Expert: Jim Lawniczak - 11/7/2006

Question
Have a nickle that was not stamped completely on the coin.  Is it worth anything?

Answer
Hello, Phil, I cannot tell what you are describing here.  Do you mean, the nickel was stamped off center, so that some of it is on the coin and some off?  If that is what you have, it does have some value, although usually not all that much, as that error is not all that uncommon.  Off center strikes are more valuable if the date is still on the piece.  Also more valuable the more off center it is.  Also more valuable if it is an older nickel (a Buffalo or Liberty head for example).  If off center strike is what you have, try going to www.ebay.com and doing a search for "nickel off center strike."  You should see at least one (which is what I got right now) or maybe more.  You can come back later (maybe in a week or so) to see if something new comes on.  You might try a similar search at www.google.com, to find coin dealers selling error coins.

If you just mean that the strike was weak or a bit incomplete, that kind of problem is usually worth less and often nothing.  If the strike is really weak so that the nickel hardly struck up at all, then there might be some value (but it won't be worth much if it was wear that made the piece hard to read).  A search for "weak strike nickel" at www.google.com should yield some additional information.

Hope this helped, Jim Lawniczak