My friend has this 1939 P nickle weights 4.6/4.7...........is this rare?? as far as I know all should be 5.0? Can Anybody shed some light on this topic please?
There are times whrn coins are struck on planchets from sheets that were rolled a bit thinner or thicker before being cut out. That was probably from a rolled thin sheet thus the lesser weight. Some are very extreme. But not yours. I will say it is within tolerance. And definitely not rare. Do you know how blank planchets are created? This issue can occur on all minted coins.
Scales which weigh to 2 decimals in grams are more helpful. Those which weigh to only one decimal leave room for inaccuracy because of rounding. Expected weight is 5.000 g +/- 0.194 g This coin may be on a slightly rolled thin planchet. The likelihood is that it is not rolled thin enough to be collectible. Expected thickness is 1.95 mm +/-0.102 mm. If the thickness of the coin exceeds these parameters i.e. 1.848 mm or less, then it would be considered collectible.
I used a digital phone app to determine width measured 3 coins. First measured 1939P in questions gives me something between 1.5000mm/1.6000mm. ..(Width no bigger than 1.6000) The other 2 coins i checked where a 1940P with a weight of 4.9g measuring a width around( 1.8000mm ) same for 1947D weight also 4.9g.
Combined with the thin planchet possibility, there is a great deal of wear from 80 years of circulation which could have taken a little weight off. If the coin was AU/MS and had that weight it would be better than a coin that is worn down to the nub. There are always questions. How accurate is the scale? Did you weigh other "control" nickels, which all came out at 5.0? Was it ever in acid at anytime in the last 80 years? That would eat away the metal and happens a lot. While the tolerance is +/- 0.194 grams and 4.7 is just under that because of the extreme wear it's not really enough to be worth a premium. And since the 1939 minted 120 million, they are still found in circulation today.
...this coin has too much wear, and coin roll crimping scoring damage on the obverse. I would keep it if I were you just because it is a ‘39 philly. But it will never have much more than FV, and you need to realize this...Spark
It's really just a nickel, and only worth 5 cents. There's nothing to look into. The amount of weight off from the tolerance is not enough (as I mentioned) and the condition is not enough for any kind of a premium. Even though it is old, there is a very limited number of Jefferson nickels that have value over 5 cents.
The first picture in your original post should be much clearer. There is a nice 39 DDR that can have a premium. Not massive but a lot more than five cents.
Yes that's true I forgot to mention that. If the lettering in MONTICELLO on the reverse shows prominent doubling. Then it's a good coin. (I don't see it in the OP). Also, there is the 1939 with the reverse of 1938 and the 1939 with the reverse of 1940. Use the search box here to find those informative threads.
1939 P identical to 1940 P below . note same slanted Monticello. 1940 P identical to 1939 P above. note same slanted Monticello. @Kevin Mader
The only way to tell the 40 reverse is on either side of the steps on Monticello. Your coins have lost all traces of this detail.
Thanks for the extra pictures Alexander - here's what I see: Regarding my PM, I don't see either of the diagnostics for the Henning nickel. The thing to look for are: a very washed out obverse/reverse, a loop in the R of PLURIBUS or a dot above the Monticello to the left of the dome adjacent to the corner gate. Mine has the dot (pictured below). No doubling on the reverse. It's a prominent doubled die so if it had been, even on worn nickels is very apparent. Your nickel has the Reverse of the 1940. On worn nickels, the diagnostic to use is the S in PLURIBUS. Comparing the two reverse pictures above you'll note that there is a serif in the S on both coins. If your 1939 had been the Reverse of the 1938, the top curve of the S would be smooth without the notching. On coins that are in a higher grade, the steps of the Monticello and the second T in STATES can be used. The 1940 appears to have a minor CCW rotation error. This is within minting specifications so it doesn't bring extra value. I understand, however, that collectors do give the CCW errors more attention than CW errors.