1942-S/S Jefferson Nickel RPM-012 Premium GEM BU (Near Full Steps)

I plucked this coin from an album thinking that I had a premium gem 42-S with full steps, but upon closer examination, it looks like the steps will fall just short of FS.




While I was lamenting another near miss, the mintmark caught my eye and I ventured off to do a little variety attribution. Turns out, the coin is a 1942-S/S RPM-012 Stage C.



The mintmark is a spot on match, the obverse die crack on the bust to the rim is there, and the diagonal die crack between pillars 1 & 2 on the reverse is also present.

According to the NGC census, there are only two of these certified and both are MS63 and below.

 

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It's still a nice looking coin, Paul. Is the near miss on the steps that "smudge" just above the "C"? I wish I could understand the attribution of these more.

 

Yes, the 5th step is complete, but I think there is just too much of a bridge of the 3rd & 4th steps under the 3rd pillar. Now I have seen worse than this make it into FS holders, but this coin is a lock MS66/67 with an S/S, I don't think they will let the weakness in the steps slide and give it FS as well.

 

Very nice clean coin Paul. If the others are 63s I would definitely say you have a top pop for that RPM. My 43/2 is the same way with the steps. It just has one spot that keeps it down. 42 S is still an empty slot for me. Nice find.

 

Very nice find. A beautiful S/S but it’s a step shy of FS.

 

As expected, a top pop variety coin with a population of 1/0 (12/2021).



This coin now resides in my NGC War Nickel Registry Set including Varieties.

 

Thats a Top Pop and then some. Congrats on that one.

 

Awesome find, congrats! Btw, any tips on taking and uploading clean photos such as these?

 

Thank you, I use a point & shoot on a copy stand with two CFL bulbs at 10 & 2. The rest is trial and error over a decade and thousands upon thousands of photos to perfect my process.

 

Wow! 67 was my first initial gut feeling.

Nothing beats a top pop coin! Congrats and good look on the variety.