PCGS Registry rating/ Full Step nickels

Bruggs

I've got a question for collectors who have PCGS Registry set Jefferson nickels. It is my understanding that a two point deduction is taken for a coin that is not full step. If I am correct, then a 1960-D PCGS MS 66 nickel will "rate" the same as a 1960-D PCGS MS 64 FS. Doesn't seen quite right to me. A true gem unc without steps is going to be much more common than a Full Step coin on some of the really tough dates. Let's hear it, Full Steppers. I want to know your thoughts.

NIckelCollector

You are absolutely correct - today. The MS66 would get an equal grade as a MS64FS. Going forward the "new" weighting system discussed on this board for other series, would most certainly "weight" the 1960D MS64FS significantly heavier. When looking at full step sets,the "% FS" rating will be significantly more important going forward. In my opinion, many of the jefferson collectors in the top 5 to 10 positions use non full step coins to "fill" positions until a full step coin can be found (if ever).

Hope this helps.

Frank

wondercoin

I've said it before on other threads, the rankings you are referring to are "baby steps" in the right direction (it beats the no stepper being worth as much as the full stepper). NGC took the "big step" and ranked the Jeffersons properly based upon the relative rarity of each nickel both with and without full steps in each Mint State grade.

Is there anything more to say about this, other than the fact that the MS66 coin is relatively common and the 64FS is an exceptionally scarce coin? Wondercoin.

solid

You are quite correct. The 64FS will cost many multiples of the 66 coin, however they are both valued the same point-wise in the PCGS Registry. I don't know if PCGS will weight FS and non-FS coins separately, or if they will simply be using date rarity to assign the weights. We will see.

Frank is also correct that most collectors will use a non-FS coin as a filler. I have a number of these in my set that will (hopefully) be replaced someday by FS examples.

Ken

riverman

Is it true? Did PCGS grade a 1961(d) MS65FS nickel and a
1954(s) MS67FS nickel. No 1960(d) nickels have been given
the FS designation?

hobbes

I think that the MS66 would be rated as 65.98 and not a 64.00 ....

STOCKFORD

That is correct Riverman, pcgs has graded a 1954-s in 67fs,a 61-d in 65fs, and there is non graded with full steps in 60-d and 38-d ,38-s for the 38-to 64 set. but lets face it ,look at the 53-s most sets either have a ms65 or ms66 in them as fillers and you telling me that a ms66 is the same as a ms64fs , with a pop of one, no other 53-s have been graded with full steps. The weighted system must be used. You see,I put the 53-s just like the 45-p mercury dime. Both are very easy to obtain in mint state, but we all know that a 45-p mercury dime with full split bands is worth a lot of money and pcgs says a ms66 is the same as a64fsb coin, thus the same weighted system needs to be there also.
thanks
P.S. I have the 53-s in 64fs

STOCKFORD

ttt

solid

Look like we will get our chance to voice opinions on the FS/non-FS weighting with the new survey.

Congrats, Bob on obtaining (or making) that 53-S! Supply and demand has everything to do with market value, of course, but I'd rather be sitting on that lone 53-S in FS than a 45-P FB Mercury, of which 96 have been graded thus far!

Mercury dimes are certainly far more popular than Jefferson nickels, and most of the good ones have probably already been graded, so the pop numbers are mature. With Jeffersons, there are more coins out there that will be graded, but I firmly believe that many issues will prove to be very rare in FS.

Nickel is a very hard metal that has always been problematic for the mint. The Shield nickel series is littered with cracked dies, Buffalos have many issues that are weakly struck, and the same holds true for the Jeffersons. In order to increase die life, the mint would set the die spacing farther apart, resulting in weak strikes.

The values have increased considerably in the past 1-2 years, but I believe that the best is yet to come. I just wish I would have worked a little harder on mine a few years ago!

Ken