Full Step Jefferson Nickel?

Hi everyone,
Looking closer at a thrown together 1964 mint set I aquired around 6 months ago, I noticed the Jefferson to show well above average detail on the steps. Is this enough to reach the Full Step PCGS standard for the year? It does show Full Steps, however the knick in the middle made me want to ask everyone's opinions specifically to TPG Standards. I found some previous auctions and I will post in the last photo the FS that sold through Legacy as a reference point.

 

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It's my understanding that any interruption will not be full steps.
Also, a coin must be mint state to qualify. You are not showing both sides
of this full coin. Just because it came out of a "mint set" doesn't make it
mint state grade. Very often these mint sets were just packaged into sets
and they are often AU. That gouge might prevent it from being MS right there.
But you must show clear full photos of both sides.

 

It's certainly Mint State. All 5 are actually very nice coins for the $18 invested. My reference of the one auctioned is evidence that although for many years, the break is an issue and will likely not reach FS designation but I mean..you've probably seen even more 1964 Nickels than myself and are aware that most are just mushy with no steps. The gouge is from the minting process and coins hitting off of each other... plenty of Ike's, Morgan's, Halves, and Quarters that are mint state with Reed imprints and scratches from that process. The standard is specific, although I think we can all agree that with certain years and mints, beggers can't be choosers so to speak? Like a 1969 P Quarter reaching higher grade more on eye appeal vs technicality because of it being a terrible year. Thank you for your opinion but I don't understand the reasoning to assume because I hadn't shown the entire coin that it was circulated. My specific question regarded the steps, not the grade.

 

That gouge across the steps definately disqualifies it as FS.

 

So what about Picture 3? There's a gouge in almost the same spot and the steps are less filled out and that one graded MS66 FS. Just wondering how one is FS and one isn't?

 

No. The hits cause interruptions that disqualify a FS designation. As of late PCGS isn't even worth submitting Jefferson nickels to anymore. I have had several tougher dates with 5 FS and clean steps that were denied. I know of others with similar experiences.

 

Please post all images in full!

 

Without seeing the graded example in hand. I would disagree with the designation. The steps should be separated as already said. There can be small nicks and ticks in the steps but cannot be deep enough to join them.
64 is one of the hardest Nickels in the series to get fully struck. And In fact 6FS is non existent.

Anyways it seems that because of the difficulty they gave the previously sold coin a pass. Instead of following there standards.

I completely agree that the FS designation should be attached to a coin no matter the grade. But FS is a designation for only MS examples.

@Puddin'Farts your nickel is very nice and has some very nice looking steps for the year. I'd be happy with it if I were you. Is the 5th step full under the third pillar? It looks weak also the nicks in-between the first two pillars have joined the steps.
Not sure but the long gouge in the center could be a strike through. It is hard to see if there has been displaced metal.

 

But it specifically says: Only regular strike coins graded MS60 or higher may receive the designation.

 

@Lehigh96 already had shown in another thread https://www.cointalk.com/threads/th...erson-nickels-defined-photographically.49827/.
It's a very good explanation about Full Steps for MS Jeffersons.
Thanks for it @Lehigh96.

 

Sorry but not even close to FS. There is a break from a hit that goes through a number of them. To be FS there can be no breaks, disruptions of any kind.

 

Unfortunately there are a lot of coins in PCGS slabs with FS designations that don't meet their own definition of FS. If the coin in picture three is being called FS it shouldn't be because it isn't a FS nickel.

It can't receive the designation from the TPG, but that doesn't mean it isn't FS. If the steps are full and unbroken it is a FS whether the TPG calls it FS or not.

 

This is an example of 6FS (2011p Jefferson Nickel)

 

No it is an example of a 2011 p Jefferson nickel....Full steps only refer to MS not proof nickels and nickels prior to the change of design. All of the newer Jefferson nickels have full steps unless damaged in a bag by nicks or dents. And that said the FS designation does not apply.

 

Oh, sorry. I just tried to show how the lines must to be for FS state.

 

Google it I'm sure there's plenty of references explaining FS nickels. Since the redesign those steps are sharp.

 

PCGS has designated 386 2011-P nickels as FS. The last date with separate non-FS coins in addition to FS coins in the PCGS population report is 2018. Older nickels qualify for as FS with 5 steps. For dates in the 1980s or 1990s onward (I forget where the break is), my understanding is that PCGS requires all 6.

 

It's strike + lack of deep nicks on the steps. The latter are still a threat.