CoinTalk Posters Debate Whether a 1958 Jefferson From a Roll Is a Proof
On the CoinTalk forum, a poster asked whether a 1958 Jefferson he found in a roll was a proof. After new photos, the poster and several others said they did not think it was, while one participant said it was a proof. The source does not give the date of the posts.
Correction (Oct 13, 2026): We shortened and rewrote the headline, summary and body to match the source, posts in a CoinTalk forum thread. We made clear that the content is the posters' own statements and opinions and that the source gives no date; corrected passages that merged two participants' views (the "PL" view and the newer-die view) into one and presented a single "it's a proof" post as several voices; and removed unsupported material (a conclusion that proof-like coins can be more desirable, advice to wait for attribution before buying, and generic search terms). The previous headline was "1958 Jefferson Nickel Proof-Like Traits Found in Circulation."
This article is based only on posts in a CoinTalk forum thread titled "1958 Jefferson looks proof." The source does not give the date of the posts. What follows are the posters' own statements and opinions, not confirmed facts.
A poster named Inspector43 wrote that he had pulled a 1958 Jefferson from a roll and that it looked almost like a proof. He described the coin as a "1958 P."
Views on Whether It Is a Proof
Michael K wrote that proofs were made in Philadelphia at that time. He said that if the luster and details were there, with thick squared rims and a lot of step detail, it was probably a proof.
SensibleSal66 suggested toning down the lighting and posting another picture, and wrote that if it was a proof, it was an impaired one. Lordmarcovan said Monticello looked a bit mushy for a proof strike.
New Photos
Inspector43 posted new photos and wrote that he did not think the coin was a proof, adding that in hand the surface looked like a mirror. He also said he found a 1961 D in the next roll.
Lordmarcovan agreed it was not a proof but called it sharp and a nice roll find. Collecting Nut also said the new photos showed it was not a proof, and wrote that it was probably made by a newer die and saved since it was minted.
ElishaCollectsForever called it a really nice PL in his opinion. RockyB wrote that it was a proof and should be graded. Michael K replied that there was no reason to get an impaired proof graded and that it was a keeper, proof or not.
Why Older Coins Turn Up Without Marks
Inspector43 said he often finds older coins with no marks on the surface and asked how that can happen. Michael K replied that such coins must have been dumped from someone's collection and found before they circulated much, because time in circulation quickly dings coins and tones down their luster.
Source: CoinTalk, "1958 Jefferson looks proof."
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