I'm just starting to try and determine full steps on Jefferson nickels. I've put the same photo in twice and ran a line across steps in one of the photos.
Looks Like a FS coin to me as well. Looks like a newer nickel though, and almost all of those are going to have full steps and won't bring any premium. Lehigh96(not sure if I got the numbers correct) wrote up a great thread on differentiating FS Jefferson's from non FS Jefferson's. I'll do a little digging and see if I can find it, I'll post the link here. This isn't the particular thread I was talking about, but it's a good one. http://www.cointalk.com/t207768/#ixzz1xMQzpZku
Green18 & KoinJester - are you stating that in addition to having full separation with each of the 6 steps, the 4 area at the columns also much have complete separation? Bsowa - thanks for the thread link to all - yes, this was a 2011 nickel. In searching for full steps, which would be the most recent date you'll consider a full step a 'real find'. Also, I'm starting a little website for myself (I'm a retired website designer) over at http://www.JeffersonFullStepNickels.com. Really don't have anything there but a photo of the nickel in this thread. However if you visit and click on the photo it will come up every large.
I meant the steps on the edge of both sides of the building. Don't those steps (along with the ones immediately under the portico) have to all have full separation?
How many times do you have to post this same question? Didn't you read the forum rules and guidelines on how to navigate the site? You pick a forum topic you want to post in and click the "+ post new thread" button at the top. Easy as pie.
Reborrell, No sir The spot I'm referring to is the hit on steps 1 and 2 counting from the bottom. Above E L in Monticello
When I do crh with nickels my main reasons are to find war nickels, buffalos, and any varieties. I do also like to pull out any uncirculated nickels minted anytime before 1990. Unc nickels from the 80's really aren't worth much over their face value, but I keep them because I like the looks of them. So for any nickel before 1990 that's unc and has fs is a real find for me, for others it's probably no big deal. Any coin you find that has full steps and you decide to keep it for your collection, imo qualifies as a real find. From a value stand point I'd think any Nickel minted before 1960 with full steps would be a real find.
I think the way full steps are determined should really be reexamined. If the coin has 5 or 6 full unmerged steps off of the press, it shoul get FS designation. The fact that it gets a cut or nick across a step or steps from being hit by another coin while it is in the hopper or being bagged or is in circulation should only affect the final grade of the coin.
Paul, Doesn't the fact that the hit goes through 2 steps define "completely interrupted" step? Or am I confused?
No, interrupted means the line needs to come to a complete stop. The mark on the OP's coin clearly affects the 3rd, 4th, and 5th steps of the coin, but it does not cut completely through either the 3rd or 4th line. All it does is create a small jog in the 3rd line, but it is definitely intact. On the coin I posted, the mark is severe that it cuts through all 5 lines.
