A new eBay grade

All of us (especially Morgan collectors) are familiar with the hype of eBay dealers: almost prooflike, should be DMPL, etc., etc.

I found a new one tonight while looking at War nickels. We know PCGS gives the 5 full step designation, while NGC has 5fs and 6fs.

This enterprising seller has several that he has personally designated 4 full steps. Line up and get them while they’re hot, I suppose.

 

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Anacs also does 5.5 steps...4 steps is a new one...maybe I’ll list a few “super rare” no steps nickels soon.

 

Should be plenty of 1954 S for you to market @ddddd

Most of the coin dealers 'round here just write "STEPS" on the 2x2. I always laugh when I see it, because I imagine an older numismatist looking down at a YN and saying,

"Yes, Johnny....there are supposed to be steps on the reverse of a Jefferson Nickel. This coin doesn't have any, but others will. Good work."

 

You're right! One would think that by now they'd know that simply slapping on "SAME AS x PIZZAS!" stickers work so much better and while telling potential buyers all they need to know.

 

I saw an eBay listing touting rarity because only one coin had been certified at that particular grade. I think it was an XF-45 common date $10 Indian gold eagle.

 

I had a chuckle once about 10 years ago, when I saw a Coin World advertiser touting a Morgan Dollar on the Sheldon Grading system as MS-63.25 .....

 

"We know PCGS gives the 5 full step designation, while NGC has 5fs and 6fs."
Correct me if I'm wrong...but doesn't PCGS only show FS? w/o a number?

 

You are correct. PCGS gives an FS designation for 5 or 6 steps. No number.

 

Using this strategy for war nickels is ridiculous but I can see using 4 steps for issues that are extremely rare in 5 full steps. There is something to be said for a coin that just misses a designation due to a technicality. How about this war nickel in my collection.




The coin has an imperfection that interrupts the steps under the 3rd pillar, but in all other respects, the steps are strong.

 

Maybe it was in an AccGrade holder - but they only did tenths of a grade. So would this round up to 63.3?

 

I love it when they say a coin is the "only one known" because no one else has sent a 1998 5 Whatsits from Northeast Dipstickistan to NGC or PCGS.

 

Exceptional Jefferson! You don't see many that are +*...now I'm sure it would earn a Green Bean and you would have a hat trick nickel! Even sounds good.

 

Full steps be frogged. That is a splendid Jefferson.

 

I seen someone selling a Jefferson Nickel with 7/8 Stairs..... curious I looked at the listing, I'm not sure if they counted 7 stairs and thought there was 8, or he's using the 7/8 as a percentage, but either way, it wasn't correct lol

 

They are probably using the quarter step method and then cutting it in half horizontally. For example, the 1958-D Jefferson shown below would grade 6-6-6-5 based on the PAK Full Step Nickel Club quarter step method.



If you were to cut the steps into 2 sets of 3, then apply the quarter step method, the coin would grade 3-3-3-3, 3-3-3-2 thereby making the steps 7/8ths full.

Now, why anyone would want to make the evaluation of the steps that convoluted is beyond me.

 

Imagine that on a slab, would look like the coin had two separate cert numbers.

 

I have been looking out for a 1944 Henning Nickel with only one step, the ultra rare "Doozy."

 

I have two high grade 1944 Hennings and they do not have any steps. I believe he made his dies from worn host coins. But he did claim he made 6 reverse dies so it is an interesting feature to look for.

 

Then again, there's the NICE scale, for coins no other distinctive qualities...
"Almost Nice"
"Nice"
"Very Nice"
"Extra Nice"
"Really Nice"
"Almost Nicer"