1962 Jefferson

This has some beautiful color and I believe it is a proof. Thoughts on grade?

 

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Nice 1

:thumb:66+ I would graded it from photo:kewl:

 

not a proof, but a nice coin

FWIW, as far as this coin goes, high end MS is more desirable than middle of the road proofs

 

Pretty nickel rev! I would go MS64.

 

The 1962 is one of the very few Jefferson Nickels from the 60's that is available in full steps. Your example looks very clean and extremely well struck and deserves a premium gem grade despite the spot and discoloration on the reverse. I would be proud to have that coin represent my collection. Here is my coin for comparison sake.

 

I hate to sound like a broken record, but I believe this is a proof Jefferson. The rims on the obverse are simply too sharp in my opinion for this to be a business strike. Also, the haze/patina in the fields looks typical for a proof of this time-frame. Why are these Jefferson's so bloody difficult to classify? Everytime someone posts one I sit here scratching my head staring at the pictures and have no clue which is which.

My gut tells me proof, but I'm not an expert so I'll say "I don't know for sure".

 

Let me try to explain.

this coin is clearly a MS coin and here's how you can tell. Look at Jefferson's cheek. There you will see what look like tiny contact marks. Those are not contact marks but planchet roughness which means that the strike is not 100% complete.

These type of marks are rarely (if ever) found on proof coins. Proofs are struck multiple times to bring up all of the relief whereas coins minted for circulation are struck only once (I could be wrong and it's twice).

Nickel is a very hard metal and it is the 5 cent coin that generally shows the most pre-strike planchet marks of any coin that we produce.

Proof Jeffersons are easy to distinguish if you know to look for the planchet roughness in his cheek.

I hope that helps.

 

Mike I am well aware of these cheek planchet abrasions. That even being the case, I still don't believe this is an MS coin. The completely sharp rims are just not natural for an MS coin. MS Coins are struck once, as you mentioned, and most proofs are struck only twice. That being the case, I believe this may be one of the few proofs that still exhibits some incomplete cheek strike.

Even with the cheek considered, I find the rims to be the determining factor -- and they look like a proof coin to me. Compare them to Lehigh's posted example and it becomes even more clear, in my opinion.

 

I'm glad everyone likes the coin and Lehigh96, thanks for that (high) compliment.
I was figuring proof simply because of the rims.
Though it doesn't look like the normal super shiny look of most of the 60's proof coins I've seen.

 

Thanks, I thought you might like this one! Yep, I'm definitely hooked..!!

 

I can't determine whether it is a proof or business strike from those photos, I would need to see it in hand. But both sides make a compelling argument.

 

I agree it is hard to tell proof vs Business strike for many Jefferson years.
I don't know if it helps at all, but here is a proof for 62 to compare:
I am leaning toward Rev's being a business strike, a very good one in fact. Mostly due to the lack of detail on the facade of the Monticello behind the pillars. Even though that isn't an absolute determining factor.

 

Based on that proof and others I see, I'm going with Business strike presently.

 

Yeah, my last comment was probably pointless actually. Here is another proof, although from '60, that doesn't show the strong detail behind the pillars, and also has some of the similar markings on his cheek.


But I will say, I have seen many Jeffy toned proofs from the 60's and the toning on yours doesn't seem to fall inline with the usual toning colors and patterns. That's just an observation and opinion. So that still makes me lean towards business strike.

 

Well, once I get it, if you or Lehigh96 wish to see it in hand, I'd be happy to send it either way for a better opinion.

 

I believe this to be a proof but I have been wrong on many occasions.
On proofs, the rims they are very flat and smooth.
On the inner side of the rims it is a sharp drop off to the field at a very distinct 90 degree angle.

Your beautiful nickel on top.
A 1964 BU in the middle ( Note the more rounded rims )
A proof 1962 on the bottom.

 

That looks like a compelling argument for it being a proof.

 

This is generally true for most US proofs from what I have learned at least in this and the past century. If you have a mint set and a proof set laying around, study the rims on the coins inside.
If the coins were cut in half, maybe my drawing here is something like what you would see.

 

The rims are a compelling argument. Perhaps a proof die used on a business strike coin?

 

Exactly my thought. The strike is incomplete, but all of the other proof characteristics are there. A beautiful coin either way.