Shown below are two 1996-P Jefferson Nickels. Please vote in the attached poll indicating which coin your prefer and if you feel like opining on the grade of each nickel, do so in your reply to the thread. Coin #1: Raw Coin#2: NGC Graded As always, comments welcome, and please remember to vote.
It's a tough one @Lehigh96 ! I like the #2 better because of the Obverse. It's amazing and if the Reverse didn't have the "battle scars" it would obviously Grade very high. It's still an exquisite specimen though.
#1 is a beautiful coin and would not be surprised if it achieved MS66 FS. The scar on the steps of #2 is prominent but I think it has even more luster than #1 and got MS67
It’s a tough call for me. I would say the raw coin looks just a tad cleaner with better surfaces. The obverse is better on coin 2 and the reverse better on coin 1. Even with the whack on the jaw, I like coin 1. I say they both grade out at 67-6FS.
I get the impression of more luster on the first. True, it has a few more rough spots on the obverse where the strike could not quite smooth them out, but on the other hand it has full steps. The surfaces of Monticello seem about the same on both coins. 67+ for #1, 67 for #2.
I like coin 1 because of the clean steps. Coin 2 has that mark in the steps. Coin 2 is MS67 not FS. Coin 1 is MS66 but has FS.
coin #1 has a better strike (look at the columns) and the luster is better. I would guess 66FS for #1 and 65FS for #2.
I picked the NGC. I know it has the nick through the steps but the raw has a nick through the cheek which catches my eye more (partially because I look at the obverse first). The raw also seems to have a bit more chatter. My grade guesses: Raw: MS 66 6FS...steps clean but a nick on the cheek and some obverse chatter NGC: MS 67 6FS...very clean overall with just the one unfortunate nick on the steps
Both are nice coins with very good detail on both sides. The #1 raw is definitely FS and aside from the prominent "hit" on the Cheek IMO would grade MS-65 FS; the #2 NGC IMO is graded MS-66 but NOT FS.
I like coin 1 better although the obverse of coin 2 is much better. I just can’t with that gash on the steps of coin 2. Coin 1 66 FS Coin 2 67
#2 has amazing luster, and looks mostly unbroken, that ding across the steps still has separation between the steps, I would pass it for FS. Nothing like the look of an early die state. Light deterioration between Monticello and Five Cents. MS68