Jefferson Nickel: 1968-S Full Steps? Pics added

Crazy4Coins

Back to searching for some of the elusive Full Step nickels again. This one appears to be very close. Although it is kind of hard to see in the photo, the fifth step line is all there just very faint under the third pillar. There is also a light tick on top of the steps on the left side, under the first pillar, but it does not break or interrupt any of the lines.

Does it make it?

Shamika

I see 4 full steps.

Shamika

Almost forgot. If you're going to start focusing on Jeffersons again, you need to sell some of those Buffalo Nickels you've been hoarding.

ricko

I see 4 full steps.... Cheers, RickO

djdilliodon

Need a better pic as its too dark on the right side.

bsshog40

The pics are a little dark to really tell. I'm seeing possibly a small merger between 2 & 3 far left and possibly 3 & 4 far right. Could be only 4 as others mentioned.

spy88

There is clearly a hit (nick) just to the left of the second pillar to the fifth step and
another just to the right of the first pillar step 1. From the pic, it's very hard to tell
if they are deep enough to negate a FS.
As others have mentioned, the dark area of the fifth step from pillars 2 to 4 makes it
impossible to know the step is complete although it does appear to be there...
but very faintly visible. JMO

From the shadow produced under the steps, I'm assuming your light source is angled in
from 'north' of the coin. Might just want to try angling the coin more toward the light
for a full view of all the steps.

Unknown

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Type2

Nice Now let see the rest.

tincup

Worth a shot at full steps.

emzee

PCGS clearly would not call it FS in 2013 because the upper 5 steps are not complete - the fifth step is incomplete under pillar 3. On a bad day, PCGS would not label it FS even with a complete, sharp 5th step because of the tiny bagmark under column 2. When PCGS first started grading FS, the bagmark might have been ignored (which IMO, it should be).

Using criteria of FS Jefferson 5c club of the 80's and 90's, this is a 5 1/4 step coin: 4 full steps + 3/4 of the 5th step + 1/2 of the 6th step, visible under columns 1 & 2.

Michael

emzee

I would bet dollars to doughnuts that the coin is a mint set piece.

Michael

19Lyds

Regardless of what folks see or think they see, I see a "Keeper"!

What date is the "4 Full Steps" a cut off for the FS designation?

cladking

Wow!!! ...And a nice Gem to boot.

Yes, it is almost beyond question a mint set piece and even has mint set toning.

It might be a good idea to stabilize it just to be on the safe side.

You might find one in a few hundred gemmier but you won't find it with steps unless you are very very lucky.

cupronik

Doesn't hurt to spend the $14. modern fee to find out. Try to send in other worthwhile modern singles to make the two-way postage expense "palatable."

bolivarshagnasty

MS65FS Current pops are 8/64***5/65***3/66 Great find!!!

Crazy4Coins

Thanks for the comments on this one. The coin did come out of a mint set. I gave it a grade of 65+, and even maybe a 66, comparing it to other examples in the archives. Now, I'm certainly not an expert on the series, but I think the coin has a shot at Full Steps, especially when I look through some of the other examples in Coin Facts that were given the designation.

as always, your thoughts are appreciated.

keets

especially when I look through some of the other examples in Coin Facts that were given the designation.

the coin looks like it may be designated FS but judging from the obverse probably no higher than 64, there's a lot of unstruck flaws and post contact marks. as far as "comparing" it to other coins in certain grades-----that's not very reliable.

FullStepJeffs

It's close enough to make the trip to the Gods for authentication. I think it has a shot at FS and probably a lock 64, possible 65.

It's a nice coin for the date.


Steve

seanq

I would definitely send that into PCGS as it has at least a 50/50 shot of getting into a FS holder. I think it will go either MS65FS or MS66 depending on what the graders had for breakfast that morning.


Sean Reynolds

georgiacop50

Behoove coin.

Send it.

BigDowgie

Worth a shot to the grading gods! Pictures are tough to judge FS, especially when the lines start fading into black! The weakness under the 3rd pillar (based in pictures) should not let this grade FS. You can compare all you want to older graded coins. PCGS is taking harder looks for the clean, full lines. It's MS65+ all day. Super clean reverse and the obverse, there than the jaw is pretty clean also! Nice find!

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coinkat

Wonderful coin. While I would submit this, I would not let the plastic dictate the price or the perception of this particular coin

I have never seen a 1968-s that looked as compelling as this

Datentype

Having just recently gone through several thousand sets of this date i can tell you that it is a peculiar coin....many close FS but just a minor thing keeping them from fs. Coinfacts has some examples that are just fs by a hair. Plan on seeing some of these come to market in NGC holders and possibly 1968-d, 1969-s and 1970-s potential FS. I'm not real thrilled with the 1968-d in 64fs on coinfacts i think i have one better than that would be literally a historical coin if it grades as a real FS coin. the 1969-s even more epic.

georgiacop50

<< <i>... that it is a peculiar coin....many close FS but just a minor thing keeping them from fs. >>



Yes, not that hard to find w/ 4.75 steps.
Unfortunately the pops include a few of these 4.75's , graded in the days of yore.

WoodenJefferson

The 5th step is no mas.

Datentype

okay I actually just had this date graded and I got one FS coin. Just as I thought lots of close ones and i do believe at this point in time NGC is as tough as PCGS on this sort of thing. If anybody is interested it graded out 66 5fs. I wish i had good picture capabilities - i might try anyway........

I do think the coin posted here would not go fs at NGC at this time based upon the interuptions in the steps and the importance of the coin. They might be tempted to fs a coin if it is only worth $50 but not a few thousand IMHO.

CaptHenway

Serious question: Is the Jefferson nickel series the only one in which the TPG's recognize two different levels of "fully struck," i.e., "Five Full Steps" and "Six Full Steps?"

I know that in the pre-slabbing days the collectors of Mercury dimes used to recognize "Split Bands," where you could see the trough between the bands but the bands themselves were not fully rounded, and "Full Split Bands." Does anybody still recognize "Split Bands?"

Thanks,

TD

spy88

TD,



<< <i>Is the Jefferson nickel series the only one in which the TPG's recognize two different levels of "fully struck," i.e., "Five Full Steps" and "Six Full Steps?" >>


I can't answer to other series but I can tell you this about the Jeffersons.

A "fully struck" Jeff may or may not have full steps...5 or 6. And there are many instances
of a 5 or 6 step coin that isn't "fully struck". A full strike Jefferson with 5FS or 6FS command very
high prices regardless of date/mm, but there are certain dates/mm within the series that are
extremely rare regardless of step count.

Our hosts say a Jeff is FS if there are 5 clean and complete steps from pillar to pillar. NGC included the
6FS if that step is also complete. There are many dates/mm Jeffs that will never get the 6FS.

CaptHenway

Thanks!