Why No Full Steps Designation On Lincoln Memorial Cents

Hmmm, I am going to have to go and check my cents. I never thought tocheck the steps on the reverse.

Still researching the LMC "Full Step" issue. I still maintain, after checking all my proof and MS LMCs, that this designation is a selling tool and not a variation. I believe this to be a way to say "the coin has Full Devices" which is required for high grading. As far as I can determine, PCGS and ANA have not yet responded to my emails, only dealers use this designation. PCGS nor the ANA, that I can determine at this time, identify any special grading category for this designation. I've re-read Bowers, Brine, and several other books and scoured the Internet on the subject. If anyone has a reference, I'll gladly read and incorporate into my library.

I don't mind being wrong, I don't like being wrong and not learning from the experience. I'll be happy to take direction from the experts.

pocketchange2,

The 1974 Lincoln Cent in the photograph above was photographed by me and was mine at the time.
I gave that particular coin to a close friend quite awhile ago that has a very strong interest
in Lincoln Cents.Almost as strong as my well known interest in Eisenhower dollars :)
I still keep my eyes open for particularly well struck Lincoln Cents like the one above
in the hopes that one day the grading services will begin to recognize them in some meaningful
way such as a Full Steps Designation, or something along those lines. I have yet to run across
one as full struck as the one above. I believe and hope that one day they will be recognized for
how truly rare they are...Thank You For Asking

Stewart

Carl....

Look out! Another zombie thread!

Some zombies are worth waking up!

I entered this 1993 Lincoln under the title "1993 crack die", but as you can see, it has full steps.
I would be curious to know at what die state the steps start to blur.

Oh no! Not another designation for me to get hung up over. It's hard enough attempting just the full torch Roosevelt's I'm working on. Just with this designation it is really frustrating that there are so many years where it is near impossible to find a full torch. The same is the case with full step Jefferson's. Haven't got into full bell lines yet but I imagine that is the case there too.

Here are my thoughts on the subject. Speaking on Roosevelt's (since that's what I am working on and have a basic knowledge of) the market doesn't value full torch in most cases. Most years I can cherry pick them because dealers and collectors aren't looking for them. The years that are near impossible to find full torch the coins are absurdly expensive. This makes the average collector not want to attempt a full torch collection because it prices them out to even attempt. This is the exact reason I will not be attempting a full step Jefferson collection.

This, in my opinion, the only winner in making full step Lincoln's a designation would be the TPG's. Tons of money to be made in resubmission! I don't think the average collector will care to pay premiums for the designation. Not to mention the difficulty in seeing the designation which would need high magnification.