS65. To me, that is a great album coin.

    Regarding steps, either a coin has 5 complete steps or it doesn't. As much as collectors want credit for less, the price of a coin doesn't change until you reach 5 full steps.

    Thanks for the additional photos, but I still can't see what you are seeing with that mint mark. Maybe some others will be able to see it.
     
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  8. Inspector43

    Inspector43 Celebrating 75 Years Active Collecting Supporter

    The silver war nickels have the mint mark on the reverse over the dome in very large letters. Very hard to miss.
     
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  9. wxcoin

    wxcoin Getting no respect since I was a baby

    I agree about the 54-S, it is a nice coin but not worth the cost of getting it graded. The only 54-S examples that I'd send in for grading would be MS 66 minimum and/or full steps. Full steps examples for 1950's S mints are few and far between.
     
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  10. Lehigh96

    Lehigh96 Toning Enthusiast

    I just had one come back MS67, it is gorgeous.
     
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  11. wxcoin

    wxcoin Getting no respect since I was a baby

    I'm jealous!
     
  12. i2i

    i2i Active Member

    I'm not asking that question. I'm asking about the metal composition. There are three types. One is a variety struck on pre-war "silver" planchets, one on a higher copper "test" planchet. One on the appropriate war-time composition. Thanks though.
     
  13. Inspector43

    Inspector43 Celebrating 75 Years Active Collecting Supporter

    Sorry, I misunderstood what you meant buy standard composition. BTW, I was born in 1943 and have saved most all Steel Cents and Silver Nickels that I have ever had in my hand. Therefore, I do like your specimens shown above.
     
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  14. Kentucky

    Kentucky Supporter! Supporter

    pre-war "silver" planchets??? What is that? A higher copper "test" planchet?
     
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  15. thomas mozzillo

    thomas mozzillo Well-Known Member

    Last edited: Jun 20, 2019
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  16. i2i

    i2i Active Member

    Ok, we are going in circles. I found VERY little info, so I came here.
    THEN, someone misread my question. So, I explained. ...I found "very little" info on '43 nickels with incorrect metal composition. One is obvious, the pre-war planchet. This is often referred to as "silver" and why I have in quotes. The other is a planchet with higher copper content. This is summarized to be a planchet that might have been considered (or tested). From what I read.
    If I knew the answer, I would not have come here.
     
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  17. i2i

    i2i Active Member

    I think it could be one of those...
    To be honest, I think I see d/d/d??? ...but only under different magnification(s). 20190620_114628.jpg 20190620_114655.jpg 20190620_115057.jpg 20190620_114914.jpg
     
  18. mikenoodle

    mikenoodle The Village Idiot Supporter

    Ok, let me see if I can help.

    There is a lot of misunderstanding here, but most of it unfortunately on your part.

    There are 2 types of Jefferson Nickels as far as composition. The regular composition which is 75% copper and 25% nickel and the wartime composition, which is 56% copper, 35% silver, and 9% manganese.

    Your 1943 nickels are all of the typical wartime composition and are indeed silver, and not “silver” as you suggested. These coins are easily distinguishable by the large mint mark over the dome of Monticello on the reverse.

    In 1942, nickels were made from both compositions, and the wartime composition was used exclusively from 1943 through 1945, but in 1946, the five cent coin returned to it’s previous composition of 75% copper and 25% nickel.

    There were no test planchets in 1943. The pattern coins of 1942 were struck in many metal compositions, but never with the circulating nickel design.

    I hope that answers your question.
     
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  19. Cheech9712

    Cheech9712 Every thing is a guess

    For me it did. Thanks for clearing this thread up
     
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  20. i2i

    i2i Active Member

    I obviously know more than i thought. I came here with a question, not as an expert. People have misread my question and spread rudimentary information and nothing insightful.
    You NEED to educate yourself.
    You prove a little knowledge is a dangerous thing....You took us back to square one.
    Watch this.
     
  21. Michael K

    Michael K Well-Known Member

    I answered all the composition questions in post #2.
     
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