I'm not sure if they are on the coin or the plastic, but I see two small nicks on Jefferson's face just above the collar. If so, I think I would go with a MS-64 FS. Nice nickel!
If I had to grade it, I would say that in hand, the steps are there, but 5 not 6. So I would grade it MS-65 5FS. We'll have to see what NGC says. Cuz that's who is going to have the final say on this subject.
If anything keeps it from the FS designation, Marshall, those two areas will be the determining factor. You definitely have it right.
I think there are just a few too many light scattered marks to get the top grade. I give the coin MS66 5FS, but I will admit it really is hard to tell definitively from those photos.
Only six steps? A pre-1960s Jefferson needs only 5 steps for the FS strike designation. This coin has 5 steps. Not 6. There should be no doubt that the coin doesn't have 6 steps. The center mark breaks the bottom 2 steps only.
Mike my point is this, at best a coin can only have 6 steps. A minimum of 5 unbroken steps is required for the coin to get the FS designation. The mark breaks 2 steps and possibly 3, therefore at the maximum the coin could only have 4 unbroken steps. Thus it would not be qualified for the FS designation.
I do indeed understand the criteria for FS designation, Doug. I was confused when you said only 6 steps... it kinda threw me. This coin is going to NGC. I will post the results when it comes back, but it will come back 5FS. I don't submit many coins and when I do, it's generally because I am pretty sure as well as have had some other in-hand opinions from people that I trust.
Careful Doug. Someone is liable to come along and swear on a stack of Gideons that they have a one-of-a-kind 7-stepper, but of course, their photos will be too small and blurry for anyone to disprove it. Chris
ok, here: tell me what you think of this other coin. I'll post the two for comparison. The scratches on the second are on the hard plastic holder, not the coin, but they should be easily discernible. I am submitting coin #1 because I think the step detail is better and that it has a better chance of slabbing FS. Am I right?