GTG 1943-P Jefferson Nickel (NGC)

I think MS64 because of the hits on the reverse. The 3 has the "hook" on the bottom loop of the number so will guess 3/2 yes.

 

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They're anomalies, Lehigh. That means it's worth more. Most collectors would prefer a coin with anomalies than hits or marks, or I know I would.

I just noticed these red dots. Or red anomalies...

 

This is not the 3/2.
the 3/2 looks like a barb on a hook.

What is seen in Lehigh's photos is metal flow lines/ some die deterioration.

 

I'm going with 65+ because of the great obverse, and the hits on the reverse which I think keep it from 66.

Steve

 

I said a MS-66

 

A solid 66

 

There appears to be a little something that gives it that appearance but this is the real deal on the overdate. Notice the barb-like hook? They are very distinct and can be seen without magnified.

 

66

 

MS 66+. When it comes to grading - and this coin's obverse is a stunner - I'm not hung up on whatever slings, arrows, and chatter of outrageous handling the reverse has suffered. Besides, the peculiar nature and discrete location of "chatter" on an an otherwise beautiful reverse suggest (to me at least) that other forces were at play. Thanks for sharing!

 

MS-64. Slight scratches on obverse above Jeff's head. Dings on reverse field and steps. I hope I'm wrong, in you're favor of course. Thanks for sharing.

 

Following, just to see if my vote was right....

 

There is a lot to unpack with this coin, so let's start with the assigned grade.



I purchased this coin on eBay from a really bad photograph, which basically meant I bought it sight unseen. I am building a set of war nickels that all have label designations and the 43-P is one of the tougher dates to get with toning so I bought the coin solely for the T designation. What I got was a coin that had barely any toning whatsoever. This in itself isn't really that rare, as I have seen many Jefferson Nickels in generation 8 NGC holders with the T designation assigned to barely toned coins. I think the graders were being instructed to either choose the W or the T when they graded a coin, but the practice only lasted as long as the generation 8 holder, which was about 2 months in late 2000.

I posted a photo of the coin on a different forum and was contacted by a member who stated that he purchased and returned the coin because he thought the holder was tampered with and the coin was swapped. Since the coin was graded in 2000 before NGC photographed all the coins, that avenue was closed. There are some areas on the edges (seams) of the holder where the plastic protrudes, but I have seen this on other coins as well.

My thought was to post the coin here as a GTG to see if the majority of the grades were within one grade of the assigned MS67 grade. Personally, I don't see anything wrong with the assigned grade and think it looks fine in an MS67 holder and I think it is highly unlikely that the coin was swapped out.

Now onto the question of whether or not this coin is an undesignated 43/2-P. Below are two photos, the first is this coin, and the second is a designated 43/2-P.




The diagnostic for the 43/2-P is that the spike is directed towards the inner curvature of the 3, and that the base of the two is visible in the bottom curve of the 3. We see clearly that both of these are present in the second photo. However, in the first photo, the base of the 2 is not there, and the spike is directed more vertically to the left of the mid-point of the 3. This coin displays what Nagengast refers to as a "spur die break" which is often confused for the 43/2-P overdate.

I have owned several 43/2-P overdates in my life, but this coin is my first encounter with the 43-P die spike. So while I was disappointed that the "T" designated coin had no toning, I am thrilled that I finally acquired a 43-P die spike for my collection.

 

I'm thinking 66, but not sure how the field marks on the reverse would affect the grade. Appears to have been stuck with a worn die, but still very nice.

I hit "post" about the same time Lehigh posted the results. As for the TPG, I'd say, based upon lots of opinions here, that the coin wasn't switched and the grade is good.

Nice coin.

 

I have the overdate as you can see by my posting but not the die spike. I must stick with the 66 grade due to the reverse but I really like that spike. Congratulations on your purchase.

 

I would have never guessed a T designation on this one, but the spike 3 is really cool. I thought I read somewhere that there are 2 different spike 3s. Is this true? Also, when you say you are building a set with label designations are you referring to W and T designations?

 

I have never heard of two different die spikes. Not saying there aren't, just that I haven't heard that and I'm not a big fan of the minutia involved in varieties.

The designations acceptable for my set will be the T, W, *, and PL.

 

66 easy

 

66 FS

 

63, but seeing that most of the others are higher I'm probably guessing low. Still, those scratches on the reverse make me think 63.

 

Wow. I was way low. I would never have thought 67