MS 65 5 FS ...from the photos, I don't see any major hits/marks; I think the spots around the rim on the reverse might deduct a point (but that may just be my own standard)
Okay this is probably going to blow a few folk's minds. Slab says.....AU58 FS!!!! I saw this a week or so ago and researched it a little and thought I would buy it as an example of AU nickel. But in hand it looks MS with just a couple of hits and the steps look full until you start blowing them up to 30 or 50x...then you see a Nick or two...so next question is is this an error slab. When you look up the NGC number it says value not available. I cannot find a value for FS in AU58...is it an AU 58/65? This coin values at $2.00 in AU so I took a chance at $5... very interesting study if nothing else! You can see a little of the toning in this pic that was absent in my original post.
That's certainly interesting! Maybe there is a hint of wear that wasn't coming through on the photos? Either way it does look like one of those super attractive AU pieces that has better eye appeal than most 60-63 examples. I don't think it is an error label/slab; NGC does not list a price guide value for many coins (including stars, quite a few World Coins, and some obscure coins). And NGC is known to give designations for AU coins (just some examples that I have seen: AU 58 FBL Franklins as well as AU 55 PL and AU 58 PL Morgans). I think you found a nice coin at a price that is hard to beat. Congratulations!
When I first looked at it I thought that there was a slight hint of rub on Jefferson's cheek but I find this series hard to grade. If this coin was an early 50's coin it may have graded MS. 1941 seems to have been a good year for full strike/steps coins. However, in this example I never would have given it FS because of the complete lack of separation between the bottom two steps. In my opinion, giving this coin FS would be like giving a Mercury dime FB if all but one band was split.
There is a mark on Jeff's jacket. A mark above right of the Monticello dome and a couple of marks below the I in Monticello but otherwise field are pretty much clean.
I will try to get better pictures. In hand and slabbed as FS. I'm happy for $5. If for only as a great example as to AU grading of Jeffersons which most people admit is difficult at best.
Actually no breaks across the steps themselves there are a couple of nicks but they are on the high point ot the steps and don't break the line between the steps. The one issues is the bottom step above the C is weak. In the right light there is a faint line in that area though. Admittedly I haven't seen very many FS in hand. I can definately see why some are skeptical. This is either a $2 coin at AU 58 with no FS to best case MS66 with FS ($35 coin). So there is no upside really to spend $30 to try to upgrade as I don't have enough experience with this series to really tell the difference between MS63 and MS66
I'd go with MS 66. I see a full five steps too almost has 6 but it kind of fades away into the second step. But this nickel is really nice.
With those mark's factored in, even toning and full steps, going by the grading guidelines I believe this coin, AND it's owner missed out on money and pride, as I commented 2 pages back. I'd argue it, challenge it whatever.