Never dealt with Jefferson nickels before. But I bought a really nice set recently. Here are 2 with Full Steps, except maybe not... That's where I need your help. Thanks!
Both nice coins, luster looks dreamy, but I would say no on the FS for both. Hopefully @Lehigh96 will be around soon, he probably could tell you a lot more. These threads would be worth reading too: Does this Jefferson Deserve Full Steps? The FS (Full Step) Designation for Jefferson Nickels Defined (PHOTOGRAPHICALLY)
I think the top one qualifies, but not the bottom one. BUT, I would not be surprised if the bottom one made it. I have studied my slabbed FS nickels by both grading companies, and some that slip through shock me. The 1941 D is very common in FS anyways, so much that there are more FS than non-FS slabbed ones. Both don't cost much with FS designations, so I wouldn't recommend spending the money for grading these unless you really want to. You can buy them already slabbed and designated for probably cheaper than the grading and shipping fee.
A few things to keep in mind when submitting Jefferson Nickels. First, PCGS is more conservative in the premium gem grades than NGC and it is very difficult to get an MS67 from PCGS unless you have both very clean surfaces and excellent luster. Second, NGC is far more conservative in their application of the full step designation. Since the FS designation often results in a significant price bump, it is often advantageous to send a coin to PCGS for the FS designation even though you might end up with a lower numerical grade. Now onto the coins. The first coin is a 1940-P which is a pretty common date and pretty common in full steps (20%). The problem with your coin is that it has no chance at an MS67 grade from either service. The mark in Jeff's cheek will preclude the MS67 grade no matter how good the luster. Furthermore, there are a number of other minor marks scattered about as well. I think NGC would definitely grade this MS66 and I think it has a decent shot at MS66 from PCGS as well. The steps have very good detail but from your photos, it appears that there are two very small bridges: the first affecting the 3rd & 4th step under the second pillar and the second affecting the 3rd & 4th step under the 3rd pillar. I think it is optimistic to think that NGC would give this coin a 5FS designation, but I think it has a very good chance of getting a FS designation from PCGS. If you decide to submit this coin, send it to PCGS; you would be hoping for an MS66 FS worth $60-$80 and would have to settle for an MS65 FS worth $25-$30. The second coin is a 1941-D which is the most common date in the series and one of the most commonly found with full steps (33%). Your coin however has a significant mark right through the middle of the steps precluding a full step designation by either service. Additionally, the reverse has a number of scattered marks including a rather big one northeast of the dome. While the obverse looks to be solid MS67, I think the reverse will bring the coin down to MS66 for both services though I have seen NGC give coins like this an MS67. This one you would definitely send to NGC and pray for an MS67 worth $50-$60 and settle for an MS66 worth $20. The real problem here is that the FS examples are so commonplace that nobody wants to buy a non-full step 1941-D unless it has some other superlative feature like absolute booming luster or attractive toning. Given how low the ceiling is on this coin and how hard it would be to sell it, I would pass on submitting this coin for grading and just try to sell it raw as a premium gem. Neither coin has a huge upside potential for grading an both are likely to come back worth about what you paid to have them graded. I would only send these coins in if I were piggy backing them on another submission.
Invaluable, Lehigh, truly. I can't thank you enough! I just posted these 2 and more on the U.S. Coins forum, that I was considering sending to PCGS or NGC. Based on your advice, however, I'll be excluding these from the order.
