Jefferson nickels

docday2003

Hi, I am a fairly new collector, who thinks that the business strike Jefferson nickels are quite nice. I am thinking about starting a collection, and would like any advice that you may have to offer. Looking at the PCGS set weighting, it seems that the key dates are the 1939 FS with 1938 reverse. Is this right? Any other tough dates? I appreciate any insights you may offer. Thanks.

melikecoins

You found the set for tough dates if you want a set of FULL STEP nickels.
I would start in the 50,s and 60,s after that it's all down hill.
I've been work on Jefferson for about two years and have yet to find many of the 50/60 dates in full steps.
Glen

docday2003

So no one else has any advice??? I would have thought that this is the best place in the world to get a few pointers! Anyone?

Schmitz7

It depends on which set you are refering to, but in the early dates, the following are some of the toughest:
1953-S
1954-S
1955-D
1960
1960-D
1961
1961-D

In the modern set, anything from prior to 1971 and the 81-P, 82 P&D, 83 P&D

Tim

melikecoins

Here's a place to start.FullSteps

NIckelCollector

If you were interested in the circulation strike Jeffersons, my advice would be to focus on the 1965 to date set. This set is less expensive then the 1938 – 1964 set and a good way to learn the series.

Initially I would focus on the more common dates in MS66FS. You can check the pop report for this information. After examining many coins you will start to learn strike and step characteristics. I would get research materials: 1) the Jefferson nickel analyst by Nagengast, 2) the Jefferson nickel rpm book by Wiles, 3) 4th edition of Cherrypickers guide by Stanton (varieties).

I would also join the Full Step Nickel Club.

Hope this helps. You can PM me with specific questions.

Frank

cladking

High grade, full step nickels are quite scarce for almost all dates. If you're going
to assemble an ungraded set then start with whatever looks like a nice coin and
continually try to upgrade it. Otherwise you might pass up a finest known when
looking for just the perfect coin.

Full steps raise the price of these coins dramatically. There are some excellent,
well struck coins that don't have full step. Some of these will save a lot of the
cost of assembling the set without significantly affecting the aestetics.

Check out the US coin forum on the navigation menu above.

solid

Another option would be to start with the 11-coin silver war nickel set. These are
all available in MS66FS for reasonable costs. It's a subset that can be completed
easily and quickly.

And don't forget to consider the varieties! IMO, they add a lot of interest and fun
to the set, and in the early coins you can find nearly every type of variety; doubled
dies, overdates, overmintmarks and RPM's.

Ken

docday2003

Thank you all for the information. This is very helpful in guiding me to narrow the focus of my search. I am definitely going to have to get those books. Thanks again.