I just picked this 1943-D Jefferson Nickel up today. I bought it because I liked the color and the price was right. After examining it, I discovered a die crack running from Jefferson's ear out across his cheek and out through the tip of his nose and into the field. He also has a cracked skull as well. But the crack running right across his cheek is what really got my attention. I know there are "Scarface" coins for the Morgan Dollar and Franklin Half. What do you think about this one? Is it worth investigating and possibly sending it in for a possible new discovery?
Nice looking coin. It would never hurt to investigate. But from where I sit, die cracks in war nickels are very common. I have a nice one like that with a nice north to south/east to west die crack on the Rev.
This would be classified as a spiked head and could be listed on Cuds. Looks like this would be a new listing ! http://cuds-on-coins.com/u-s-coins-with-spike-head/
If you would follow the link you would see that the name of the site is Cuds on coins . While they do list cuds , they also list other types of die breaks , chips and cracks. The link leads to a subcategory they just started a few months ago that showes die cracks that go from the rim to the head on the obverse of US and Foreign coins. So called Spiked Heads
I'd bet that you would get a lot of bids on FleaBay if you listed it as "Jefferson was a Crackhead!" Chris
Valuable and typical input from this member! It is a nice nickel, not full step, and the die crack is NOT a cud. Maybe a slight premium via the crack, but nothing unusual.
Thanks for the input guys. Sorry I have not followed up on this thread, I got sicker than a dog for a few days after I posted. I forgot about it until I got a reminder that I had not added any additional input. I plan on keeping this coin. I really like the die crack. I thought possibly the crack might be something only because of placement. I am typically attracted to nice die cracks regardless of the denomination. I have a really cool Buffalo coming in the mail that I bought because of the late die state and die cracks. I'll share it when it arrives.
A very interesting coin. I want it; however, there is NOTHING "spiked" about that head. Sounds like some young fellas adding stuff to a website. Die breaks are not "spikes" unless they actually look like spikes as some do on occasion.
Ha ! I'm sure BJ and JC would love to be called young fellas ! I do some what agree with you the crack isn't all that spike like but numismatics is full of catch phrases . One of which was mentioned in the head of this post , Scarface , another would be Hotlips. Coneca has also started keeping track of proof coins with spiked heads . To Coneca a crack that goes through any head on the coin ( Not just the main bust ) and connects to the rim counts.
If BJ is Mr. Neff, I'm going to have a long talk with him behind the wood shed when I see him at Summer Fun.... IMO, "Scarface" is only slightly better as the crack is still too thin to fall into the category of the other "scarface" coins. Perhaps, some characteristics we see on coins don't lend themselves to a catchy name. EDIT: Nothing I write matters in the real world so you know what, I think "scarface" works after all. Jefferson's cat got him across the face with a single claw.
Considering my house is less than 10 miles from Mr Jeffersons Monticello , my grumpy kitty might be a descendant of TJ's feline, so I'll go along with your theory!
I thought the crack was kinda thin as well. But it just was so perfect in that is cut across his face from ear to nose. Almost intentional.. Well he now has a nice home in my collection. He's sitting raw in an Air-Tite as are 90% of my coins.
Don't let Insider hear me say this but your coin has two cracks that qualify it to be listed on (sorry Treashunt) Cuds on coins. The crack at the top of TJ's head connects to the rim which makes it a ( Dang it Insider ! ) Spiked head as well .