Is this a mint mark error?
Stillookin
Posts: 9 ✭
I found this nickel last week while searching some bank rolls. After some interweb searching I was directed to this site a couple of times. It looks as though this group has seen this before and I just wanted y'all's
opinion. Really hope these photos are to the group's standards.
Best Answers
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johnny9434
Posts: 31,449 ✭✭✭✭✭
Varity Vista is a good website to go look up stuff as well. There are other good websites on the topic as well 🙂
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JBK
Posts: 17,267 ✭✭✭✭✭
Mintmarks were still being handpunched into the dies then, so there were lots of variations in placement.
Usually there is no extra value for mintmark placement variations, but there is for this particular one since it is so extreme and is a recognized variety.
I don't know the actual value but it is definitely worth something. It's a great roll searching find.
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291fifth
Posts: 25,087 ✭✭✭✭✭
The problem with varieties like this is finding a buyer who will pay enough of a premium to cover your handling costs.
All glory is fleeting.0 -
jonathanb
Posts: 3,974 ✭✭✭✭✭
This variety is not widely known (as you can see from some of the responses already). That means that it could be difficult to find someone who is interested.
On the other hand, it has sold for a very high price in the past, see an example at Heritage from the collection of board member @FredWeinberg.
This is a fantastic circulation find!
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Answers
What is the potential error?
Micah Langford - https://www.oldglorycoinsandcurrency.com/
It's the high D/misplaced mint mark variety.
Those who don't have an account at Heritage (including me) can't see the price realized at that link.
I did see one of these varieties in the ebay "sold" listings sold for over $1000, and one sold fir $190. There are several current auctions on ebay, but some are not actually this variety.
The OP's coin is a little rough condition-wise, and I think the higher ebay results example was an outlier. But $100 for a decent example seems within reason.
My understanding is that those are quite rare! Didn't someone have a bounty out for anyone who could find one? Was it Fred? Maybe that was for a mint state example. Really cool
Collector, occasional seller
Q. David Bowers offered a reward for one in one of his CoinWorld columns, maybe 20 years ago or so.
I put the one that that was sold in the Heritage auction away years before that, just because I noted how different the mint mark placement was – and I put away a few of the very low mint Mark pieces too for that same date.
The one at Heritage sold for $1080 as PCGS XF-40
Please share a picture of the entire obverse of this coin. There is a cud about GOD WE on later die state examples. This is a scarce and very collectible variety, it is likely that the obverse die was retired early because of the die break so few examples have been located. Excellent find from circulation, congrats.
Sean Reynolds
"Keep in mind that most of what passes as numismatic information is no more than tested opinion at best, and marketing blather at worst. However, I try to choose my words carefully, since I know that you guys are always watching." - Joe O'Connor
I hope these photos will do. Hey guys, I really wanted to thank all of you for your input. The roll of nickels this was found in came from a Chase Bank near Dallas Texas.
DO NOT CLEAN THE COIN
Again, thanks for your time and input. I also pulled a 1973 nickel from this same roll that has a strange mint mark size and position. At least strange to me and not seen another. Do I post photos of it on a "New Discussion"?
Yes, start a new post for each coin.
It is confusing when you have more than one coin on a single post.
Also make sure you include a complete photo along with your closeup.
I wanted to ask y'all where to find more information about this nickel. The only two places I have ever seen this anomaly was some post on your site years back. And the photo in the US Coins 2025 book. I mentioned finding another nickel in the same roll as this one that looked different. I will post it later, but it looks like "low D" mint mark and there are many examples of it. The nickel I've shown here not so much information.
I'm not aware of this variety listed in any reference.