The Jefferson Nickel set is packed full of varieties. One of them is the Large Mintmark found on the 1941-S nickel. There were two types of mintmark punched used on dies for the year 1941 and the "Large S" mintmark was used for later dies. It is est. that less than 10 dies were produced with with this style of mintmark. Bernard Nagengast says that this style MM was used on all Copper/Nickel coins minted after 1942 at the San Francisco mint. When I first started looking for this variety I checked out all of my books and looked ath the photos and thought I could tell the differents. But not untill I had done alot more checking did I learn the best way IMHO to tell them apart with one quick look. When looing at the Small S you find that the S is notched just before the serifs, both top and bottom. If you don't find the notches than it is a Large S! I'm still working on getting better photos---the light soruce seems to cast a bad shadow on the lower part of the MM. I've outlined in RED to help show what I'm talking about. Anyway---I hope that these photos help someone--- Comments or suggestions are welcome! These photos are getting ready to go on Varietynickels.com! Thanks to Bruce who sent me the 1941-S Large Mintmark!!! Speedy
Speedy this is the best pic that I can get, but this is what I think is a Lg 41 S. I will try to get a better camera and will send better pic.
I belive that we are both posting the same mintmark. The nickel that I took photo of is pretty low grade, but still a great coin! It shows the mintmark great! I have some more info around here about the mintmarks of 1941-S but I don't have time right now to post it....I'll try to in the next few days---remind me if I forget! Speedy
I may be wrong I have been before, but I think the mint marks posted are 2 different small S vareities. I always thought this was the 41S large S. Again I may be wrong I've been meaning to get to my books for several days now but just haven't gotten the time. Maybe I'll get some time this weekend to verify.
Howdy Nickeman, I belive that the Large S you posted is the same mintmark that I did as well as the one Andy did. Yours is pretty high grade it looks and show the detail better than mine. Washington Quarters also have the 1941-S Large/Small mintmark varieties and they also have one that is filled...it looks like the mintmark got filled with die chips. I'll try to get some more photos of the mintmark I have---I believe that with normal circulation it has caused the detail to wear down abit. If I find otherwise, I'll be the first to say that I've been wrong before, and no doubt I'll be wrong agian Speedy
Both photos of your Large "S" look like the same style of Mintmark. One might look alittle bolder but the same style. The Small S as those notches on both ends. I don't see notches on either one of the coins you posted.... Speedy
Nickelman, I picked up a higher grade (XF--just higher than my first one ) 1941-S LARGE S nickel at a show a few weeks ago and it shows the MM just like the one you posted. Speedy
Great find! A co-worker brought in a bag on 2X2's today he said they were left to him by his father-in-law. They were all cirulated coins and 95% Jeffersons. The first one I picked up was a 41S Large S in F. I got a little excited but that was it. He was looking to sell or if he should just open the up and cash them at face. I passed but told him to sell them as a lot.
