1883 No Cents Liberty Nickel split after struck mated pair -- both halves
jonathanb
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There's a saying that every coin has three sides: the obverse, the reverse, and the edge. Here's one that has five sides, counting the "inside" sides of the obverse and reverse halves.
The Mint has always had problems getting the metal mix right for nickel planchets. Wartime nickels are famous for laminations and split planchets, but split planchets are also known for all series back to Shield nickels. Getting te error on a one-year type is an added bonus in this case. There are some interesting die cracks along the top of STATES OF on the reverse, also.
The rough inner surfaces are typical for how these are supposed to look.
It's also better to have both halves. Although everything (obviously) starts out with two halves, they get separated surprisingly often. As expected/required, the two pieces fit back together again snugly.
All of the major TPGs will grade this sort of error, but they have to put the two halves in two separate slabs, which sort of ruins a lot of the charm in my opinion.
...and for those who are arguing (in another thread today) that there's nothing good on eBay, does this count?
The Mint has always had problems getting the metal mix right for nickel planchets. Wartime nickels are famous for laminations and split planchets, but split planchets are also known for all series back to Shield nickels. Getting te error on a one-year type is an added bonus in this case. There are some interesting die cracks along the top of STATES OF on the reverse, also.
The rough inner surfaces are typical for how these are supposed to look.
It's also better to have both halves. Although everything (obviously) starts out with two halves, they get separated surprisingly often. As expected/required, the two pieces fit back together again snugly.
All of the major TPGs will grade this sort of error, but they have to put the two halves in two separate slabs, which sort of ruins a lot of the charm in my opinion.
...and for those who are arguing (in another thread today) that there's nothing good on eBay, does this count?
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-sk
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Wayne
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Where did this one come from and how long do you think it was split? It must have sat with someone for a very long time not to get split up or thrown away.
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The thing is, once it's slabbed in any holder, you can't put the two pieces back together again. It's nice to see (and feel) how they click together just as they should.
BECOKA, this came from eBay so I don't know its past history. There's an intermediate error type known, where the two halves have started to separate but are still attached along one edge, forming a sort of clamshell effect. That's called, cleverly, a "clamshell split". I suppose that if if you have a clamshell that finishes splitting while in someone's drawer, the pieces stay together, but if it finishes splitting while in somebody's pocket, maybe not so much chance.
This was actually one of my better recent eBay purchases. The seller thought it was damaged, and that it had "been sawn into two pieces". Apparently, everyone else believed him, and I was the only bidder. I paid about 1/50 of what similar pieces have sold for at Heritage. I like eBay.
Awesome coin btw. Really neat that the two halves are still with their proper mate after all this time.
Nick
The struck sides look like they have some wear on them....from circulating???
...if so, I wonder how the 2 halves stayed together while in circulation.
Nice coin(s) !!!!!
......I collect old stuff......
Lane
See http://www.doubledimes.com for a free online reference for US twenty-cent pieces
I don't think they are seen too often.