I was reviewing the NumisMedia website for pricing on Jefferson Nickles. I noticed the 1982's, 1983's and 1984P coins are marked 3 times higher than the others. Can someone tell me why? -UncleKin
I can't say about 1984 but 1982 and 1983 years the mint did not offer mint sets for sale. So to get choice coins the collectors took them out of circulation. This made less total coins available and drove the price up. Someone correct me if I'm wrong but that is my understanding of 1982 and 1983.
Two reasons, one is that there were very, very few high quality coins of any denomination even minted during those years. And two, nobody saved those that were. Supply and demand just like always.
Thanks for the info. I went through about 10 rolls of nickels from the bank and there were a few of these in there. So I guess I can consider them good finds. -UncleKin
Don't misunderstand my comments, the coins themseleves are not rare or even hard to find - they exist in huge numbers. They are condition rarities only - in other words in higher grades.
They are all quite common. People knew there would be no mint sets in '82/ '83 so more of these were set aside than most dates. But there weren't nearly as many set aside as would have been in most years with mint sets. This means hundreds of thousands of these exist in unc and all six coins are nearly as common as the '50-D. The '84-P was simply overlooked. In the modern age there are plenty enough coins made each year that everyone can set aside as many coins as they desire but very few people have ever paid much attention to current coins since 1965. Everyone thought everyone else was setting aside the '84-P and no one saved them. This was exascerbated by the fact that quality was very poor and discouraged many would-be hoarders. The Denver was set aside in only a little higher numbers but it's sufficient to hold down the price. If not for mint sets the Philly would be a much tougher coin but with these sets it is nearly as common as the '50-D in unc. The '82-P is probably about comparable to the '39-D in grades over a nice XF. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of these dates is that the '82 issues are said to appear in seven different varieties. While all are apparently "common" if you try to find some of these you'll be left pulling your hain out. There may be fewer than a couple hundred of some surviving in unc despite the large mintages. Since they can be difficult to tell apart unless they are well made and well preserved there will never be large numbers turning up.
