Pictures of 68-D Jefferson in 64FS POP 1 and my new 68-P MS67RD Lincoln

clackamas

In case you missed the US coin forum post I just got grades and made a 1968-D in MS64FS. The only FS coin ever graded. I have added it to my #1 all time 1968 mint set 1968 Mint Set

1 21865020 1968 25C USA MS67
1 21865021 1968 25C USA MS66
1 21865022 1968 25C USA MS66
1 21865017 1968 25C USA MS67
1 21865018 1968 25C USA MS67
1 21865019 1968 25C USA MS66
1 21865014 1968 25C USA MS66
1 21865015 1968 25C USA MS67
1 21865016 1968 25C USA MS67
1 21865011 1968 25C USA MS66
1 21865012 1968 25C USA MS66
1 21865013 1968 25C USA MS67
1 21865008 1968 25C USA MS67
1 21865009 1968 25C USA MS67
1 21865010 1968 25C USA MS66
2 21865032 1968-D 1C USA MS66RD
2 21865029 1968-D 1C USA MS66RD
2 21865030 1968-D 1C USA MS65RD
2 21865031 1968-D 1C USA MS65RD
2 21865026 1968-D 1C USA MS66RD
2 21865027 1968-D 1C USA MS66RD
2 21865028 1968-D 1C USA MS66RD
2 21865023 1968-D 1C USA MS66RD
2 21865024 1968-D 1C USA MS66RD
2 21865025 1968-D 1C USA MS65RD
3 21865045 1968 1C USA MS66RD
3 21865042 1968 1C USA MS65RD
3 21865043 1968 1C USA MS66RD
3 21865044 1968 1C USA MS66RD
3 21865039 1968 1C USA MS65RD
3 21865040 1968 1C USA MS66RD
3 21865041 1968 1C USA MS66RD
3 21865036 1968 1C USA MS66RD
3 21865037 1968 1C USA MS66RD
3 21865038 1968 1C USA MS66RD
3 21865033 1968 1C USA MS64RD
3 21865034 1968 1C USA MS67RD Very Nice POP 11 now
3 21865035 1968 1C USA MS66RD
4 21865056 1968-D 10C USA MS67
4 21865050 1968-D 10C USA MS67
4 21865051 1968-D 10C USA MS67
4 21865052 1968-D 10C USA MS67
4 21865055 1968-D 10C USA MS66FB
4 21865049 1968-D 10C USA MS67FB
4 21865053 1968-D 10C USA MS67FB
4 21865054 1968-D 10C USA MS67FB
4 21865046 1968-D 10C USA MS67FB
4 21865047 1968-D 10C USA MS67FB
4 21865048 1968-D 10C USA MS67FB
5 21865061 1968-D 5C USA MS66
5 21865057 1968-D 5C USA MS66
5 21865058 1968-D 5C USA MS65
5 21865059 1968-D 5C USA MS65
5 21865060 1968-D 5C USA MS64FS

Mistercoinman

WOW That's a great score!!!!! Fred

sumdunce

Excellent submission!

Your killin' the pops on my 68 Mint Set.

Also, since the FS nickel's pop has not yet been updated your set is at 68.00 and the best GPA is 68.00 (even though you have some coins that are not yet top pop), way cool.



Sumdunce

badger

Being mainly a proof guy, I couldn't appreciate the 1968-D find until I looked at the pops. Great achievement. You must be serious about the 1968 mint sets with all those submissions.

Great work!

Bochiman

Sumdunce...which one is yours? He is killing mine too
nevermind...just looked up your profile...yep...he is killing you too

Badger....yes, dang near impossible score...too bad he didn't have a few handfuls of the mint sets that were consecutive off the press for that jeffie.....but, ask him what he plans to do with it (or, better yet, what his wife plans to do with it :3Devil

clackamas

<< <i>
Badger....yes, dang near impossible score...too bad he didn't have a few handfuls of the mint sets that were consecutive off the press for that jeffie.... >>



Actually I did. I have one with better steps actually but a big nick that precludes FS designation. I have about 2 or 3 that are 66(2-4)6 from the same die. This one is special. Of the 1800 coins it has the best toning on top of the steps, the one thing that held back the grade is a large nick in the cheek, other wise, the luster, strike, toning, and the rest of the surfaces would make it a lock 66. It is a gorgeous coin, the purple tone is really cool.

NIckelCollector

Congratulations on a great find!!! How about posting some pictures?

Frank

dbldie55

Love the registry listing. Not even a pop 0/0 as there is no place for the coin yet.

Congrats on the coin(s).

FullStepJeffs

Clackamas... Congratulations!!!

I think your potentially insane now if you're going to keep it... there are some that would potentially pay a couple of kidneys, a spleen and a liver for that coin right now... two or three off the top of my head you already know of... which I'm sure by now, you've already received pm's from... but, the reality is... that coin could surpass the price realized for the 60-D and/or 61-D... you realize that right?

The good news/bad news for the rest of us is... now that the Full Step pop has been opened, hopefully, it's just a matter of time before more may be graded, even though the only coins from 1960 to 1970 that has happened to is the 70-S, with the 68-S following closely... A few years ago, both those dates were single digit numbers of all grades in Full Steps. I'm still waiting for the other 60's dates to break open... who knows if they ever will.

I'm sure there are very few people who actually realize what a condition rarity that coin is, but holy cow... you definitely deserve a YOU SUCK for that one!

Steve

haletj

Clackamas needs to keep the nickel until he also gets the 67rd D+S pennies. I bet an ms68 D quarter is very doable. I wonder if the best results would be if the set was auctioned all together. Once the 2 pennies are found, not a single coin in there is anything but rare.

onlyroosies

Very Nice Brian, I know you have been working that date for quite some time now.
I went through 200 1968 mint sets and didn't find one nickel or dime worth submitting.
Congrats on a nice score. Its nice to see a collectors hard work pay off.

Nick Cascio

cladking

<< <i>

<< <i>
Badger....yes, dang near impossible score...too bad he didn't have a few handfuls of the mint sets that were consecutive off the press for that jeffie.... >>



Actually I did. I have one with better steps actually but a big nick that precludes FS designation. I have about 8 or 9 that are 6646 from the same die. This one is special. Of the 1800 coins it has the best toning on top of the steps, the one thing that held back the grade is a large nick in the cheek, other wise, the luster, strike, toning, and the rest of the surfaces would make it a lock 66. It is a gorgeous coin, the purple tone is really cool. >>



I used to chase down some of these runs for quarters since they were
shipped from the mint by zip code. It's a lot of work and sometimes there
would be no payoff. I've looked at every '68 mint set I could find for more
than thirty years and don't believe I've ever seen a FS Denver nickel in one.

This date was has always been on my top five list.

Do you mind saying what area you're in?

haletj

<< <i>Do you mind saying what area you're in? >>


Hint... if you were a college sports fan you'd know by his icon... but he didn't necc buy the sets from there of course...

clackamas

<< <i> Do you mind saying what area you're in? >>



Clad, I got the sets from an estate liquidater, there is no way to know where they came from, if all of them even came from the same original source. I do know that all of the sets were from the same collector but have no idea if he had purchased them together of in parts over time.

FullStepJeffs

Anyone else realize that with the full step bonus and weighting... Brian just added an 1968D MS70 coin to his set?

Holy Cow... anybody else but me hear the sound of bank vaults opening and bank presidents crying?

Uhm... Brian... could you please pm me with the name and address of the liquidator you bought the sets from? Thanks!

Steve

centmaster

Wow! I thought it would be 50/50 at best for a 68D or 69D FS to ever be made. Big time congrats! Sometimes hard work (and a little luck!) pays off. I'd estimate it to bring at 35-40K at auction if you are so inclined.

sumdunce

Clackamas,

How much insurance did you put on the return shipment? I would be a bit nervous of that shipment getting "lost" in the mail.

Sorry if I am raining on your "you-da-man" time.

Also, I offer up to you, my very first "YOU SUCK!"

clackamas

<< <i>How much insurance did you put on the return shipment?D >>



Not enough but enough that the USPS would be doing cavity searches to find it if it turns up missing. Besides where are you going to sell it without everyone in the coin world noticing?

No rain.. thanks

Brian

money4money

I can see the $$$ on the '68-D's NFS going only one way now.........

clackamas

I got the big one and a not so small one today. I have scanned it the best I could. My scanner tends to wash things out, enjoy.



MS67RD 1968-P Lincoln - Could have a thread of its own.




Drum roll... the big one! MS64FS 1968-D jefferson



As best I could in a shot period of time the all important steps.

MJPHELAN

My keyboard just shorted out from the drool! Congrats again on the finds and thanks for the pictures.

FullStepJeffs

Brian,

Again... YOU SUCK!

And please put me in your will...

Steve

Justhavingfun

Congratulations Clackamas! That sounds like a wonderful coin and it's great to see someone working so hard at it to score like you just did.

Enjoy!



Just Having Fun

FullStepJeffs

JHF,

Just wondering if Ray should be looking over his shoulder or not with you and this coin... this coin would put you very close to him... inquiring minds want to know...

Steve

Justhavingfun

Hello Full Step Jeffs:

I don't buy coins to bop others. I buy 'em for my own pleasure and satisfaction.

And I especially wouldn't want to bop Overby. Although we've never met, I know he's a thoughtful collector of the full steppers and at one important junction of building my Jefferson collection, he helped me considerably much with his advice. Going after him now would hardly be a way to pay him back. To the contrary, I might be inclined to step aside at an auction and let him take it, if he was the sole other strong bidder. That would be one nice way to pay him back.

But rare as this 1968-D is in MS64 Full Steps, I wouldn't go after it SIGHT UNSEEN because I've seen too many PCGS so-called full steppers really coming in at what I'd consider to be 4 3/4 steps (or occasionally even 4 1/2) steps. I desperately hope that's not the case here. I hope it's a good solid 5 steps, because then it becomes a very desirable coin to me.

Indeed, if it were a true 5 steps, and the coin went to auction, I would be a strong bidder for it. If it's really full steps, it's worth (in my opinion) somewhere between 10 and 13 before vigorish, depending on strong those 5 steps are. I mean, do you have to turn it on an angle and look at it just so to see the 5 steps, or is it a clear 5 steps?

There are other factors that would advance or lower my bidding including, for instance, just how beautifully the nickel is toned, and how eye-stopping the gash on the cheek is. But it's the steps that will rule (at least for me).

There was another famous so-called full stepper that came up for sale at auction not that long ago. A number of people inquired at the time if I was going to bid, and afterwards why I didn't bid. The answer: My agent, knowing how persnickity I am about the steps, advised me to stand down.

This is surely more than you asked for, but often a simple question needs a complicated answer.

Best wishes, and I hope you're enjoying your own full steppers.


Just Having Fun

FullStepJeffs

JHF,

Wow... I was somewhat joking with that question, but wow... maybe it was the way I phrased it... but wow.

(and now for a totally unrehearsed personal aforemation of Ray)... I love Ray... he's the man... he has helped me as well, as he has with others. Okay Ray... you still the man...

And JHF... thanks for your thoughts about this coin and other full step coins... I agree with what your saying about some coins being less that 5 Steps being graded as full, and I know what famous coin you're talking about I believe.

I dont know if you remember our conversation about your 1966 FS, but you said you'd probably want 10K for it (at that time I was shocked a Jefferson Nickel and 10K could be in the same sentence) if it ever was sold (that was probably 2+ years ago). I just wonder your thoughts about that coin now and the difference between it and this one (with the recent sales of the other two big coins over 25K). I realize your 1966 is in MS65FS and this 68-D is in MS64FS... Just wondering your thoughts of how your coin and this coin have potentially been helped (or hurt) with the sale of the other 2 famous coins for over 25K...

And again... Congrats on your new dime...

Steve

Justhavingfun

Hi Full Step Jeffs:

Gosh you have a good memory, even to recall that I have that coin.

You ask what the difference is to me between the 1966 in MS 65 Full Steps and the 1968-D graded MS64 Full Steps.

First, What Clackamas did to find this coin and get it graded MS64 Full Steps was a great achievement. My proverbial hat is off to him.

The reverse certainly looks lovely and for argument's sake, let's assume that it is a true full stepper. But the coin is to me what I would call a problem coin: its obverse has that unfortunate, deforming gash on Jefferson's face. It's so big and prominent, I'd see that gash every time I looked at the coin -- and each time I'd wince. So, for me, much of the pleasure of owning that coin would be gone.

By contrast, the '66 is a simply a nice middle-of-the-road MS65. You look at it and it looks nice; no problems.

About the values of the two coins, I don't remember what I said '66 was worth 2 years ago. But whatever that was, we both know the Jefferson nickels in full steps have appreciated mightily in the last two years -- especially the top of the line "registry set" coins. So I'm sure the coin is worth a lot more today.

And for that reason, I'm sure Clackamas will make out very nicely financially if he ever decides to sell his 68-D in MS64 Full Steps. Again, assuming --sight unseen -- that the coin is a true full stepper, as I hope it is, you'd probably have people like Overby, Corso, and myself bidding for it. That should ensure the bidding reached $10 grand. But beyond that, I think that unfortunate gash on Jefferson's face will stop the bidding from reaching much higher, to say nothing of the $25 grand level those other two coins reached.

That's my opinion. I hope I'm wrong. I hope if Clackamas ever sells it, he gets an effing ton of money -- because then I'll know that my own Jefferson full steppers have appreciated even more than I dreamt possible.

Best wishes from Bangkok,


Just Having Fun

FullStepJeffs

<< <i>Gosh you have a good memory, even to recall that I have that coin. >>



JHF...

I've been patiently waiting for you to put me in your will...

But seriously, the true condition rarities of the late date set are the 65 MS65FS in Rays Set, your 66 MS65FS, Brians 68-D, and Rays 70-D in MS65FS (along with a handful of others). As a guy who has searched tens of thousands of coins from those dates looking for a similar full step coin, I tend to remember who owns what... lol... because when I finally hit the 300 million lottery... you guys will be receiving a phone call from me... lol

I think with the prices paid for the other two big coins recently, all the coins I previously mentioned will come in close to the 20-25K, if they were sold. A 68-S MS66FS, pop 3/0 coin sold for $4140 with the juice with over 15 full step coins graded in all grades. Each of the coins previously mentioned are all pop 1's with no other full step examples graded by PCGS. I just think, even with the cut across the face on the 68-D, the possibility exists that another 68-D FS coin might not ever show up (even though I hope Im wrong about that). Heck, if Brian sells it, I may have to sell the wife to get into it as well... I hope when the 68-D sells, it realizes at least $17-20K (as a 64FS coin), because that would say alot for these unloved, ugly coins that other people think are easily found. BTW... I think your 65FS coin (and Rays) are right up there with the other two previously sold coins, price wise.

Have A nice day!

Steve

haletj

Now correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't most Full Step nickel Collectors after the coins for their rarity? Certainly if you wanted the nicest possible looking coin one would just take an ms66 nfs over an ms65fs or especially an ms64fs. (That's what I would do if I didn't know anything about these coins rarity or value). So shouldn't a small nick on the face not really matter on such a rare item? It's not like you can just go out and buy another better looking full step 68-d!

oreville

Awesome pics!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Justhavingfun

Well, Mr. Full Step Jeffs and Haletj, I sure hope I'm wrong and you're both right. It won't be the first fime and it won't be the last.

Warm regards,


Just Having Fun!

clackamas

<< <i>Congratulations Clackamas! That sounds like a wonderful coin and it's great to see someone working so hard at it to score like you just did.
Enjoy!
Just Having Fun >>



Thanks, it is the crown jewel of my 1968 Registry Mint set collection. I really want to fill out the set with 67RD 68-D and S Lincolns. The 68-S Lincolns are easy enough to find and buy but the D is a tough coin. I am still trying.

BTW - I was amazed when I found the coin, I certainly was not thinking it could actually happen. I was really after an MS66FS 68-S and a uber nice MS66 68-D. When I saw the coin I about fell over in my chair. I was eating breakfast with my 2 yr old daughter and just scanning steps on the 68-D's for kicks. I searched through about 40 when I hit it and thought: "my gosh I have over 1700 more to search and I already have one, maybe I could make 2 or three?" I did not but oh well, I am more than thrilled and have made a small piece of history, at least to us coin geeks.

oreville

Hmmm clakamas:

The second half of my post disappeared: You still do not realize the incredible find of digging up that nickel! That is a miracle find. They simply did not make them that nice. Those 1968-P cents. Awesome. Hang onto it. If you ever need to sell it there will be 25 people waiting on line to buy it including me. They simply are not supposed to exist in MS-67RD.

I remember Frank Gasparro discussing this quite a few years ago. He said (paraphrased)

......Indeed, the US Mint after churning out so many coins in 1964, 1965, 1966 and 1967 after the great coin shortage of 1964 was clearly trying to win back the favor of coin collectors when it reopened the S mint coin mint mark and the 1968 proof sets from San Francisco.

But it was still clearly an overworked US Mint and the coin dies were tired, old and overused. The detail was nearly gone from the US cent nickel and quarter. It was a bad time for minting business strike coins. I remember (after the fact) the US MInt engravers discussing reworked master dies for 1969 since it was too late to redo them for 1968.........

My opinion:

All I remember was that 1968 was probably the worst overall single year since 1953 for poor quality dies and strikes. Anyone around in 1968 could not possibly question this statement.

Only 1982/1983 since then has emerged as similarly lousy years of overall US mint business strike quality.

1986 wasn't such a great year either.

clackamas

Oreville - It is an understatement that I got lucky on both coins and you can add the MS67 68-D Ken half and the 65FS 68-S to the list. I am sure the batch of Mint sets I purchased were the first stikes for the mint sets from brand new dies, hence the amazing coins I have from the collection. Anyone dedicated enough to buy 1800 mint sets back in 1968 was almost assuredly in front of the line to buy them. The sad fact however was not only are most coins garbage from 1968 but the Lincolns are mostly spotted and the mint cello has left a haze on most coins. I am probably not 100% aware of how rare it is quite yet, but the fact it is a POP 0/1/0 and worth a tidy sum makes me assume that people have been shooting at this date (1968-D) of Jeffersons for quite some time. I know I had, honestly, little hope of finding one, I was simply looking for FS 68-S's, which are extremely hard in thier own right. I am working on trying to buy a 2500 acre ranch (some other things have to fall in place first) so I may be forced to sell the 68-D later this year, but the P lincoln is probably going to the grave with me.

Cheers,

Brian

oreville

Most collectors did NOT want those 1968 mint sets let alone buy 1800 of them. Simply incredible.

Collectors were so disgusted with the clad coinage of 1968 that they just hated those coins. Including me. Offsetting that was the new excitement of seeing D mint marks for the first time since 1964 and S mint marks since 1955. But they did NOT like seeing the mint marks on the OBVERSE for the 5c through 50c coinage. We just hated that.

haletj

I just noticed not only the 68-p but 2 ms67 65-p's, 1 76-d and 2 80-d's were added to the pop report also. These are the first new ms67's 1959-1982 (besides the easy P coins 74-80) added since Sept!! And most coincidentally those 3 dates are exactly what I submitted a bunch of with hopes of ms67's, but they only got my submission last week so it can't possibly be mine (wouln't that be cool if it was). Doh! They are going to come to the market I bet just before I can get mine to the market! The same thing happened when I made a pop 5/0 ms68 97-p...Telecoin made 2 more the same exact week... and beat me to getting one on ebay (I had just gone to Greece!). Thankfully I still found a buyer.

cladking

I made a swing through the area in question many years ago looking at mint
sets. I don't remember seeing anything special in any nickels except '76-P.

I have great difficulty believing that these 1800 sets were special except for
the run of Denver nickels and P cents without spotting. Certainly there was
some segregation of sets by quality but I've simply never seen large numbers
which differ significantly. It is probably coincidental that the most outstanding
mint set I've seen is a '68 set but it was the Philly packet which stood out the
most. Every coin in the set is in the top 2% and a couple of the coins are among
the finest I've seen for the date.

It is entirely possible that the collector searched a larger numbers of sets and
pulled these out as the best.

In 1969 an order limit of "5" was imposed on these sets and it stayed in place
for many years. I don't know if there was an order limit on the '68's or not but
have never seen a box of more than "20" (I believe).