The "1938" Jefferson Nickel Award Winning Design

Eric_Babula

The Jefferson Nickel replaced the Buffalo Nickel design in 1938. The Mint held a design competition that year for the new Jefferson Nickel which was ultimately won by Felix Schlag. However, after winning the design competition, the Mint required Schlag to make revisions to his original award-winning reverse design of Monticello. In 2002, the Jefferson Full Step Nickel Club commissioned the production of Jefferson Nickels in .999 fine silver which featured Schlag’s original award winning design. Two types of nickels were made, one with a regular proof finish and the other with a matte proof finish. A total mintage of 1,938 sets were produced, encapsulated by SEGS and individually numbered on the SEGS labels.


So, what do you all think about these tokens? Just a gimmick for SEGS/JFSNC to make some $$? Or, something that Jefferson collectors would want? I picked these up when they came out back in the early 2000s, but it was just on a whim (thought it would be cool to have), rather than because I was a fan of Jefferson Nickels or wanted a piece of the design history. Is this something that you see as being of value to Jefferson Nickels? Not looking to sell......just wondering what others think of these.

Sorry for the crappy pics - just took a couple quick pics with my cell phone, at the kitchen table.

illini420

I like these sets and have sold several of them over the years. So yes, some of us collectors do enjoy them.

TomB

I like them and own a set, as well.

Zoins

This is a great set. I have 1 and a half sets. These were done by the Gallery Mint with engraving by Ron Landis and striking by Joe Rust. Ordering was managed by Darrell Crane, President of the Full Step Nickel Club. Hard to believe there are 1938 sets out there. They are hardly ever available.

Here's the article in the GMM Newsletter:

yosclimber

Interesting. Since both finishes are designated FSNC-02, it makes me wonder what FSNC-01 is?
Perhaps it is an earlier medal design produced for the FSN club.

Zoins

@yosclimber said:
Interesting. Since both finishes are designated FSNC-02, it makes me wonder what FSNC-01 is?
Perhaps it is an earlier medal design produced for the FSN club.

Perhaps reach out to the Full Step Nickel Club?

The email and PO Box address for Darrell Crane, FSNC President is in the article above.

Hoot (ATS) is the editor of the FSNC newsletter. He last logged into the ATS forums on July 31, 2018: https://www.ngccoin.com/boards/profile/130-hoot/ .

Eric_Babula

@Zoins said:
This is a great set. I have 1 and a half sets. These were done by the Gallery Mint with engraving by Ron Landis and striking by Joe Rust. Ordering was managed by Darrell Crane, President of the Full Step Nickel Club. Hard to believe there are 1938 sets out there. They are hardly ever available.

Thanks for the info, @Zoins!

Eric_Babula

It is kinda cool having something that emulates the original design that should have been our Nickel for so many years. I think I'll keep them!

Zoins

@Eric_Babula said:
It is kinda cool having something that emulates the original design that should have been our Nickel for so many years. I think I'll keep them!

They really are a great set. Ron Landis is an expert engraver so that makes them more special as well.

ricko

Not being a Jefferson Nickel collector, I was not aware of these.... I do like the design, and struck in silver, they would be nice to have in my collection... might watch for them to pop up... Cheers, RickO

koynekwest

That reverse is SO much better than the one that ended up being used IMO.

leothelyon

The straight front view signifies something about America and who we are. An angle shot takes something away from that meaning. Felix Schlag got it wrong and he paid dearly for his error whether it was made known to him at the time or not or whether he ever understood it. Another design by another sculptor was selected for the reverse but they made Mr Schlag redesign his reverse when they could have been more forthcoming honestly and split the award saving Mr. Schlag much unnecessary work. If it were me, I'd be p*ssed.

And remember folks, there are mint state collector coins and there are "as struck" (as is) coins. What are you collecting?

Also, they cut new Master Hubs for 1971 production and again in 1977 or was it 1976, I don't have the Bern Nagengast bible handy.. Obviously, they made improvements to the plaster model. Perhaps....they redesigned it altogether.

Leo

Go here to see a few other designs http://www.felixschlag.com/nickel.html

Aspie_Rocco

Cool and collectible coins, on my bucket
List still

keets

PCGS will encapsulate these now.

Zoins

@keets said:
PCGS will encapsulate these now.

Interesting. Do you have a pic of an insert? I wonder what it says.

RogerB

Schlag's original lettering style would have clogged the dies. As for the reverse, the final view was submitted by several persons. Schlag's original reverse was unusable due to distorted proportion and incomplete detail. He was slow in creating a better version, and by then President Roosevelt had indicated his preference for a normal elevation view. Schlag was very late in providing final models, delaying the project, and in return got little attention from the mint director.

(PS: "Schlag" is short for "Schlagsahne" or 'whipped cream.' Common term in Austrian German.)

mannie gray

@leothelyon said:
The straight front view signifies something about America and who we are. An angle shot takes something away from that meaning. Felix Schlag got it wrong and he paid dearly for his error whether it was made known to him at the time or not or whether he ever understood it. Another design by another sculptor was selected for the reverse but they made Mr Schlag redesign his reverse when they could have been more forthcoming honestly and split the award saving Mr. Schlag much unnecessary work. If it were me, I'd be p*ssed.

And remember folks, there are mint state collector coins and there are "as struck" (as is) coins. What are you collecting?

Also, they cut new Master Hubs for 1971 production and again in 1977 or was it 1976, I don't have the Bern Nagengast bible handy.. Obviously, they made improvements to the plaster model. Perhaps....they redesigned it altogether.

Leo

Go here to see a few other designs http://www.felixschlag.com/nickel.html

It was 1977

Cameonut

I've owned several sets of these, been thinking of selling off the last set but don't know what the current pricing level is.

Interesting to know that PCGS grades these, but I am thinking the pairs ought to be left in the original SEGS holders.

I used to live in mid-Michigan. Felix Schlag is buried in Owosso Michigan, here is a photo of his gravestone.

Weiss

My third or fourth set. This one is set #07:

KindaNewish

It took a few years to find a good set, but I am extremely happy to have #42

mannie gray

@KindaNewish said:
It took a few years to find a good set, but I am extremely happy to have #42

Those are really cool.

robec

Loving those two early sets, #07 and #42.