1939-P JEFFERSON REVERSE OF 1940

GQ

Hello everyone.......I am new to the form and need some help. I purchased a PCGS 1939-p MS65FS Jefferson nickel on ebay listed as "reverse of 1940". After receiving the coin it was not labed "reverse of 1940" by PCGS and research showed PCGS does not list as such. I was told by the seller that it was indeed a "reverse of 1940". My catalog states: compare steps and handrails with 1938 or 1941 specimens. I have good specimens of all and have studied all reverses with no luck. Can someone help by being more specific? Also, where are the handrails.............

CarlWohlforth

Hello GQ. Welcome!

I don't think PCGS will recognize those as they are most of the issue. Breen says %80 of business strikes in '39 had the reverse of '40. Proof reverse ofs are scarcer.

You must have one BTW because you have the FS designation. The steps on the '38s are almost flat in spots. Also the top step is thicker on the 40 and newer reverses.

Here are scans of the steps of two well struck, proof Jeffs. The first is a '38, you can't see the details of the steps and they look flat in spots. The '40 shows nice full steps as one would expect from a proof.

NIckelCollector

GQ:

Welcome!!

In addition to what Carl stated, the 38 steps are typically described as wavy, versus the 40 steps are described as straight.

Frank