Tag Archives: Full steps

Coin designations raise value

Posted on by

In addition to mintage, mint marks and condition, expert hobbyists not only know the various coin designations but also study each series to see which ones increase values–some by hundreds and even thousands of dollars.

Take a moment out of roll and error hunting and learn these.

Know the Designations and Abbreviations

Here are PCGS designations and abbreviations (other holdering companies may have different abbreviations):

CENT: RED (R), RED BROWN (RB), BROWN (B)

Colors describing the brilliance or patina on cents, not only Lincoln cents but the denomination. Values for “red” brilliant uncirculated cents command the highest retail prices.

JEFFERSON NICKEL: FULL STEPS (FS)

Showing a strong strike for coins grading MS60 or higher, with at least five unbroken steps visible on the reverse Monticello building.

MERCURY DIME: FULL BANDS (FB)

Showing the middle bands of the fasces are clearly separated with no breaks, scratches or marks in coins grading at least MS60.

ROOSEVELT DIME: FULL BANDS (FB)

Showing the lower and upper bands of the torch are clearly separated with no breaks, scratches or marks in coins grading at least MS60.

STANDING LIBERTY QUARTER: FULL HEAD (FH)

Showing three leaves on the head, ear hole must be present, and hairline distinct.

FRANKLIN HALF: FULL BELL LINES (FBL)

Showing the full, uninterrupted lines on the lower ones of the bell device for coins grading at least MS60.

CAMEO/DEEP CAMEO

A glossy or matte surface on devices, appearing frosty on both sides of the coin, distinguishing them from the fields. The degree of frostiness establishes the designation. If one side is deep cameo and another side, only cameo (depicted below), them the designation is cameo, as both sides must contain the requisite frostiness.

DEEP MIRROR PROOFLIKE (DMPL)/PROOFLIKE (PL)

Mirror-like reflectivity of 4-6 inches for DMPL and 2-4 inches for PL used in coins of all denomiations, not just Morgan dollars.

Research the Series for High Values

After you have learned the various designations, then go to the PCGS Coin Values site and identify which years and designations bring the highest premiums. Here are a few samples:

CENT (R, RB, B)

JEFFERSON NICKEL (FS)

MERCURY DIME (FB)

ROOSEVELT DIME (FB)

STANDING LIBERTY QUARTER (FH)

FRANKLIN HALF (FBL)

Please Subscribe

If you like posts like this, subscribe so you can be informed whenever there is a new article or column.

Proxiblog also has thousands of followers on Facebook Coin Groups, YouTube and social media. To get the latest discussion and commentary, be sure to friend us by clicking here.

You can find more information about types, varieties, errors, grading, bidding and buying in Coin News Updated: The Essential Guide to Online Bidding. Please consider buying or gifting the work for a friend, as it underwrites this hobbyist blog. Thank you.

Identifying full steps on Jefferson nickels

Posted on by

If your Jefferson nickel has a strong strike, it might have 5 or 6 steps at the base of Monticello on the reverse. That adds value to most years and high value to some years, depending on date and mint mark.

To view steps on Jefferson nickels, use a loupe and look at them at the base of the Monticello depiction.

Keep in mind that this designation is only for business strikes, not proof coins. In fact, if proof coins lack complete steps, they would be impaired and lose collector value.

PCGS awards the designation if 5 lines are complete. NGC has 5-step and 6-step designations.

Sellers and lower tier grading companies often just state “full steps” when there is a break, a blending or a mark on any of the steps. There can be no such issue. The steps must run the complete base.

This internet seller claims his 1944-P war nickel has full steps. It doesn’t. There is a blending of steps, losing the designation:

One might anticipate such a blending as this coin is almost uncirculated and exhibits wear. In any case, with or without steps, this is a common issue with 119,150,000 minted. This specimen is only worth its 35% silver. But even in gem MS65, the retail value difference is only a few dollars.

A full steps designation on some years and mint marks dramatically increase value. There are many examples, but let’s just look at the 1949 nickel with a mintage of 60,652,000. The strike this year was dull for most of those coins, leading to higher values with full steps:

Some sellers disregard the fact that only some years and mint marks earn those higher values. They are counting on your not knowing which coins are common in full steps and which, rare.

Here’s an example from eBay:

I know where the seller got the idea that this coin would be worth $25,000. That’s the retail price for MS67 Full Steps in a PCGS holder. The nickel above does look gem, but not MS67 professionally graded so these PCGS values do not apply:

As proof of the above seller’s exaggeration, here is the same year and mint mark, MS65 Full Steps, Buy It Now on eBay, retailing at $45.

Now compare the two to help identify the difference:

If you like posts like this, subscribe so you can be informed whenever there is a new article or column.

Proxiblog also has hundreds of followers on Facebook Coin Groups. To get the latest discussion and commentary, be sure to friend us by clicking here.

You can find more information about types, varieties, errors, grading, bidding and buying in Coin News Updated: The Essential Guide to Online Bidding. Please consider buying or gifting the work for a friend, as it underwrites this hobbyist blog. Thank you.