hone your grading skills -- 1883 liberty nickel

Please grade the following coin, and also guess the grade PCGS assigned to it:






As always, your comments on the coin, both what you like and what you don't like, are both welcomed and appreciated.

Have fun...Mike

 

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I'll be first again...guessing MS-64

 

Nice photos.

I like the color. I've always been intrigued at how nickels tone.

Yeah, I'm thinkin' MS64. That nick in the reverse field above the right leg of the "V" rules out MS65. Other than that, it has nice clean focal areas, like Liberty's cheek.

I'm just rambling here, so tell me if I'm right about this... It looks like a late die state on the obverse, as indicated by several die cracks between stars 7-8-9 and 12-13. Perhaps worn dies explain the lack of detail in Liberty's hair under the "B" , the bun, and the cotton bolls.

Reverse seems to lack detail in the veggies, but maybe that's as good as these "V" nickels get under high magnification like this. Or perhaps it's a weak strike.

 

I got one just about like it. MS-63 or MS-64 (No cents also)

Edit: You're very observant 900fine. I didn't notice the wear spots on the hair under the B. I do notice that the kernals of corn are there on the reverse but not strong. That could be due to a weaker strike. You're right that the nick on the reverse will cost it a grade.

 

900fine,

The thing that first drew me to the coin is the exceptional strike (for this coin) -- the 1883 no cents nickel is a coin known for poor strikes.

In fact, I can't recall seeing a more strongly struck obverse on a business strike coin (if anyone has or has seen one, please post it!). The reverse strike is well, well above average too.

I'd guess this coin is well into the top 5% of examples in terms of strength of strike, and top 1% of obverse strikes. Take a look here and see if you agree: http://coins.ha.com/common/auction/...ion+Archives&hdnSearch=True&txtLotNo=&stage=1

That said, I agree with your assertion the coin is a late die state. The die cracks are a giveaway. However, what doesn't show in the photos is the prooflike surfaces -- the fields are mirrored and the devices show some frost/contrast to the fields. I suspect either the die was a reused proof die or the die was polished.

Have fun...Mike

 

ms-64. Absolutely gorgeous, great strike, cool die cracks, I love it!

 

I found one more strongly struck:

http://coins.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=346&Lot_No=6147#Photo

A bit pricier though.

 

My guess is with the few marks theat are there, not bad, but noticable. A very beautiful coin! :thumb: Ms-64 all the way from my perspective!

Phoenix

 

Based on the (1st set) top photos, I'd say AU-58 or MS-63. The (2nd set) of coin photos appears to have been manipulated, the hue seems different.

Take Care
Ben

 

MS-64!
I was about to say 5, but the tick mark in the filed on the reverse is a big neg.

 

I say that PCGS gave it an MS65 (possibly PL based on what you said Leadfoot, but I can't make that call from the pics provided). I agree with MS65. I could see it being a 66 though too.

 

Nice coin - I would say MS64(and probably be wrong), but I think PCGS gave it a 65. That is one nice coin.

 

Thanks for your comments, Ben. However, the second set of photos is nothing more than a resized copy of the first photo -- no manipulation has been done other than a resize.

 

Well, it's a stunning coin and GREAT Photography...:thumb:

 

so, what is the grade?

 

Nice photos as always...

MS63 or MS64

 

PCGS graded the coin MS 63.

My subjective in-hand assessment: I agree with the grade, but wouldn't really bat an eye if the coin was graded 64 either -- I would grade it 63.5 (bonus points for color and strike). The biggest problem with the coin, and what limits this coin's grade, is a feature of the coin nobody really picked up on as it is not very evident in the photograph. There is a vertical hit on Liberty's cheek running from just right of the corder of Liberty's mouth down towards her lower chin. There are also a few scattered contact marks in Liberty's hair, her coronet, and a few in the fields most notable in the upper left of the obverse. The reverse is cleaner than the obverse, but does have the tick above and right of the V.

The coin's best features are the strike, prooflike surfaces, and delicate multi-colored toning. The coin has some "skin" yet the toning is very light. Colors include green, red, yellow, and blue, and I suspect the coin spent some time in an envelope.

While a one-year type, this coin is very common, even in mint state. It was the coin that was gold plated and passed off as a $5 gold piece before CENTS was added to the reverse later that year. The mint clearly had trouble striking these nickels up fully as the majority of these coins are poorly strick with the stars on the obverse and left ear of corn generally showing some weakness. Die breaks are also very common.

After not finding a coin to buy from them in a long, long time, I purchased this coin from Teletrade:

http://www.teletrade.com/coins/lot.asp?auction=2430&lot=1134

Thanks to all that posted and guessed, and I appreciate your comments.

Have a nice weekend...Mike

 

I just don't understand why someone would nickel plate a beautiful $5 gold piece like that. heh heh

 

im thinking MS-65

 

thats a really nice coin to look at!:high5: i have a 1883 v nickel no cents that is really nice. has 3 scratches on the face though. thats really sad that nice coins like that have to have scratches and marks that are small, but hurts the value!