Liberty Head nickel

The "dig spot" looks to be a contact mark. The "scratch" is a die crack, IMO, zooming in on the photo. There are several die cracks that I see. Including between the 3 stars above the aforementioned die crack, and another between the stars to the back of Miss Liberty's head.

 

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Good choice. I followed the link to go buy it myself but it was already gone. Good for you... I have a raw one that might "might" grade UNC but I suspect some past cleaning and it has some slight toning.

 

What do people think about die cracks?

 

You were going to buy it out from under me?!
Do I have to be careful about posting potential buys on here? LOL!

 

They are interesting if you like to try to ascertain the die state at the time of striking. Some people like to collect early, mid or late die stage versions of certain coins.

 

No. Just joking. I was doing a quick comparison to my raw one.

 

The CoinTalk link below is a thread that discusses why the lower mintage "No Cents" is often found in high grade, and is less expensive than the "With Cents" variety. Essentially, when people heard the new "With Cents" nickel was coming out, they hoarded and put away "No Cents" coins, which are readily available today in high grade.

https://www.cointalk.com/threads/this-makes-no-sense-v-nickels.198037/

 

LOL!

 

IAD (It all depends). Some collectors like and collect them. Most of the ones I'm familiar with are on the Morgans. I'm missing 8 examples for a compete circulation set. In the end, they can speak to the die state at the time of minting.

 

Found my raw example and took some photos. Mine has the same die crack as yours so, presumably, they were likely pressed with the same obverse die.

 

From e-bay photo, right click (actually I have a Chromebook so it's a two finger click), copy, CT, right click, paste - 3X... less than 1 minute. BTW, a really nice coin

 

Which die crack looks the same? Mine has that big one from her forehead downward to one of the stars adjacent to her nose. I don't see that on yours.

 

Thanks! That's easy!

 

The 1883 Liberty nickel was the US Mint second attemp to strike a 5 cent coin in a alloy much harder then the gold,silver, bronze and copper medals used in the past. An N/C alloy was also used in a three cent coin. However it was a much thinner ,and smaller coin.
The 1883 No Cent Liberty head has 5 varieties 4 RPD and 1 DDO.
The 19.1 doubling on 1 to left and second 8in upper bowl to left. 1 is doubled at the serif south and line in foot of 1 shows renmant of doubling south,2nd 8 has doubling in upper bowl.3 is doubled slightly to left.

 

The NC 19.2 1 shows repunching to the left and South ,2nd 8 shows slight doubling to south

 

The 19.3 the 1 is tripled, showing primarily in serif to the South, first 8 to right ,second 8 to north,3 to left.
Die crack runs from tip of bust downward through the date to rim recut AM on America.

 

The 19.4 1 is tripled punched No . 2nd 8 punched No. ,correced So.
The 19.5 doubled obv. Die doubling seen on Liberty. Its also an R-7

 

The 1883 with cents 20.1 the 2nd 8 repunched.
The 1883 with cents 20.2 tripled 1 punched
The 1883 with cent 20.3 base of 1 is visible protruding from the left. Side of the first 8
The 1883 with cents 20.4 initally punched to the No. & corrected So.and left. 3/3

 

Now here's a set to consider building....an 1883 shield nickel variety set which contains 12 1883 shield nickel, Five 1883/2 varieties..... so 17 shield nickel varieties.and the 5 N/C Liberty varieties, and 4 1883 Liberty with cents varieties..9 plus 17 = 26 varieties for the year 1883 nickels minted.
And I bet that more than half of you didn't realized you had a variety in hand.

Here is my 20.4