Set Description
The Jefferson Nickel series is one of the most diverse in all of United States coins. It is possible to assemble an album collection from searching circulated change at a minimum of expense all the way up to a $100K+ collection of top pop full step certified coins. Different collectors covet different aspects of coin collecting including but not limited to: price, rarity, strike, grade, toning & eye appeal, as well as errors & varieties. The Jefferson Nickel series incorporates all of these and really does appeal to everyone. There is a full step designation for the strike conscious collector, a multitude of doubled dies and RPM’s for the variety collector, and many fantastically patinated examples for the toning enthusiast.
I am a collector who covets eye appeal first and foremost. Without eye appeal coins become generic in my eyes. While an untoned coin can still display a measure of eye appeal based on strike and luster it just can’t approach the unique appearance that a rainbow toned coin can offer. Having said that, toning is not the end of eye appeal, rather it is just the beginning. Without luster, the colorful toning loses the vibrancy that yields the eye popping appearance.
Registry sets are typically all about grade, the number on the plastic, and points, the number on the screen. The majority of the registry participants simply list their coins in the appropriate slot never bothering to photograph or describe their coins. There is no doubt that the highest grade should be rewarded, but just as toning is only the start to eye appeal; grade is only the start to a great coin or collection. A great collection must have it all. Each coin should be superlative in one way or another, whether it is a top pop with blazing luster, a monster toner with undeniable eye appeal, or a hammered strike on a normally weakly struck issue, it must be special. Regardless of what attributes make the coin special, a number can never describe a great coin. I wouldn’t even know how to evaluate a collection without photos & descriptions.
My goal is to assemble the finest collection of Jefferson Nickels. The collection might not have the highest grades, the most points, or cost the most money, but when viewed it will leave the observer in awe. I want the other top ranking competitors to fear my collection, novice collectors to envy it, and Jefferson haters to respect it. This can only be accomplished by selecting each coin with an unrelenting focus on overall quality. I would like to share some of the highlights of this collection broken down in the followoing categories: Stats, My Top 5, Named Coins, Varieties, and Pedigrees.
STATS: Some statistics about the collection that is nearing completion and is currently 72 coins strong.
Top Pops: 30 (58.8%)
Full Steps: 21 (38.9%)
Star Designations: 14 (27.5%)
T Designations: 2 (3.9%)
Varieties: 5 (9.8%)
MY TOP 5: These are the top five ranked coins in the entire set taking all factors including eye appeal, price, rarity, and availability into consideration.
1) 1941-D NGC MS67* 5FS
2) 1943-P DDO "Doubled Eye" NGC MS67 5FS
3) 1943-S NGC MS68*
4) 1940-S NGC MS67 6FS
5) 1950-D NGC MS67 5FS
NAMED COINS: These coins have a special story that earned them a nickname, check em out!
1) THE AVATAR: 1939-D Rev of 40
2) THE KING: 1941-D
3) EVEREST: 1943-S
4) THE WHITE WHALE: 1950-D
5) DESTINY: 1952
VARIETIES: A list of the different varieties represented in this collection.
1) 1939 Rev of 40 QDR NGC MS67
2) 1943-P DDO "Doubled Eye" NGC MS67 5FS
3) 1943/2-P Overdate PCGS MS65 FS
4) 1946-D Over Inverted D NGC MS66
5) 1954-S/D NGC MS65
PEDIGREES: A list of coins with significant provenances.
1) THE COMPRADORE COLLECTION: 1940-D
2) THE APPALACHIAN HOARD: 1945-D, 1945-S
3) THE BINGHAM COLLECTION: 1945-D, 1945-S
4) THE MONTICELLO COLLECTION: 1938, 1948-S
5) THE ALBUM COLLECTION: 1947-S, 1949-D, 1951-S
Upon completion, I want to have a top ranking set with each coin meticulously presented with accurate oversized photographs and catalog quality descriptions. Every photograph & description will be an original work. The collection should convey to every observer the level of passion that I have for this great hobby. Please enjoy!
References:
A GUIDE BOOK OF BUFFALO AND JEFFERSON NICKELS by Q. David Bowers
THE JEFFERSON NICKEL ANALYST by Bernard Nagengast
