Starting a FS Set

Doug, I really didn't say this to start a fight, I felt that for you to defend market grading which includes things like bumping grades due to value or scarcity AND to say that a coin either has all of the detail or it doesn't is hypocritical.

Technical grading takes quality of strike into account, as that is how you determine Mint State grades. The FS designation is a TPG invention to create a premium grade among the MS coins, just like the FH designation on Standing Liberty Quarters.

I am sorry if I offended you, but I thought your statement was hypocritical.

 

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This is not at all what I said. What I said is that quality of strike is how you differentiate between the different Mint State grades. It has nothing to do with any grade below MS-60, nor did I say that it does.

 

I think the FS designation was driven by collector pressure on the TPG's not the TPG's pushing it on the collector! There where Full Step collectors long before there where TPG's.
I personally would like the TPG's to go further in the Step designation. I don't care if they call 5 steps or 6 steps FS but would like to see something like (5FS 5-5-5-6) (5FS 6-6-6-5) (4FS 5-4-5-6). SEGS tried to improve (poor grading aside) but with nicks, cuts, bridges it got a little ridiculous.

Same goes for full horn, full head, Full Bell Lines, Fully Split Bands, etc these are more driven by specialty collector than TPG's inventing terms.

 

Hey Mikenoodle,

I too am starting to collect FS nickels. Where should I look to buy uncirculated rolls? What are the most cost effective ways to start building a FS collection?

On my blog, I have been writing about my journey to collect a US nickel type set collection and a full step jefferson nickels. I thought that you guys might find it interesting to follow my journey.

Thanks for your help,
Fred

 

Fred:

Unc rolls are available from old collectors, dealers, eBay and many other sources. Unfortunately, finding them is half of the battle. It's not that easy, so if you thought I will just sit and look through rolls in my living room, then cool beans!!! But you have to find the rolls first.

Remember, you are mining for the same gold as a half a thousand other collectors, so trust me, it won't be as simple as looking for most coins. In fact, the price you pay for a FS set will be either in $$$ for the already slabbed ones, or in sweat as you search and find the rolls like a detective.

Good Luck and tell me how it goes!!!

 

well just between the 2 of us the only coin worthy of an FS designation is made of gold and has at least half an ounce of it so there