Found This 1971 Jefferson Rollsearching Today

The rest of the coin looks beat up. Do the full steps negate the dings and scratches in terms of grading?

I could be wrong about this (Wheezydog would have a better answer than I) but I think that 1971 Jeffs would have a tendency to strike up better only because they are the first year of a pretty significant updating of the Master Die. Somebody out there correct me if I'm wrong!

Yes, thanks for pointing your bony finger at me CND. LOL
This is typically a sharp design as the dies were worn out and reworked for 1971.
Full steps are common on 1971 nickels, however there is a premium for this date from Philly anyways in MS.
I agree that the scan will take away how good this could look in hand. I see a couple/few contact marks on the obverse. I also think I see some wear, just a touch on Jefferson's coat and maybe a hint on the cheek, jaw and eyebrow. ( maybe )
No wear it's a MS63. If it has a hint of wear it is a AU58.
From what I can see, it looks like you have a full step nickel with about 5 and 1/4 to 5 and 1/2 steps.
I think it's a nice nickel, worth hanging onto. Many of the 1971 nickels are found in UNC with a heck of a lot more dings and digs than this one shows. Bag marks galore are common on this date.
I would say it would fill a hole in anybody's set. The only way to get a nicer one is to go to a coin show or shop and maybe pay a buck or three. You don't run across this coin very often in change.
They made millions, but where are they? Socked away in rolls I suppose in collections.
Same place the 2009 nickels are I guess. NICE COIN!
There are worse for sale on ebay that would cost ya more than a couple bucks.

That's a tough question to answer for me since I am definitely not sure, makes me think though.
I think you are asking if the step detail is weak (shadows) under the second and third pillar at the very top steps. Never really thought about it, but I would imagine that because of the design and because the pillars on the die would push into and displace metal in that area that the less deeper part of the die in those areas could cause a weaker strike detail than the areas between the pillars.
Following me?
However, that's just a theory, I think anywhere that there is a higher point on a coin, it is susceptible to die wear as well. Lower points on a die could be weaker because of less pressure and debris collecting on the dies.
Is it common? Never really thought about it. On the nickel, I don't see this as exactly common.

I would rather hear somebody answer this that knows more about the minting process as what you are talking about is probably something that could happen to any coin.