Hello fellow numismatists!! I am hoping you can help me figure this out. Just look at the pics and tell me which nickel(s) is Satin and which is not? Obviously the one from the Mint Set is Satin but what about the other two?!?! Thanks!!
The only way possible is if someone opened up a set or in this case , 2 sets . In my opinion, yours are a regular struck finish .
It's difficult for me to tell the difference between the uncirculated finish and the satin finish from photos.
Impossible to tell the difference from pictures and the angle of light unless you tilted to see how it reflects. You need the right angle to show it off. First set satin, second set is business strike. Link to PCGS site, just so I'm not just copying pictures, but you really need to see it side by side they reflect differently. https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts/coin/2009-p-5c-satin-finish-fs/407255
And here would be my favorite thread on this site for showing it. https://www.cointalk.com/threads/posting-jefferson-nickels-in-order-by-date.322759/page-26
The OPs coins are SMS coins. All of them. A 2009 Circulation strike looks like any regular nickel. Ther SMS coins are almost all MS67 and better. They look too good for a circulation strike.
I was thinking the same thing, but the strike is weaker on the one in the white 2x2 So I was thinking that one was from circulation, I do think the other two are satin finish from these pictures though, I just wouldn't put money on it from the pictures. Like I said, hard to tell from a picture for the satin vs. non-satin and no revese pictures also to boot.
the finish on the SMS coins is completely different. In fact, it creates a flat luster which is present on all of the OPs coins. The regular strikes have regular luster. None of the OPs coins do
Thay are all SMS, regardless of condition. It's pretty easy to tell the difference side-by-side. Business strike 2009 nickels are much more glossy and shiny.
Does anybody know if NGC and/or PCGS automatically add "SMS" to the slab for 2009 nickels that came from uncirculated mint sets? Or do you have to pay extra for the "SMS" designation? Specifically, I have seen some high-grade (>MS65) 2009 nickels that look like a satin finish but don't say "SMS" on them. An MS67 "SMS" nickel is very common, and actually a relatively low grade for a 2009 "SMS" nickel. But an MS67(or better) Business Strike nickel is pretty rare. I don't want to pay a bunch of money for a high-grade, 2009 business strike nickel that is actually a common "SMS" nickel. Thanks for any replies!