2004 Lewis and Clark nickel error
LindseyD
Posts: 9 ✭
My grandpa saved a bunch of coin rolls for me when the state quarters were being released. One roll was nickels and 8 of them have, what I assume to be, an error.
The sail on the left side is missing some definition. As an early beginner in the coin world, my best guess is it was struck through grease or something.
I'm sure somebody can enlighten me whose knowledge is heads and tails beyond mine.
Would this be worth having graded? I don't want to waste money if it's not. This coin has some flaws, but some of the others look better.
Thank you for any guidance. 🙂
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I'm guessing I have to attach photos instead of uploading them. I can't see the ones in my first post. 😅
Where is the error supposed to be?
Your pictures show a normal nickel, worth 5c.
If your nickel was struck through grease, that isn't visible in your pictures. Your nickel would still be worth 5c even if so.
it may be a really worn die or some die polishing job?
but it's still onl worth 5 cents. sorry
Worn die with orange peel effect. No extra value.
Thanks for the info everyone
Very good photos!
Collector, occasional seller
Thank you! The photos still can't really pick up all the detail. The error looks so different in person. I'm bummed it's worthless. I got kind of excited when I compared it to the normal nickel. 😅
It's not an error.
I'm not understanding what you mean by that. Everything I've looked at describes it as an error.
My Google search on worn die coins said:
Yes, a coin struck by a worn die can be considered an error coin, as a worn die is a type of die defect that causes unintentional flaws on the coin's surface. The magnitude of the die's wear determines the type of error, which can manifest as missing details, mushy or thickened design elements, or grease-filled areas, and these errors are collectible because they provide insight into mint operations.
How is it not an error but also it is one when I look it up online?
Is that an AI response on Google? 🤔
Call it what you want, but it has no added value. If it interests you then by all means keep it.
The only answer that matters is "Don't believe everything you read online"
If you don't like that answer, could you describe what "error" means to you, so that the rest of us are on the same page?
One way to define an error is "anything that was produced with even the slightest imperfection". We don't use that definition because it isn't useful. According to that definition EVERYTHING is an error because everything is struck from dies that are at least slightly worn, or at least slightly misaligned, or on a planchet that is at least a few micrograms heavy or light.
If you want to use that definition,then congratulations, you have an error. In fact you have lots of errors since every coin you come across would be an error also.
Fair enough. That actually is helpful! I understand what you mean now. It's an "error", but not the kind that counts in the coin world as an error of any real significance. Thanks for the explanation.
The widely accepted use for the word "error" in numismatic circles is in reference to something that happens to a coin during striking (or before, in the cases of clips and other planchet defects) that is unintended. Think off center, brokage, double strike, strike-through, etc. One way to think about it is an error is a one-off occurrence, the next coin struck will not look like the error coin.
In cases where the die is the cause of the anomaly, all coins struck from that die will show the same thing. This is the case for eroded, worn, abraded, or damaged dies. Think 1937-D 3 leg buffalo nickel. That was caused by an abraded die, so all coins produced from that die display that characteristic. These are referred to as "varieties" and also include things like doubled dies and re-punched mint marks.
Your coin appears to be struck from a worn die, every other coin made from that die will look like that one, so it would not be considered an error.
If you want to see some neat worn dies, take a look at nickels from the early-mid 1950's, D and S mint in particular. They overused dies well beyond the point that they probably should have been replaced.
Collector, occasional seller
It's not an error, it's a die state, which is not an error.
@LindseyD
I did a thread on this Error versus Variety. I used two largely accepted websites, ErrorRef.com and VarietyVista, to determine the definition of an error versus variety. The websites appear to agree. Worn dies features (die cracks, clashes, cuds, chips,...) are considered errors by both. As I noted in the thread, I consider many of these things as die states but the sources call them errors as the varieties are defined by the initial die (again check the actual wording in the link). As noted some of these things like die cracks can determine a die state or a sub-variety (example was Overton 101 to a 101a).
Here is a link to the thread and you can find these in the Resources thread that is pinned to the top of this US Forum.
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1086168/variety-or-error-or
The Resources thread link:
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1006619/resources-books-links-to-read-on-numismatic-series-errors-and-varieties/p1
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RLJ 1958 - 2023
Ai Overview is 100% accurate 0% of the time
Welcome to the forum! Your response to the information given to you shows a willingness to learn and will get you far in any future endeavors in life. Stick around, this is a fun hobby. I think your grandfather would be pleased to know that you carry on his interest in coins, and collecting them.