Full steps nickel

scooter25 · April 28, 2007 4:17AM

Does anyone have a picture of what a full step nickel looks like?

LindeDad · April 28, 2007 4:38AM

scooter25 · April 28, 2007 4:41AM

I don't see the difference between this and a regular nickel I don't see any steps! lol

scooter25 · April 28, 2007 5:22AM

Somebody please help me out here. this is the second time I have put this post through the first time I didn't get a straight answer but there weren't many people signed in I was hoping to get a straight answer this time on a Sat afternoon. So someone please enlighten me on what it is I am looking for in a full step nickel as opposed to a nickel that is not full step.

StrikeOutXXX · April 28, 2007 5:25AM

Try this link, may help:

Carl's Coins Jefferson Nickels Explanation

scooter25 · April 28, 2007 5:30AM

OK thanks a lot now I see wha tI am looking for!

planetsteve · April 28, 2007 5:30AM

Here's one that PCGS called a 66FS. Is it or isn't it? (Let me know if 1200 pixels is too big for a forum pic!)

CarlWohlforth · April 28, 2007 5:39AM

I just saw this thread. I was going to post a link to the Jefferson Nickel page on my website but StrikeOutXXX beat me to it (thanks!).

PlanetSteve's coin is Full Steps by the PCGS definition of having at least 5 full steps. It is very close to having all 6 steps.

keets · April 28, 2007 8:20AM

from page 70 in the PCGS Official Guide To COIN GRADING and Counterfiet Detection, second edition:

Any major disturbances or interruption of these steps or lines, whether caused by contact, planchet problems, or another source, will result in the coin not being designated FS..

without even needing to use a loupe and without being overly critical the coin pictured by planetsteve is most certainly NOT a Full Step coin. this is exactly the reason i sold my incomplete collection of Full Step coins and got out of slabbing and/or buying slabbed Mint State Jefferson Nickels. PCGS has lost sight of how to grade them and the collecting/dealer communities have followed in lock-step with the value assessment that's been taking place for at least 5-8 years now. it is pure insanity.

razzle · April 28, 2007 9:06AM

Scooter and Strikeout,

Helpful thread. Thanks,

raz

planetsteve · April 28, 2007 9:56AM

Thanks Carl and keets for the commentary, and thanks scooter for starting the thread! I certainly don't take any offense to keets' take on the coin. Indeed, keets is correct on the (over?)valuation of these coins, as mine was purchased over the counter at Stack's for what turned out to be a smidge over PCGS Price Guide.

I would go so far as to say that the designation convention in general is a bit silly. I'm not yet seeing what is so magical about, for example, a Mercury dime with "Full Bands" but with incomplete striking of the peripheral lettering. Likewise, I bet there are FS nickels with weak obverses.

Edscoin · April 29, 2007 5:20AM

<< <i>from page 70 in the PCGS Official Guide To COIN GRADING and Counterfiet Detection, second edition:

Any major disturbances or interruption of these steps or lines, whether caused by contact, planchet problems, or another source, will result in the coin not being designated FS..

without even needing to use a loupe and without being overly critical the coin pictured by planetsteve is most certainly NOT a Full Step coin. this is exactly the reason i sold my incomplete collection of Full Step coins and got out of slabbing and/or buying slabbed Mint State Jefferson Nickels. PCGS has lost sight of how to grade them and the collecting/dealer communities have followed in lock-step with the value assessment that's been taking place for at least 5-8 years now. it is pure insanity. >>

I agree with Keets. I have been collecting or should I say trying to collect Full Step nickels for 4 or 5 years now. I started out buying them raw when I ran across them. But around here there are not any local dealers and coin shows are far and few between so I started buying them on E Bay. The raw ones that the sellers discribed as full steps where not full steps. So I started buying Slabbed ones. Mostly NGC and PCGS. The NGC ones Are indeed full steps but most are over Graded by one or two points. Out of nine PCGS coins I have I would call only two of them full steps. Like Keets I have stoped collecting them and have moved on to (RAW) Lincoln Cents. Now I am learning what problems there are with collecting them. Coin collecting just ain't as fun as it used to be !

coinkat · April 29, 2007 5:44AM

I have maintained that a Full Monticello designation would be more appropriate and a better description for the overall strike and appeal of the reverse... Full Steps on quite a few dates are quite rare which makes assemblying a complete set an overwhelming challenge

CarlWohlforth · April 29, 2007 6:00AM

Regardless of label or description you should collect what you want. If a Jefferson is labeled FS but you disagree with that don't buy it. If a coin comes from eBay and it isn't as described return it.

I agree that designations like FS, FB, FH and FBL focus on one aspect of the design being well struck while ignoring possible weakness elsewhere. I maintain that narrow view creates opportunities. For example if you want a well struck Standing Liberty Quarter try to find one with all rivets fully defined. It is hard to do. If you find one it may not have the FH designation and in that case would be priced much less and would be a great buy.

WinPitcher · April 29, 2007 6:12AM

I never bought into the 'full steps' hype myself.

My Jeff collection may have some and it may not for all i care.

when i was putting it together I looked for a well defined Monticello on the reverse and nice rim on the obverse.

if the coin had those qualities and had decent luster and no marks it made it into my album.

Steve

leothelyon · April 29, 2007 10:23AM

<< <i>from page 70 in the PCGS Official Guide To COIN GRADING and Counterfiet Detection, second edition:

Any major disturbances or interruption of these steps or lines, whether caused by contact, planchet problems, or another source, will result in the coin not being designated FS..

without even needing to use a loupe and without being overly critical the coin pictured by planetsteve is most certainly NOT a Full Step coin. this is exactly the reason i sold my incomplete collection of Full Step coins and got out of slabbing and/or buying slabbed Mint State Jefferson Nickels. PCGS has lost sight of how to grade them and the collecting/dealer communities have followed in lock-step with the value assessment that's been taking place for at least 5-8 years now. it is pure insanity. >>

I have to agree with Al about getting too critical about the 1944-D is question. IMO, the coin could very well be considered FS if it carries an EDS strike like the two 44-D's pictured below. I'm not going to care one iota about some little nick on the steps when the coin is of high quality in every respect to it's strike, grade condition and eye appeal. Incidently, the first 44-D has a flawless bold 6 steps. But that's the least of it's other superior qualities in strike, grade and eye appeal. Of course, there's a visible dimple-like mark on the cheek but the survival rate for a first strike, 6 step example is quite rare. Any true JN coin collector will instantly recognize the rarity in this example as a very high quality coin. I have yet to hear a bad review from anyone Ive shown this coin. Presently, this coin resides in an ANACS MS64 holder. But when a coin has as many qualities as this coin exhibits, it doesn't matter what it grades. Same goes for the other toned 1944-D. For those who are centalized on the steps only, there are five plus well represented steps on this example. I don't believe this coin has been to PCGS but it started out in a SEGS holder MS65 5555 steps, no flaws. Sent it to NGC (under unusal circomstances) to see what they would think and it came back in a MS66 no 5 step holder and without the coveted star? This coin has no visible marks to speak of. There are a couple of pin-point nicks in the field behind Jeff's head but you need a 14x loupe to see them. The mark that appears in the pic on the cheek is from a long tear-like die crack that runs from Jeff's eye. Do I need to say anything about the strike and toning? What does this coin grade IMO? I could easily grade it a MS67 5 steps. It could also grade MS68 5 steps! But as a collector, it doesn't matter what it grades! All I need to know, that it's an example in it highest quality, that it will be tough to beat. And yet, I have another EDS example in a PCGS MS67 6 step example that took me over 10 years to locate but I don't like it any more than the two coins I've pictured here.

So someone please enlighten me on what it is I am looking for in a full step nickel as opposed to a nickel that is not full step.

I hope I've answered your question!

Leo

LucyBop · April 29, 2007 10:29AM

Edscoin · April 29, 2007 12:00PM

<< <i>

>>

NICE !

Colquhoun · April 29, 2007 12:39PM

Lucy thats the most horrid nickel I have ever seen, but being a nice guy.. I will give you melt plus a penny for it

Seriously Nice

I like it

Full steps nickel

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The more qualities observed in a coin, the more desirable that coin becomes!

My Jefferson Nickel Collection

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