Has anyone ever encountered a thick planchet error on a 1968 proof Nickle. I don't have pics as I am leary about defiling the proof. The coin when compared to a unc 2004 nickle is noticably thicker. It is a standard diameter and both strikes look fine and I can't detect any finning, but as I said the coin is fat. I only noticed because I was trying to put it in a direct fit and I couldn't get the darn thing closed. Tried 4 different onse before I actually believed it was the coin and not the manufacturer. Is there someplace I can look up thick errors that can help? Also if it really is a thick error how would I go about pricing it, and can I get it graded at a TPG since it probably won't fit in the slab.
Sorry it took so long to reply. I had to buy a scale. The nickle weighs 5.08g I don't know what the tollarences are for mint produced but I am almost sure this is sufficiently abnormal.
Speaking of scales, I just bout a 500 gram digital scale off fleabay for a cent + 14.99 shipping and ins. Yep, $15.00 total. This guy sells them all the time for that price. He has so many listed just bid .01 cent's and u will win. ps.....the scale weighs carats too! Search for sectorimports or some like that or search for digi scales.
5.08 grams is within normal tolerances. Since you report no finning, perhaps the die's rim gutters were a tad deeper than normal.
Mike- I must ammend my earlier statement since I an not a very experienced error investigator. I do see what I believe may be finning. The obverse side show a secnd very small ring of metel around the outside of the coin. Plese see attached drawing. I apparently killed the batteries of my dig camera so a sketch of the crossection of the rim will have to suffice untill I can get new batts. Also I suspect part of the problem is the diameter seems to be slightly larger. This may be why the airtite won't close. The coin won't fall in to the space alloted. I will bring home a caliper and measure the dia tomorrow. What is the correct diameter and thickness? I will keep working on this coin, as I am convinced something is amiss, so please check back.
Your drawing does indicate that there is modest finning of the rim. This is rather common on proofs as they're struck under higher pressure than business strikes. As for diameter, a normal nickel averages 21.21 millimeters.
Mike- Sorry for the wait but I finally have pictures and numbers for you. The first shows the surface (Obv) of the coin I think you can see finning in this pic. The second shows the edge viewed from the obv in 40X. The third shows the edge of the "68" compared to a 2002 nickle. You can see the difference in thickness. When measured it varies a little around the edge, from max of .083 (2.0182mm) to about .0793 (2.01422mm). I also checked the diameter. It is pretty standard at .838 inches (21.285mm). I hope this information helps. BTW the marks on the obverse are also on the reverse and they were present on the coin in the mint case. Also the case didn't fit corectly either.
Since the weight and diameter is normal, the extra thickness must be due to finning, perhaps supplemented by design rim gutters a little deeper than normal.
