While going through my first box of nickels this week I came across a 1972-S Jeff Nickel. This year and mint don't have a spot in the Whitman Jeff Nickel Number 2 coin folder. I looked in the Red Book and found a 72-S, with a mintage of (3,260,996). Does this mean that I have a nickel that was is part of the proof mint run? What does this mean for a value of the coin? It looks like it has been in circulation since about then. Thanks for being so kind to the newbie. I expect to learn a lot from y'all. GTeachman
I am not sure of when the San Fran mint went to only proof for nickels. Someone will be by soon to help.
When they put the S back on the nickel (last seen in 1954), it was just 1968, 1969 and 1970 for regular business strike circulated S coins, they made proofs of those years too. And then in 1971 they went back to proof only S nickels. So the 1972-S is an impaired proof. (A proof that has circulated.) Someone cracked it out and spent it. If I am wrong, 35 corrections will appear in 4 minutes.
Okay, here is my first attempt at taking a picture of a coin. Two pictures, rather; front and back. I hope this works. Thanks, GTeachman
Seems like a beat up proof (which hurts the value). But still cool, I would keep it. Obverse looks like this: http://cointrackers.com/coins/13397/1972-s-jefferson-nickel/
Yep, that's about what I figured. But, this time I won't spend a strange coin or $5 dollar bill (United States Note). Thanks for the info Michael.
