Are Lower Grade MS Liberty Nickels Ugly?

moosesr

I just received a NGC MS62 Liberty nickel that I ordered online. The coin has good luster and looks nice at a distance without magnification, but under magnification it sure does have a lot of porosity and/or contact marks that didn't show up in the picture the dealer sent me.

I am just starting to collect v nickels in uncirculated condition so I was surprised at what this coin looks like under magnification. I have not noticed these kinds of marks on pictures of liberty nickels I looked at on the various other dealer and auction sites.

Is the surface of this coin typical of lower grade MS liberty nickels and you just can't see the defects in the photographs on the various dealer and auction sites?

Charlie

291fifth

By definition, the lower mint state grades are going to have some problems. That is why they have much lower price tags as well.

coincollector1989

moosesr I think your coin overall is very nice.

Shamika

291fifth is right. MS62 is a problem mint state coin by definition.

Heck, I've found that many MS63 have serious problems.

JRocco

To me, Liberty Nickels are not attractive coins. Try as I may, I can not like them.

darktone

I looked at some high grade proofs a few weeks ago and I even found them to look ugly. mike

LincolnCentMan

Moosesr,

Looks ok for the grade to me.

David

Theop

I've circled the potential marks that I can see from your image? Any other major ones on the obverse?

In general, I find that images the size of the ones you posted can hide alot more than you think.

moosesr

Theop,
The worst marks to me almost look like porosity and are on the jaw just to the right of the chin and right in front of the nose. These marks don't show up at all on this photo. You have to rotate the coin just right and then they really show up.

TahoeDale

I think you have done great, finding an 1885 in MS 62. And if you continue your search, you can get MS 65s in almost all the other dates for reasonable money.


BUT, the surfaces on MS lib nickels are a problem. David Hall has opined that the planchets used during the time of the lib nickels were only fair to sometimes poor in quality. And there is seldom a pretty toned MS nickel, though the proofs will grant some color occassionally.

When you find one that is fully struck, all radial stars defined, left corn ear detailed, and no significant hits in the prime areas, buy it!! You will have an unusual coin.

nwcs

Yeah, many lower MS libs are ugly. Now a good lib nick is toned nicely or dcam proof!

moosesr

I took this picture with my camera to see if I could make the defects show.

dorkkarl

this is 1 series where you should collect ms-64 & up. they are MUCH too cheap even in high grades, and highly obtainable. a high-grade set is realistic, unlike a high-grade set of say morgan dollars.

dump the ms-62 & find a better coin.

K S