Hello everyone, I am new to this forum and have a question pertaining to Jefferson Nickels. I just started collecting and my first coin I purchased was a 1963 Jefferson PCGS PR 67. I really like the graded slabbed coins since it gives me peace of mind, but I also like the idea of buying non-graded coins. I purchased 12 proof non-graded Jefferson Nickels with random dates to get my collection going, but am torn between the graded and non-graded. If any of you collect these or have in the past which do you prefer and why? Thanks for your feedback!
Welcome to Coin Talk. All of my Jefferson nickels are raw coins. IMO if you're going to try and get a complete set of Jefferson Nickels buying graded coins can get a little expensive. The majority of them can be purchased in XF-BU for less than the grading cost. Don't forget that the seller has to try and recover some of what they paid to have them graded. Your best bet is to check the prices on eBay and compare what a Third Party Graded coin costs compared to a high grade raw coin. No proof coins were made between 1943 and 1949. A word of caution; don't be sucked in by a seller stating "near full steps" "4 out of 5 steps". etc. It's either full steps or it's not. Very difficult and expensive to buy a "full steps" nickel made in the 30's through the early 70's. If you're going to start collecting get yourself a copy of the "Red Book".
I have 3 sets of Jefferson Nickels that I work on. The first is my NGC Registry set that is comprised of all premium gem graded examples and is ranked 6th in the NGC Registry. The Atlantic City Set of Jefferson Nickels 1938-64 My second set is an intercept shield album of all raw gems that is complete up to the 1950's with some outstanding coins including a 41-S Large S gem. This is the set that I like to work on when attending coin shows that have lots of raw coin sellers. Plucking gem Jeffersons for my album collection is very satisfying. Lastly, I keep several Whitman folders to see if I can complete a Jefferson collection from circulation. Honestly, this is the toughest of the 3 ventures cause you can't buy your way out. So my advice to you is, have it all. Start both a graded and raw collection and work on both. Take your time and look for great eye appealing coins, and don't be frugal when you find a great coin that calls to, be willing to pay for quality.
Beautiful Registry set you have there. How about a few photos of your coins in the Intercept album. Even if it's only one side of the coins.
I have a complete set of Jeffersons, all of them came from circulation, although I cannot claim that I found all of them myself. The ones I have beginning in the late 1980s through the 1990s are my doing, and they came from roll searches. The 2000+ samples are all from change or roll searches too; many were culled shortly after their release and look near-perfect—Though nothing close to the registered set mentioned above. I have not found any 2019 nickels yet. My favorites of these later ones are the 2004 and 2005 Westward Journey commemoratives. There are two varieties per year, and the 2005 features a unique Jefferson portrait. Even though these varieties are only 14 and 15 years old, I have not found any in circulation for quite a while. The other elusive ones from the past 20 years are the 2009 and 2009D. Another CT member explained to me some time ago that the reason was that the number minted was a small fraction of other recent years.
Thanks for the helpful information regading collecting Jefferson Nickels. You have an amazing collection. Since I started collecting some raw and have one graded Jefferson Nickel, I will probably continue on that route. Thanks!
