"Mint state" Liberty Head nickel question (NOW WITH PICS)
sumnom
Posts: 5,963 ✭✭✭
I recently bought an 1883 no "cents" nickel that is supposed to be MS 60. There are some elements of the design that are looking smooth however. Is this a common feature of MS examples or did get an AU piece?
I will get some pics up a little later but I don't know that I'll be able to catch the bits that concern me.
I will get some pics up a little later but I don't know that I'll be able to catch the bits that concern me.
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"Seu cabra da peste,
"Sou Mangueira......."
<< <i>The pic of the obverse is inadequate, but I don't need it. Did you honestly believe that you'd get an Unc. of this date for $25? >>
The PCGS price guide says $27 for MS60.
The obverse image is meant to show the two flattened stars at the tiara and the apparent wear on the hair over the eye. Thus, it is adequate for the for the purpose for which it was intended. As for the price, yes, I did think that $25.00 was possible for the grade. If the PCGS price guide is to be believed, an MS60 1883 no cents nickel goes for $27.00. You can check that out here: PCGS price guide
Now, when you say that you don't need another image, you mean this is not MS, I assume. I am sorry if you think I have wasted your time.
<< <i>that year is known for being very weekly struck, especially the corn on the reverse..... >>
Thank you for your response. The mushy corn then could be the result of a weak strike? How does one tell the difference between a weak strike and wear?
<< <i>
<< <i>that year is known for being very weekly struck, especially the corn on the reverse..... >>
Thank you for your response. The mushy corn then could be the result of a weak strike? How does one tell the difference between a weak strike and wear? >>
All liberty nickels have a tendancy to be weakly struck in three main areas. The stars and the hair just above the forehead on the obverse and the left corn on the reverse. The flatness near the tiara may be wear, i'm not too familiar with a weakness in strike in that area. The coin shown above does not look mint state to me. I've found that ~95% of the 83 n/c nickels that I've seen are well struck on at least one side. The coin imaged above appears to either have some wear or to be poorly struck on both sides (or both?).
For $25 you didn't get ripped but i think you could have certainly done better...
Also, remember that nickel is a tricky metal to mint, especially back then. The shield nickel series was just prior to the liberty nickels and the problems with the dies cracking and strike weaknesses were not solved by time the liberty nickel series began. Finding well-struck nickels is a challenge but is also very rewarding!
Hoard the keys.
Type2, what indications do you see to make you think the coin was cleaned?
but I also think it has enough luster to warrant a Choice AU grade. If it was graded, I think it would
get either a 55 or 58 grade. It is noticably nicer than a EF - low AU Liberty Nickel.
The star weakness and wreath weakness, as mentioned, are somewhat normal for this series,
and in some cases much worse ... although the left reverse wreath on your coin is on the more
dramatic scale of weakness. Often these weak strike coins are discounted.
Nickel is a very difficult metal to strike well ... and not only early nickels such as Shields and Liberties,
but also Buffalos and even Jeffersons have suffered from uneven, incomplete and even mushy strikes.
I don't know if it's been cleaned, but I dont think it has been. The marks I see show general mishandling,
which if the coin IS Unc, would suggest the MS60 grade. Again, I think the coin is technically more a Choice AU.
Remember MS60 coins are rarely (if ever) attractive coins. The nature of the grade is Uncirculated, with
issues.
At 25. you didn't over or under pay ... you got an example in the grade range you paid. As this is a very
common coin, you also have a coin that will not be easy to sell (IMO, and just being honest). For half again
to twice as much you might be able to find a nice Choice Unc ... or with a little more patience, a better struck
and more attractive example in Choice AU.
“We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”
Todd - BHNC #242
<< <i>Speety, thank you. Do you know why those particular areas were prone to being poorly struck? Is it because of where certain design elements of the obverse and reverse happen to meet? >>
The left corn and hair above the forehead are two of the highest design elements and are back-to-back. That is the main reason these two areas are often weakly struck. As for the stars, I think it has more to do with the metal (nickel and copper) that the coins are struck from.
As for those folks who think the coin has been cleaned, what signs can you see of cleaning?
Most of the Unc. Liberty Nickels I've seen with mushy hair detail are the 12 P, 12 D, and 12 S. The 83 N/C coin does not have this issue. Flat stars don't detract from the grade. Most Liberty Nickels I've seen in MS 66 have incomplete detail in star 7 on the obverse and incomplete detail on the lt. corn on the reverse. Neither of these items detracts from a coin's grade.
"Seu cabra da peste,
"Sou Mangueira......."