Okay - after my most recent bad buying experience (pretty much my own fault) I decided to see if I could do it again ... I saw this nickel the other day and I think I did okay with a LAST second buy??? $34.64 with shipping and insurance. Pictures kept this price down , quality may be the reason for the pictures ... The rims look really clean, strike looks good - Luster - with those pictures - who knows??? Seller claims it is a 38 reverse. If it is - I know I did good - maybe great - I look forward to posting actual shots of this when it arrives regardless of the outcome. Keep your fingers crossed for me! Please tell me what you think! Thanks
Best of luck man! Hard to tell, but I do think I see some luster there, so we'll have to see. :thumb: Phoenix
Good news is that these coins are not likely to be faked. The "reverse" type requires a bit more analysis, especially since there was a recent Coin World article about them, and now people know the descriptive words. If you, by your own admission, can't tell, then you're taking a chance. And we haven't even addressed the possibility of it being cleaned. IMO, if you don't know for sure, pass. You'll have another chance. BTW, I truly hope this works for you.
I'd be concerned about the spot on the reverse to the right of the dome. Seen to many photos like this on ebay IMHO intentionally trying to hide corrosion or something! Hopefully I am wrong hard to tell by the photo! Good luck! Please post some good pics when you get it in hand!
Must admit that is one of my concerns - obvious something is there - just hoping it is toning. Thanks for taking a look!
Nickel Arrived Today So I have it here in front of me. Wanted to give a report and will keep you waiting till Monday for actual pics. It has three full steps and most of a fourth. Based on my limited but improving knowledge I really think it is a 38 reverse. Kanga or anyone else - if you can sum-up that Coin World article for me I would really appreciate it!!!! Grade is MS - Strike is very good but luster is week. Tiny-tiny mark on the reverse that has toning around it. Area between three center collumns is very week while rest of reverse is sharp. Steps are not deep but are distinctive. May be DDR-001 http://www.conecaonline.org/content/jeffersondoubleddies19381941.html#_1939-S Need to look at it under a scope on Monday. Something odd about the thickness of the letters in E Pluribus Unum. Unfortunately I am in-between cameras so I will have to wait till work on Monday to post any shots. I will be anxious to get the opinions of the other Jefferson collectors! At the end of the day I would have paid as much if not more at a show if I had seen this on display. (that last comment may be an indication of my ignorance or ability to spot a good deal - I'm not sure ) I think I would be happy with the outcome if I had this graded by PCGS or NGC. Best Regards Darryl
It's rather hard to say from the pictures. I have a 39-S Reverse of 1940 which is 6-6-5-5. (with a nice bridge ruining it) I don't think it is all that difficult or expensive to find a nice reverse of 40 with very decent steps. On the other hand my 39-S Reverse of 1938 is 5-4-3-4 (with the first 4 being a nice ugly cut), and I have spent a few years looking for this least bad among alot of bad. Rest assured someone selling one of these and claiming full steps is a liar The big difference is steps made of playdough versus steps made of wet cement. But I love them anyway. BTW Full Steps will make you crazy.. bail out before it's too late .. and never ever trust the 3rd party graders for step counting, they have very wacky self made up rules. The one exception I make is SEGS as by my experience they tell it like it is.
Pictures are not the best but barrowed a camera to take a couple shots. http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee123/USS656/39SR2.jpg http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee123/USS656/39SR3.jpg http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee123/USS656/39SR4.jpg http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee123/USS656/39SO1.jpg Thanks Darryl
Okay - so here is the best I could do with the pictures. Not really sure if the reverse is doubled or not. The U's in UNUM and R seem like there might be something there but it so light who knows. Thoughts on 38 reverse and grade??? Thanks again for taking a look Note: As far as the mark on the reverse goes look at the digital (39SR5) for a more realistice view of it. The scope makes it look much bigger than it really is. BIG files http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee123/USS656/39sR1-1.jpg http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee123/USS656/39sR2-1.jpg http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee123/USS656/39SR5.jpg http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee123/USS656/39sR3-1.jpg http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee123/USS656/39SO2.jpg
What is the spot on the reverse? Is it a carbon spot? I want to say by the pictures that it is Rev of 40 (Steps are pretty straight and bold). Because of the spot on the reverse I would have to guess MS-64ish. Thanks for the pictures!
Thanks Nickelman - I think it is a very small carbon spot that has developed toning around it. In hand the spot does not look that bad but the toning is very noticable. Do you have a picture of wavy steps? I would love to see the difference! As strong as the strike is I am surprised at how week the center is if it is a 40 reverse. The scope really shows much stonger detail than can be seen in hand or even under a loupe. Best Regards Darryl
I'll try in get some decentcloseup pictures of the 38 and 40 steps to post, it may take a few days till I get some time.
Thank you - Thank you - Thank you!!! I wish I had a Verified 38 reverse I could shot under the microscope to get real clear close-ups of.
Looking at your pics again I'm not sure yours may be a rev of 38? I can usually tell with coin in hand but these would be strong struck steps for a rev of 38! Anyway here are so pics I took. 1. 39S rev of 38 2. 39S Rev of 40 3. 39D Rev of 40
Thank you for the pictures - those must be some great looking nickels based on the condition of the surfaces shown!!!
