1955 JEFFERSON PROOF ERROR?

[rbroederer]

I am looking at a very nicely toned 1955 Jefferson Proof nickel. The subject coin is in an ANACS holder graded PF68! I looked at the letters (IGWT) on the obverse and they looked fuzzy. This is what I found under magnification. At first I thought it was PMD however the marks radiate from the center of the coin and on the letters stay perpendicular to the rim. I have never seen this on a coin before. It almost looks like engraving marks. Thoughts or comments?

[MintErrors]

I think they probably removed the die from the press and it looks like they attempted to clean out debris that was within the IGWT.

They look like polish lines, much like what you'd expect to see on the field of a business strike but in smaller detail because the area is so much smaller.

One other thought popped into me brain, unless it is the lighting, the northern part of the letters look a little off. Maybe, when they made this die they accidentally made a DDO. They caught the issue and they decided it was minor enough and easy enough to polish away the tell tale signs? I think I see a bit of extra height on the tops of GOD WE TRUST, but again it could be the shadowing/lighting that is throwing me off.

But in the end, it looks simply like over aggressive die maintenance. ANACS didn't consider it dramatic enough to label it with a details grade or a "retooling" or other caveat, so that is a good sign.

[Kloccwork419]

Ok ok. Dont tease us. Lets see that full beauty. Do you have the coin in your avatar? Id like to see that one. Very nice toning

The markings are odd for sure. Whatever caused it, its on the die. Looks like something before they polished it. Its only in the incused areas of the die. Think it took away from the grade?

[rbroederer]

Hello Gary, lol, I thought it might be a double die also but I have been driving you crazy lately so I settled with Error. I agree that the letters look taller on 'IGWT'. Thanks for the input. Bruce

[rbroederer]

Hello Kloccwork419, I have never seen that extent of markings on a proof coin like that. The coin is graded PF68 which is pretty high for a toned proof so no I do not think they deducted for the anomaly. Yes, I own both the avatar coin and the subject coin. I wasn't sure whether you meant the subject coin or my avatar coin so here are both. Both of the red nickels were a part of my submission to PCGS for the 2021 US Toned Coin Competition (the link is below). I also have several other toned coin showcases on PCGS that you may enjoy. Thanks for the interest. Bruce

https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/col...s-by-rbr/10103

[MintErrors]

Nah. All is fine, I help when I can and when the mind is looking for something to solve.

IF it was a ddo, it would be tough to prove with what they have done to the coin. The only way to positively prove it is/was is to find another area on the coin that is doubled that they did not polish, like on Jefferson himself. Then it would have to be sent into a well known attributer and hope they see your side of the story. Then, with coin and letter, the third party grading service has accept the attribution and come up with an accurate phrase for the condition, like "polished out doubled die" or something like that.

That's all I got.

[Kloccwork419]

Im not a fan of nickels but I like them toners

[rbroederer]

Hello Kloccwork419, Nothing more mundane than a Jefferson nickel! Here are 20 that will make you drool!

https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/col...part-j5c/10536

[PNWMAKES]

wow just looked at your registry amazing

[rbroederer]

Hello PNWMAKES, Thanks, Bruce

[considine]

Love the toning on these nickels, thank you for sharing rbroederer

[rbroederer]

Hello considine, My pleasure! Bruce