Picked up a group of 68-70 Mint Sets the other day, going through them and whoever owned these sure must have gotten the sets fresh off the dies. By my count there are at least 4 solid proof-like (PL) coins and quite a few possibles. Not to mention a nice RPM, two DDR, and my very first 1970 D Kennedy Rusted Die Reverses (never found a single one in the dozens I've picked up, today I find 3.) None, so far, caused quite the feeling of "expelling a brick" so much as getting about as close to a Full Step 1969 S (Business Strike) Jefferson Nickel as I'm ever going to get. Man, is it so breathtakingly close. The pictures don't quite show all the detail (I'll see if I can get some better ones to show how close it really is) but there is a light weakness under Column 1 (even with the smudge the lines are complete in the corner) and a big old smudge between 2-3...but under that there are full lines of steps. Sooooooooo close. (Please keep in mind I am very aware that "close" does not count...but man, it's so breathtakingly close!) Edit: Better shot of steps. Edit: Another couple shots of steps. Again, I'm NOT saying it qualifies as FS under what I understand to be the standards, I'm saying it's drastically closer than any other example I've seen. And not that far off from qualifying.
I don't have the piece in hand. I don't have a superfragilisticexpalidocious screen with the see the universe clearly program. What I can see, I don't see. Then again, I am a fan of side steps being full along with main entry steps. That means discount anything I might opine.
I added a couple new closeups of the steps, about as good as I'm going to get it tonight. Again, I'm not saying it qualifies as FS under current standards. I'm saying it's the closest to qualifying I've ever examined in hand.
Again, it is my computer most likely. I count 2 steps that pass the test. I sure wish I could see it in hand, because having enjoyed your posts, I don't have an impression that you exaggerate.
FS (full steps) is a full strike designation! And what you see in a straight on photo of a coin and its steps is what it is. The first steps, 1, 2, and 3 are clearly there but the lower steps lose clarity, although they curve inward making photography of the steps more difficult to view. From what I can see, the hair, windows, Monticello appear well struck. And to have what steps show along with lustrous or perhaps semi PL fields makes this coin a rare VEDS find. The only thing left to grade is the condition. I wouldn't mind seeing this coin in hand as well. Here's an VEDS struck, SPL 1960-P that's been graded MS64. In spite the low grade, it does capture the viewer's attention whether it's FS or not! And here's a link to my collection. [Link removed]
