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 Replies: 12 / Views: 2,709 |
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Valued Member
United States
228 Posts |
I am just about to begin roll searching Jefferson nickels,(to go along with the Lincoln cents I all ready search). I intend on keeping anything pre 1960, 2009's and real solid MS Jeffersons. But I am curious as to what makes a Jefferson a "full step" coin? How many steps must show? If a nickel is otherwise just a common, are they still worth saving if they have full steps showing?  Don't want to throw anything back worth saving. Thanks in advance!  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Actually a good question. I keep hearing people say you must have 8 steps, some say 7 and I really have no idea of how many steps there are in real life there either. I always wondered about this same thing and sure would like to know if anyone REALLY knows how many steps there are? How many are required for what grades?
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
The thing at the left that says coin facts shows lots and lots of info on that coin but nothing about steps.
Anyone here on this forum been to Monticello? If so I hope you counted the steps.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2448 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4212 Posts |
That site I've had bookmarked a long time. Everything you need to know. Good pics, too.
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Moderator
 United States
15384 Posts |
Excellent .... welcome to the great fun of roll searching Jefferson nickels LastGold.  Check out the nickel roll searching thread in this forum. https://goccf.com/t/24785&whichpage=140Soooo ... the quick primer on Full Step Jefferson ... Jefferson nickels are considered 'full-step' (FS) if all 5 steps are shown in detail without any break in the strike. The link posted above has the photographic details of FS Jefferson. What you need to know as a roll searcher is what to keep and what to pitch ..... sooo ... Prior to 1987 these are very tough to find in rolls today .... and I suggest you keep any 1987 and earlier coins. Post 1987 these are much easier to find .... and in about 2000 FS Jefferson (6 FS even) became an everyday coin. Sooo ... as a simple primer... cherish all 1986 and earlier FS Jefferson .... save the best MS 1987-1999 FS Jefferson ... and reject the 2000 and onward unless MS65FS or better. Thats my view ... welcome any other opinions. David |
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Valued Member
United States
277 Posts |
I have a book on Nickels published by Whitman. There is the 5 step club which in the early years 5 steps was considered amazing, now 6 steps is full. This is according to the book I read, things may be different now.
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Valued Member
 United States
228 Posts |
Thanks for the input guys. Carmykle, I have bookmarked the link. Special thanks to Nickelsearcher for the primer on full steps, and the tips on when its' a big deal and when it isn't - you've shortened my learning curve a lot! Bring on the nickels. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
880 Posts |
As far as PCGS goes (someone can correct me if I'm wrong), they will give the FS designation if the coin has 5. I think NGC will will actually give a 6FS designation also.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Wonder if it's possible to add a few steps yourself. Imagine the look on a Jefferson nickel person if you showed them 10 steps.   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
880 Posts |
If you have a steady hand you probably could ;). If I tried it it would look like someone took a butter knife to the coin.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10284 Posts |
I have always thought that those years from certain mints that lack any step detail at all are worth saving when some of the steps are present, even in ch XF or AU sometimes. A good starting list but far from complete would be 1952 S 1953 S 1954 S 1960 D
1961 D 1962 D 1963 D 1964 D 1968 D 1968 S 1969 D 1969 S. I am always happy to see three steps on these. Some I have found 5 steps on. I have been collecting Jefferson's for decades with scrutiny and fussiness.
Look at enough and soon you will realize what is unusual for a particular date and mintmark when it comes to frequency of finding any, strike quality, uncirculated grades available.
You'll learn on any series after looking long enough what makes one coin special from another. Jefferson's permit us to learn these things at a very affordable tuition.
Recently we all learned that a 2009 P nickel in MS62 is so much harder to find than a 2010 P in MS67 or MS68.
Each year and mint has its own personality or quirks for lack of better words.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2448 Posts |
If you make it to Monticello some day, you'll see that if they put all the steps and ramps it takes to get into the place on the coin, the coin will just be steps and ramps. (OK I'm kidding, that's just to get into the visitors center.) |
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Replies: 12 / Views: 2,709 |
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Posted 02/11/2011 3:25 pm
