Newb, er I mean member question. Full step?

thadd

Probably an easy one. What does full step mean on the Jefferson nickels?

Thanks.

BTW, everyone have a super safe 4th of July weekend and take a minute to explain to a youngster what the significance of it is. Then throw back a few and relax.

littlewicher

It means the coin has five full steps on monticello for PCGS. NGC requires the six full steps to be designated as full step. Other services are leniant such as NTC, where you only need like one or two steps to get the full step designation. SEGS I believe, gives really good detail about the steps, and ANACS will tell how many steps are on it. If you search past posts, there are numerous threads on it.

Steve27

Full Steps
Term applied to a Jefferson five-cent example when at least 5 steps of Monticello are present.

From the "Lingo" section of this web site.

thadd

So I’m assuming it has to do with the strike?

Russ

<< <i>So I’m assuming it has to do with the strike? >>



Thadd,

That's correct; it is a strike designator. Although, I have to say that I've seen plenty of FS's, FBL's, FB's that didn't look like fully struck coins.

Russ, NCNE

keets

hey thadd

for PCGS to designate as Full Steps for a Jefferson Nickel, a minimum of 5 steps must show clearly with no bridges and no contact marks in the step area, pre or post strike. many times a coin may appear bridged if you look at the steps as though you're climbing them, but when turned sideways and look at along the step-line, you can really tell the completeness better. the exceptions are for the reverse of 1938 coins, where the step detail is noticebly weaker, they don't grade them quite as strictly, and beginning with coins dated after ??1990?? they began requiring a full 6-step definition.

as others have noted, NGC requires a full 6-steps on all coins for the designation. SEGS will designate with as little as 4 steps, making note of the total count as well as "nicks" or "bridges" on the steps. ANACS will designate the number of steps on the holder but not contacts.

as far as the other services, since they tend to miss the numerical grade too often, it matters little how they designate the steps. you would be better off to ignore the them, although it never hurts to look at coins in hand for the mistakes-----which would be one they get right!!!-----and varieties that were overlooked. sight seen only for me, but hey, take your chances if you want to!!!!!

another suggestion: look at all SMS coins for fully struck, 6-step coins and buy whatever you find.

al h.