A 1953-S Nickel with one mark that makes you want to cry
manlye1
Posts: 230 ✭✭✭
I'm under no delusion this will never make full steps, but just look at the details and strike of the steps of this 53-S nickel I purchased. That one mark just makes you want to cry, but man in hand they are some very very nice steps. The pic dosent pick up the full separation of the 5th step AND segments of the 6th! 
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Comments
i have always found it odd just how inordinately often dings appear right on the steps as oppose to anywhere else on the reverse of jeffies.
Dang! I bet it looks great in person though.
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It has better steps that many of the "full step" coins out there.
Damm! That is Heart-breaking!
But try to find a better struck 1953-S Nickel. This date and mint mark seems to have die deterioration before the first coins were struck? But don't be fooled. I certainly would not mind owning that example? Very nice!!😊 May you find the wholly grail someday!!
I'm not saying such is the case here, but many of the marks seen in the step area of Jefferson Nickels are "unstruck planchet flaws." Further, the subject coin has very weak detail because during the early 1950's and later the Mint had a bad habit of over-using the dies to strike these coins. The result of that is two-fold: often, on an otherwise worn die with soft remaining detail the step area was still fully intact and all that was needed for a coin like this is a harder strike due to increased pressure/fluctuation. I have seen and owned coins that looked similar, mushy overall strike with sharp, clear step detail.
The steps are that coin's only redeeming feature.
Well that was a bit harsh, most if not all 53-S have a mushy over greased/polished strike.
I have quite a few that I have in my "D&mn Muth& F&^#er" Box
Steve
That is an unfortunate hit on the steps. I will say I have seen much MUCH worse granted a FS designation by our hosts.
http://www.pcgs.com/SetRegistry/publishedset.aspx?s=142753
https://www.autismforums.com/media/albums/acrylic-colors-by-rocco.291/
I guess I get the manufactured rarity of strike designations trying to infer registry rarity for other wise common coins esp considering it is very old school and prevalent to value strike quality in numismatics.
But then to only value the designated PUP and ignore the rest of the coin which could be stuck like mashed potatoes like Monticello is on that coin lacks intellectual consistency. This is very commonly seen with Franklin and SLQ collectors too
One of the reasons I ignore all strike designations on all series
11.5$ Southern Dollars, The little “Big Easy” set
Would much prefer a well struck example with no full steps to any coin this poorly struck with full steps.
Smoetimes you don't have a choice.
Nice steps on an otherwise 'soft' coin.... That hit (the big one) is unfortunate... the minor hit would have disqualified it as well. Cheers, RickO
The color is great on this coin! I feel like I can look at the bright side. I love the mushy high relief design from this period. Seems like even after they retired the renaissance designs, they tried to maintain some of the characteristics of the renaissance coins like higher relief.
I actually offer prefer weakly struck coins as it has more character than then modern all the same production controls. Reminds me of a more artisan period of coin production with the human variable
11.5$ Southern Dollars, The little “Big Easy” set
Indeed. Some dates and mintmarks just rarely come nice.
And another poster made a point about not liking strike designations - they are arbitrary. Lincolns, Buffalos, Walkers, and Peace Dollars are all plagued with strike issues, particularly on certain dates, yet they do not have designations. Collectors will still pay up, often way up, for certain dates/mms that are well struck.
"You can't get just one gun." "You can't get just one tattoo." "You can't get just one 1796 Draped Bust Large Cent."
Totally agree. I ignore the steps designation especially if the coin has a lousy overall strike. On Franklins I like Full Bell Inscription not FBL. You know like pass and stow plainly visible
You and I are in the same ballpark here. You can add Mercury Dimes to you list while you are at it. I can't tell you how many times I've seen FB Mercs with mushy letters around edge with said coin going for a premium due to the FB. Never made much sense to me. I'd rather pay up for pretty toning....
jom
To my way of thinking, it only makes sense buying coins with a "strike designation" if the rest of the coin is well struck, so that collectors are interested in it absent the detail noted by the designation.
Dont think I have ever seen one with that strong of steps
Here's the $100,000 53S! Has 98% of the detail intended by the US Mint, not just the 2% the OP coin shows. The history of this coin involves 75+ years of searching, my 30+ years and the gentleman I received it from 45+ years. But I saw one other example years ago but the owner who was a smelter, he said they would throw the bag with the nickels into the fire, under conditions, I had to send/mail the coin back. I was only allowed to see the coin, not buy it.
As for the OP's coin, the metal meant for all those details, that got hammered out over excessive use of the dies, went to the steps, would eventually fill in the seldom reached steps. When a coin of this nature shows only the steps have struck up, those steps obviously had help, been "compensated". And there are a ton of nickels in holders with compensated steps. With or without the nick, it would not be a genuine FS coin.
But collectors have bombarded the grading companies with whatever they can find with steps and people ate it up. It is what it is, enjoy!
And here's the 2nd or 3rd best 53S in strike, grade and steps I'm aware of.
And let me add another example but with a poorly detailed reverse. I have a little separate collection of coins of such where one side has weak details and the other has full detail. As if someone forgot to upgrade a die or they really wanted to use a die to its very end. Neat coin to collect.
You can all start agreeing or disagreeing with me. Let the fun begin.
Leo
The more qualities observed in a coin, the more desirable that coin becomes!
My Jefferson Nickel Collection
Oh, let me post this 98 %to 2% ratio pic to give it some truth. I did this over 20 years ago.
The more qualities observed in a coin, the more desirable that coin becomes!
My Jefferson Nickel Collection
I have 3-4 such coins where the only noticeable nick on the entire coin is on the steps. And the coin has a very detailed strike, grades very high, has nice luster and maybe some toning and 6 steps. Talk about how far off everyone is on how Jefferson nickels should be graded, putting way too much emphasis on only the steps, ignoring how the entire coin should look like in strike, grade and steps, if you will. Not just steps! Money blinds people. Here are a couple of very rare EDS examples, coins serious collectors spend a lifetime searching for, many never achieving their goals. But, here they are!
This 48D has a few more marks and on the steps. But has much more to offer in its eye appeal of strike, luster and tonng.
Be sure to right click on pic to open in new tab to see a larger pic of the coin.
Leo
The more qualities observed in a coin, the more desirable that coin becomes!
My Jefferson Nickel Collection
@leothelyon 1% of 1% of 1% would be .01^3 or 0.000001.
0.0085 is 85% of 1% but the point is still valid, it's a small part of the total area.
You have mm and cm mixed up but since you kept consistent it still works out. The steps are 6mm^2 out of 704mm^2 total area.
Collector, occasional seller
@leothelyon I think your calculations should be using millimeters, not centimeters, but the idea behind it (and the ratio) still stands.
"Bongo hurtles along the rain soaked highway of life on underinflated bald retread tires."
~Wayne
Oh crud! Thanks!
OK.....I fixed it!
The more qualities observed in a coin, the more desirable that coin becomes!
My Jefferson Nickel Collection
@leothelyon Please educate me on how your 46-D is considered full steps with a nick breaking almost all of the steps. Genuine question.
Genuine answer: Where did I say it was FS? While you want to cry over your nick, I marvel at mine. My nick does not break/cancel out the entire coin. Similar to your new 53S, the posted 46D is one of the pinnacles of my collection. My post was expanding insight to another member's post/statement; i have always found it odd just how inordinately often dings appear right on the steps as opposed to anywhere else on the reverse of jeffies.
But since you asked, do you think it should be a FS coin? Possibly due to all the wonderful qualities it has? To me, it does not matter. There's no way I can educate you in what makes a true collector's coin in one minute of a response. A coin should have a full strike though if they can be found. Collect what you like, enjoy your achievements.
Leo
The more qualities observed in a coin, the more desirable that coin becomes!
My Jefferson Nickel Collection