This is my latest acquisition with a special thanks to xtrmbrdr for letting me know about the TT auction. The coin is a rainbow toned 1943-S Jefferson Nickel NGC MS68*. Here are my photos and description of the coin. Milky golden centers are surrounded by a melange of iridescent colors inlcuding lavender, lime green, sapphire, lemon yellow, and tangerine. A fully lustrous and minimally abraded example with a solid strike that just misses the 5FS designation. The 1943-S is the most challenging war nickel to locate with rainbow toning. This example is certainly among the finest toned 1943-S Jefferson Nickels in existence. While the coin is very impressive, there is a concern. The rims of the coin are completely black. The color progressions are in line with NT as is the overall appearance of the coin which I have seen many times on a war nickel. However, the presence of black rims casts a doubt in my mind about the originality of the toning on an issue that is extremely difficult to locate with rainbow toning. At the very least, the rims seem to violate the requirements that NGC uses for the star designation. I would like the members of Cointalk to cast their vote about this coin in the attached poll. There will only be four choices in the poll. Here is the question. What is your opinion regarding the assigned grade? Here are the choices: The coin is properly graded in all respects The coin is overgraded The coin does not deserve the star designation The coin is AT and should have been body bagged. Feel free to post your comments regarding this coin. Thank You!
Very nice coin.....it's a shame about the steps as they are just a tad off from being FS ! The colors are supurb....one of the nicest 1943-S Jefferson nickelsI have seen. As for as the grade goes.... I think they nailed it to the T! I love the frame like tonning around its rim......that highlights the center colors. One always asks ones self how does someone let a coin go when it looks this good...guessing the answer is one must do what one must do ...or they just don't collect this series.
There seems to be a fairly small abrasion under Tom's eye and possibly another near six o clock on the obverse that I would think preclude a 68. The reverse strike also seems a little weak for a 68. The black rim seems suspicious but you know this series and particularly toned examples far better than I do so I won't even try to guess AT or NT other than to say the toning is fairly subdued. Other than the rims (which ironically you wouldn't know about in one of the old NGC holders, I presume), a very nice coin, regardless of the slabbed grade.
I think the star is well deserved. The coin has terrific appeal. I don't know that I would give it a 68 because of the poor detail on the reverse and Jeffersons scar below the eye.
I think this is a solid 68, all my registry 67s have a fair amount of rub on the cheek, this one seems absent of that. With awesome colors at the perimeter of the rim I also think it is deserving of the star for eye appeal, I have a few similarly toned war nickels, one a 67* and one raw, and I think this is NT all the way. The black on the rim makes me think this coin could be headed for "black beauty" status in the next few centuries. Congrats, on the new coin, and it looks like you moved up a spot in the Registry rankings :hail: I'm glad this nickel is in good hands.
The planchet flaws that are common on the cheek and jaw of Jefferson's are minimal on this coin. I also have very similarly toned war nickels and I believe the coin is NT. I might consider having it put in an older slab if possible to hide the ugly rims. As for my standings in the registry, while I am technically 3rd, I consider my set in second place. I am 56 points behind Ray Overby, but my 1944-D is a monster toned coin in an old holder and will star (100%) if re-submitted for designation review giving me 190 more points and vaulting me into a solid second place. That is to say nothing of what will happen when NGC re-evaluates the Jefferson series and my top pop doubled eye variety 1943-P picks up well over 1,000 points. Unfortunately, the Bressler collection seems to have an insurmountable lead.
Please read the following link, it should answer any question you could have about the star designation. http://www.ngccoin.com/coingrading/stardesignation.asp
