Mint Error Out In Far Left Field

[Merlin8971]

This is unusual and please forgive me if this is out of the realm of this site. I recently acquired a 1997 Botanical Gardens Commemorative Coin and Currency set. The set is supposed to have a Washington One Dollar Bill from the Richmond Virginia Federal Reserve as stated on the presentation folder.

However, along with a nearly flawless Bontanical Gardens Commemorative Silver Dollar (the bubbles are in the plastic not on the coin) and the gorgeous 1997 SP Matte finish Jefferson Nickel there is a 1995 Series New York Federal Reserve star note.

[Merlin8971]

The Error photos

Here are the Washington One Dollar error photos.

[jay4202472000]

Wow, that Jefferson is amazing! I need that one and the matte proof from 1994 and I will have all proof Jeffersons from 1953 up. I'll send you my address and you just send that one my way. LOL!

[Merlin8971]

Temptation

Hello Jay:

I thought the nickel is quite fabulous, even better in person. I would estimate it would grade about sp68+ or better.

I do have the 1994 Thomas Jefferson commemorative set and the nickel in that one is at least as good if not better than the one in the 1997 set. Curiously, the 1994 Jefferson commemorative set ALSO has a Jefferson two dollar note that is a star note also.

Oh, I am not ready to give up either set though. Sorry.

[Merlin8971]

However, Photos

Jay:

I posted some photos of the 1994 set. Note; there are absolutely no marks on the Jefferson Commemorative coin or the Jefferson nickel. Marks and dust are on the plastic. The Jefferson nickel has a hint of Gunmetal Blue uniformly distributed over the obverse and a semi-rich gold uniform toning on the reverse. The nickel, in my novice opinion would easily go SP69 and at least a 40% chance of SP70. I invite other's opinions on the grading.

As you can see, the 1976 Two dollar Fed Note is a star note of excellent quality with rich color.

The US Mint made 467,000 of the 1994-SP Jefferson nickel and only made 25,000 of the 1997-SP Jefferson nickel.

[Merlin8971]

The Reverse of Two Dollar Note

The reverse of the Two Dollar Federal Note.

Anyone want to speculate on the rarity of these two commemorative sets?

[jay4202472000]

I love that 1994 too! I know most people would rather have the mirror like fields on their proofs, but the matte finish really appeals to me. Those two Jefferson's look better, to me, than any of the regular proofs I have. Maybe I'll get those two soon. Thanks for posting. As for rarity:

1997 Botanical Gardens Set - 25,000
1994 Thomas Jefferson Commem. Set - 167,703

Pretty rare when you get down to it!

[Merlin8971]

Yes

Yes Jay, they look even prettier under magnification.

I know the mintage of each nickel, I just wondered if the star notes make the set a bit more desireable because of that error. The Botanical with the New York star note would probably be a "one of" or one of ten, whereas the Jefferson has only a star note which could be a "one of" or one of a thousand.

It is difficult for me to even ballpark value. When I look at values of various coins from say MS60 thru MS70 the values seem to go up more than double for each one point increase but something less than exponentially increasing. The value at the highest grades (68+) seem closer to exponential increase in value. I try to apply that loose equation to errors also, but those have a much more varied value scale. Then I compare that to any values I can find at the grading companies for errors. They are very hit and miss on placing values on error coins. I have a 1909 VDB double die obverse that PCGS placed a value on and a triple die clash dime with no value or even a pop number.

Right now the value scales to my knowledge does not has an equation to plug in.