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So I bought it, now what? (updated)

I just won this 1994-P Jefferson nickel graded MS69FS!

This is one of three graded this high for the date. Also, a lone 1997-P
has been graded MS69FS. These are the only four MS coins graded
this high for the entire series. Incidentally, there are only 10 non-SMS
coins graded MS68FS for the entire series, with eight of those being
2001 or later.

1994 and 1997 was, of course, the year of the Matte proof coins, which
PCGS designates as SMS. For each of these years, PCGS has graded
hundreds of examples MS69FS.

When I fist saw this coin, I posted this thread, asking if this coin could be
real, or is it simply a mislabeled matte proof coin. That thread garnered
only a few replies. I expect more opinions will be given this time around! image

Anyways, the seller included these photos in the auction, two of which
show a comparison of this coin (on the left) with a matte proof coin (on
the right).

My question is twofold: Can it be real and/or what should I do with it? (be nice)

My first thought, of course, is to view the coin in hand can compare it to a
1994-P matte proof. Secondly, maybe sending it back to PCGS for review.

Ken

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Comments

  • wondercoinwondercoin Posts: 16,910 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Ken: Last year, as you may know, I worked with DH to remove the 1994 and 1997 mislabeled MS69 SMS Jeffs from the pop report. Many MS69's were voided at that time. Now, whether the actual coins still exist in mislabeled holders - of course that is still possible (with voided tags). And, whether another mechanical error made it through - that appears to have happened IMHO again here.

    I suggest you simply just mail the coin to DH and once he confirms your coin is SMS (which he will likely do), he can correct the holder and the pop report. And, in the 10,000-1 chance (IMHO) your coin is truly MS and non-SMS - once DH confirms that - put up the coin and DH's letter to you and watch a possible world record for an MS modern Jeff image

    Wondercoin
    Please visit my website at www.wondercoins.com and my ebay auctions under my user name www.wondercoin.com.
  • Dog97Dog97 Posts: 7,874 ✭✭✭
    I'm not up on the 94 but I know there's no way in L a 97 can grade MS69.
    But I dunno, 5 years went buy and the highest was ms66fs and only 3 of them and in the last year the pop suddenly increased 5x and poptop 66 is a hasbeen. (scratches head)
    Change that we can believe in is that change which is 90% silver.
  • PlacidPlacid Posts: 11,299 ✭✭✭
    According to the PCGS Certification Database, certification number 21557808 is defined as the following:

    COIN INFORMATION
    Date, mintmark: 1994-P
    Denomination: 5C
    Variety: N/A
    Country: USA
    Grade: MS69FS

  • I had previously looked up the cert # and it is indeed listed as one of the
    three MS coins in the pop report.

    When I looked up the cert number from a matte proof, it lists the variety
    as SMS.

    I will email David Hall for assistance and proceed accordingly.
  • Let us know what happens.

    Cameron Kiefer
  • puffpuff Posts: 1,475
    >>>So I bought it, now what?image<<<

    I won a Jeff on Ebay, (1962 NGC PR68*CAM), from Pontiacifn a month or so ago, and wound up giving it away to another forum member.image
  • Have received an email from the seller stating that he is concerned with how
    much this sold for since a colleague of his emailed him saying that an MS69FS
    Jefferson business strike is impossible. He wants PCGS to review the coin
    before selling it to me.

    I suggested that I would be happy to pay him for the coin and send it
    directly to David Hall for review, with the understanding that if it comes back
    a matte proof I would be looking for a refund. Of course, if it is a genuine
    MS coin, then I want to follow through with the purchase!

    Ken
  • EvilMCTEvilMCT Posts: 799 ✭✭✭


    << <i>So I bought it, now what? >>



    Enjoy it.

    Ken
    my knuckles, they bleed, on your front door
  • Interesting.

    During the 50s proof Jeffersons started out with frosty devices. The dies quickly wore down so most proofs ended up being brilliant. Can something similar happen with the matte dies from '94? Perhaps that is one of the last SMS Jeffs to be minted from the matte dies so the sandblast look has worn down to a business strike look?

    It sounds like you have a good seller there who wants to do the right thing. Please do let us know the results of the review.
  • braddickbraddick Posts: 23,974 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Have received an email from the seller stating that he is concerned with how much this sold for since a colleague of his emailed him saying that an MS69FS Jefferson business strike is impossible. He wants PCGS to review the coin before selling it to me. I suggested that I would be happy to pay him for the coin and send it directly to David Hall for review, with the understanding that if it comes back a matte proof I would be looking for a refund. Of course, if it is a genuine MS coin, then I want to follow through with the purchase! Ken >>

    Ahhh... the best way to gamble. When there's no risk involved.

    peacockcoins

  • The results just posted yesterday at PCGS, and this coin has been relabeled
    as an SMS coin.

    The original cert number has been removed from their database, but the pop
    report still shows 3 coins graded MS69FS. Hopefully, this will be updated
    soon to reflect the correction.

    Ken

  • keetskeets Posts: 25,351 ✭✭✭✭✭
    hey Ken

    i'd like to tell you that i admire the gambler in you!! of course we all---or most of us at least---knew this would be a mistake and corrected. did you come out of it whole??

    al h.image
  • Absolutely whole, Al.

    The seller submitted it to PCGS for designation review without my sending any funds
    so, essentially, I had won the "rights" to purchase the coin at my winning bid if it
    turned out to be an MS69FS non-SMS coin. Since it was properly redesignated an
    SMS coin, the auction is null and void - no harm, no foul. image

    Ken
  • It would be real interesting to know the diagnostics, etc. that PCGS used to determine that the coin was SMS. I am not a Jefferson collector, but the two coins pictured side by side to not seem to have that much in common in their appearance.


    Gary
    Gary
    image
  • keetskeets Posts: 25,351 ✭✭✭✭✭
    hey Gary

    if you approach these the same way you'd look at mid 1800's proofs it might be easier to distinguish between the SMS coins and the circ's. the strike on both coins----to me at least----is quite crisp and the appearance of the fields is a dead giveaway. the difference in the pictures may be as simple as lighting because other than the color, they look identical to me. i doubt that even the first strike off regular dies for circulation coins would look like these.

    al h.image

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