I had nothing better to do this morning, so I decided to conduct a "scientifically unscientific" survey on some of my uncirculated 2004 P&D Peace Medal nickels that came from $50 Mint bags. I measured the thickness and weight of six "P" in addition to six "D" so that there would be a comparison between the two mints. NOTE: The Red Book doesn't list the thickness for the nickels, and my measurement is from rim-to-rim. The Red Book lists the weight at 5 gms. These were my findings: 2004-P 1)1.78mm/5.0gms; 2)1.76mm/4.8gms; 3)1.74mm/5.1gms; 4)1.79mm/4.9gms; 5)1.78mm/5.0gms; 6)1.77mm/4.8gms 2004-D 1)1.85mm/4.9gms; 2)1.85mm/4.9gms; 3)1.93mm/4.8gms; 4)1.81mm/5.0gms; 5)1.84mm/4.9gms; 6)1.93mm/4.9gms You may draw whatever conclusions you want from this information. Chris
Average weight for each mint is the same. 4.9gms Same as the coin posted. P average thickness is 1.77mm D average thickness is 1.86mm The coin posted is 1.4mm My conclusions. The rims have worn on the coin posted. Denver coins are fat. I need a drink after doing math this time of morning.
Yes - hot chocolate, coffee, milk, juice or water. Data sample is small, but given the controls in place at the mint it's probably a very good estimate of the broader population. Variation exists in all processes, so folks need to expect that some coins will be lighter/heavier, larger/smaller, different colors and so on. Knowing the limits helps to explain an anomaly so perusing the mint specifications would help determine when something in hand is somewhat unique.
My conclusion is that Denver strikes their five cent pieces at a slightly higher pressure resulting in more fully formed rims.
Speaking of "a little something", I got tired of having six boxes of shot glasses weighing 50+ lbs. each in my apartment, so I gave them all away. I emptied the boxes on several 6' tables in our community center and when the "senior citizen feeding frenzy" was over, they were all gone. I did keep six commemorative sets for sports teams - Washington Redskins, Baltimore Ravens, St. Louis Rams, Duke Blue Devils, Florida Gators & Florida State Seminoles. Chris
I remember the first time that I searched a $50 bag of 2004-P Peace Medal nickels. I was wearing cotton gloves, and the rims were in such bad shape that they actually snagged the cotton gloves. Chris
Good observation! Maybe that is why I didn't snag my cotton gloves on them as much as I did on the Phillies (Post #13). Chris
You know, isn't it interesting on the little things we pick up when CRHing? I noticed that the rims on the Denver coins were slightly thicker looking and squarer. The details also looked sharper on the Denver coins. But this was just an intuitive hunch. I think that over time, CRH enthusiasts are able to detect the different obverse/reverse designs in a series (such as the Jefferson Nickel series). Try to put it to words...more difficult. It 'looks' different...'feels' different. And indeed...they sometimes are.
