Something more for Proof Jefferson fans - 1940 Rev 1938/39
RogerB
Posts: 8,852 ✭✭✭✭✭
The following is another very brief excerpt from a research book on proof coins from 1936-1942. It is presented for the interest of collectors. The book includes nearly complete die and delivery data from original US Mint documents, plus varieties for all proofs made from 1936-1942.
[NOTE: "17,419" is the total proof nickel pieces struck during 1940. Subtract from that defective and rejected coins to arrive at the reported mintage of 14,158. The heading information is worded this way because silver coins were subject to further reduction in quantity due to removal of Annual Assay specimens. The US Mint's published "mintage" refers only to the number of pieces delivered, but does not remove silver assay pieces, all of which were ordered destroyed. The other quantities come directly from the Medal Clerk's ledgers and the proof die journal. The posted image is an excerpt, so the data tables are not complete.] All photos are from the Heritage (HA.com) photo archive or the author.
Comments
Super Great Info
Steve
Super Great Info @RogerB Thank You
I would be interested in the 36-42 Proof Book when reprinted
Here is a lousy pic of my 40 reverse of 38, I never realized it was under a 1000
The book has not been published - yet. Virtually all of the information in it is new, never before released.
Love the detailed information!
Do your notes on the 1938 Proof nickels make any mention of the tooling often found on the obverse dies, and sometimes the reverse dies, to add serifs and perhaps other details?
TD
The journal notations occasionally mention alterations to dies, but not as frequently as we find on the coins. Where present in the original documents, they are included in the die tables. The book illustrates the major die varieties produced by re-engraving, polishing and other die re-work.
Thanks. Some of the 1938 Proof reverse dies show signs of minor alterations, but not as drastic as on the obverses. Do you know if any of the altered reverses ever showed up on a 1939 Rev. of 1938 Proof or a 1940 Rev. of 1938 Proof?
TD
Edited to add: Any collectors that have any 1938, 1939 Rev. of 1938 and/or 1940 Rev. of 1938 Proof nickels, could you please check them for signs of hand-added serifs on the dies in the reverse lettering?
I recall there being a 1939 rev 1938 but not sure if it was different enough to bother mentioning in the book. Re-polishing of proof dies makes tracking a specific die very difficult and often misleading.
How'bout throwing the Washington Quarter guys a bone?
"If I say something in the woods and my wife isn't there to hear it.....am I still wrong?"
My Washington Quarter Registry set...in progress
What year's "bone" is best?
Well......1940 is my earliest thus far.
So if I was to be selfish, that would be the year.
Also want to mention I'm that not anti-Jefferson and have enjoyed these threads immensely.
Don't want derail this thread so carry on Jefferson boys and girls.
"If I say something in the woods and my wife isn't there to hear it.....am I still wrong?"
My Washington Quarter Registry set...in progress
Awesome post- thank you!
Sparkey64 - not a "derailing" at all. Certainly a relevant subject. I'll put together a "1940" proof quarter post. With no major varieties, it might be a little less interesting than the two nickel excerpts.
Added: Excerpt posted - 1940, as requested.
Nice to see you back Roger!
The reverse die #41 isn't listed as a die they used in 1939. Only reverse dies 36 through 39 and 539 were used to strike 1939 proofs. And there were only 300 coins struck with the reverse die #42, is there a variety yet to be discovered?
And I guess we'll need to wait for the book to get your opinion of the actual mintages of the two proof varieties. My guess it's 800 and 900 respectively which changes what I thought was the rarer of the two
The more qualities observed in a coin, the more desirable that coin becomes!
My Jefferson Nickel Collection
Dies were routinely renumbered when carried forward to the next year. In 1942, some nickel dies were used for both CuNi and AgCuMn alloy coins, but these retained their original numbers since there was no change of year.
As for undiscovered varieties - I suspect there are nearly as many as there were re-polished dies.
So little is known about how collectors handled the coins that it's largely a guess as to which variety is more difficult to locate. As with any coin varieties, the more an individual knows, the easier it is to assess and "cherry pick" auctions and dealer stock. The book has occasional suggestions for identifying the best values among these proofs, but that information is in the introduction to each denomination.
This question makes me want to go out any buy one just to check! Very Cool!
it has always been my assumption that the 1939 R.40 variety was the more scarce of the two, a result of the Mint testing the newer reverse die(s) at the end of the year. my estimates, not based in anything except what I could find, was 1939 R.40 --- approx. 500, and 1940 R.38 --- approx. 1,200.
it will be interesting to see the results of actual research from Mint records.