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Coin and Paper Money Collecting/1943P Jefferson Nickel lamination error

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Expert: - 9/25/2010


Question

1943JeffersonNickelLam
I was looking through my childhood Jefferson Nickel collection and saw something strange about the edge of this coin.  Would this be a lamination error and how much would it be worth at a G4 condition.  Thank You, Joe

Answer
Hi Joseph:

Thanks for your question.

From your description and photos, you have a laminated before struck war nickel. This would have a approximate retail value of between $3 to $5 to an interested error collector, depending on the condition and the amount of the error. This is a fairly common error on the war nickel, with most being small. Large or split planchets can bring a much higher price. Most errors are caught during the inspection phase prior to shipping the coins to the federal reserve branches.

Blank planchets were made at the mint in the past. This operation has since been moved to outside sources. When the planchet material is molten, or in its liquid stage, it is poured into an ingot prior to being rolled out into planchet strip for blanking. Gas can become trapped as the ingot cools, leaving a void. This becomes stretched out and thin, resulting in the material failing to bond. When the blank is punched out, if these areas are close to the surface, they can flake or drop off. Lamination errors can happen before or after the coin is struck.

You may want to check ebay listings under US coins in the error category to see if your error is listed and what it is going for. You may also want to check out these links on error coin values:
http://www.coinsite.com/html/USErrorPrices.asp
http://www.minterrornews.com/priceguide.html

Please remember to go to the experts site to rate this answer. Check the nomination box on the rating page below any comments you may have.

Thank You and Good Luck in your collecting.
    Questioner's Rating
    Rating(1-10)Knowledgeability = 10Clarity of Response = 10Politeness = 10
    CommentI received all the information I needed to verify what I suspected for my coin. Thank you Ronald Fern.


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Ronald Fern

Expertise

I can answer most all questions relating to US coins, tokens, and currency. I'm not strong on world coins or ancients. Primary field of expertise is errors and varieties. Over 55 years experience in coin collecting. Part time dealer since 1976. Employed by McDonnell Douglas/Boeing for over 34 years as an Industrial Engineer/Technical Specialist before retiring in 2002.

Experience

Worked weekends for "Lonesome" John in the late 1960's to mid 1970's processing error coins, packaging, and preparing orders. Worked with John Devine and Fred Weinberg on several California Error A Rama's in the early 1970's. Served as display judge at annual Error-A-Rama coin shows. Opened and operated mail order coin business DBA "CAL ERRORS" in 1976. Contributer to Alan Herbert's "Official Price Guide To Mint Errors" and Fivaz/Stanton "Cherrypickers' Guide". Worked Saturdays at Huntington Beach Coin Exchange 1980-1999. Had table and sold coins at a number of coin and gun shows in So CA, AZ and NV. Sell coins, tokens and currency currently at my space in the Pomona Antique Center. Past "Errorscope" Editor. Presently CONECA Examiner.

Organizations
ANA, CONECA, CWTS, NLG

Publications
Errorscope, Numismatic News, Civil War Token Journal, Error and Variety News

Education/Credentials
AA Degree LBCC pre Engineering, 1964 BS Degree CSULB Ind Technology, 1968

Awards and Honors
1st Place EAR Trophy for Civil War Token Errors, NLG Author of Year Award for best monthly coin column "Error News and Views" in small Numismatic paper, owned and published by Ray Anthony.

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