FULL STEPS???

[Leothelion]

Here's another fine example that "Pos"CGS can't grade! See attachment! This is a pcgs 66fs graded coin! Note the nick on the steps.

 

Leo

[Leothelion]

And here's another! See attachment!

 

Leo

[Leothelion]

Here's one pcgs graded MS66! See attachment!

 

Leo

[LucyBop]

what are you saying?

 

that ms66 coins are flawless?

[Leothelion]

what are you saying?

 

that ms66 coins are flawless?

 

NEAR GEM UNCIRCULATED - MS64

OVERVIEW: Exceptional mint luster; no wear; light bag marks.

EYE APPEAL: The eye appeal can range from slightly negative to very positive. This is a nice coin, so anything too negative would preclude the MS-64 grade. Balance is a key. A coin with marks/hairlines in obvious focal areas would have to have great luster or some other positive factor to attain MS-64. A coin with less severe marks/hairlines hidden in devices could have impaired luster or some other problem and still be graded MS-64. Coins with deficiencies and no redeeming characteristics are graded MS-63 or lower.

MARKS: There may be numerous minor marks/hairlines, several significant marks/hairlines, or other defects . There may be a few minor marks/hairlines in the main focal areas or one or two significant marks/hairlines in the main focal areas. On minor coinage (dime coinage and smaller), there may be several marks/hairlines in the fields or main focal areas, though none should be too severe. On larger coins, these marks/hairlines may be more severe in the fields or main focal areas. However, a severe mark/hairline would have to be of a size that would preclude grading the coin MS-65 though not so severe as to reduce the coin to MS-63. If there are several fairly heavy marks/hairlines in obvious areas, then the coin would grade MS-63.

STRIKE: The strike will range from average to full.

LUSTER: The luster can be slightly below average to full, and toning can impede the luster. On brilliant coins, there may be breaks in the luster caused by marks or hairlines. Red copper can be considerably mellowed. There may be noticeable spotting for this grade, though heavy or large spotting would reduce the grade to MS-63 or below.

 

GEM UNCIRCULATED - MS65

OVERVIEW: Blazing original luster and virtually no surface flaws.

EYE APPEAL: The eye appeal will be average or above. This is a very nice coin. However, there are many ways a coin can grade MS-65. This grade (or MS/Proof-64) may have the largest range of eye appeal. A coin may grade MS-65 with scattered light marks, but with great luster and strike - or a coin with virtually no marks but slightly impeded luster also could be MS-65. The overall eye appeal still must be positive or the coin does not merit MS-65.

MARKS: There may be several scattered marks, hairlines, or other minor defects. If the flaws are in a main focal area, then they must be minor and fewer. Hidden marks and hairlines can be larger. On dime type and smaller, they almost always must be in the devices or be very minor if they are in the fields. On larger coins, there can be marks/hairlines in the fields and in the devices, though no major ones.

STRIKE: The coin will be well struck.

LUSTER: The luster will be average (almost always above average), and any toning can only slightly impede the luster. Copper coins can have mellowing of color for red and unevenness of color for red-brown or brown coins. Note: There can be minor spotting for copper coins.

 

GEM UNCIRCULATED - MS66

OVERVIEW: Blazing original luster, virtually no surface flaws and good strike.

EYE APPEAL: The eye appeal will almost always be above average for a gem-quality coin, and many MS-66 coins will be superb in this category. Any negative factors must be compensated for in another area.

MARKS: There may be several minor, but noticeable, defects. If marks or hairlines are in an important focal area, then they must be minimal and compensated for by the rest of the coin's being superb. STRIKE: The coin will be well struck.

LUSTER: The luster will be above average (usually far above average), and any toning should be attractive and only minimally impede the luster. Red copper can have mellowing of color, and there can unevenness of color for red-brown and brown copper. Very minor spotting may be present, though it should be noticed only upon close examination. A dipped coin must be "fresh" in appearance and never give the impression of being cleaned.

 

SUPERB GEM UNCIRCULATED - MS67

OVERVIEW: Blazing original luster, virtually no surface flaws and incredible strike.

EYE APPEAL: In almost all cases, the eye appeal will be superb. An MS-67 coin is a visual knockout, and any deficiencies will be compensated for in another area.

MARKS: Any abrasions on the coin are extremely light and/or well hidden in the design and do not detract from the coin's beauty in any way. As with MS-68 coins, the fields on smaller coins are usually nearly flawless, especially on the obverse. On large silver coins with smooth devices (e.g. Morgan dollars), the flaws will usually be found in the fields; on large gold coins (such as Liberty Head $20s), the fields will usually be superb in this grade, with only minor flaws in the devices.

STRIKE: The strike will be very sharp, and almost always full.

LUSTER: The luster will be outstanding. Any toning (even if slightly uneven) must be attractive and not impede the luster in any way. Red copper can have mellowing of color, and there can be unevenness of color for red-brown and brown copper. Minute spotting, if present, should be virtually unnoticeable.

 

Hi Lucy

I hope this helps.

Leo

[spy88]

Leo,

 

I can see the nicks to the steps on both pictures under pillar 3 on the first and pillar 4 on the second. If they do not "bottom out" or go all the way to the incuse of the steps, it is still considered a FS by PCGS. I believe NGC would not have given it a FS based on what I can see, but then again, they may also have called it FS.

 

To me personally, I would not consider it a FS. I want pure, clean and bolds steps with no nicks of any kind anywhere on the steps.

 

If you weren't expecting it to come back with a FS, why did you submit it? (that is, of course, if you did submit and didn't buy that way.

 

David

[Leothelion]

Leo,

To me personally, I would not consider it a FS. I want pure, clean and bolds steps with no nicks of any kind anywhere on the steps.

 

If you weren't expecting it to come back with a FS, why did you submit it? (that is, of course, if you did submit and didn't buy that way.

 

David

 

No, these are not my coins! But these are the kind of coins that make up most of the registry sets, coins that should not have been graded FS or have been overgraded. For coins that have pure, clean and bolds steps with no nicks of any kind are obscured in the population reports with this kind of double standard, loose grading of full step nickels by pcgs. They are worst than SEGS but at least SEGS tells you on their slab that there are nicks and bridges on the steps.

 

Leo

[LucyBop]

you can think what you want, I don't need the help..

 

ms66 coins are not hit free.......

[LucyBop]

But these are the kind of coins that make up most of the registry sets,

 

now theres a blanket statement....

 

as if you've seen 'most of the registry sets' in person to say this....

[spy88]

THIS is my idea of FS!!!!

 

 

David

[LucyBop]

very nice close-up image...

[spy88]

Thank you, Lucy. High regard coming from you!

 

LUVED your toned Mercs!

 

David

[LucyBop]

Vegas is gonna Jump tomorrow Daddy-o!

[jtwax-migration]

THIS is my idea of FS!!!!

 

David

 

I dunno Dave... I bet when the moon is full, the tilt of the earth is just right, and it's high tide you can see that nick between pillar 3 and 4...

 

....nice steps man.

[EZ_E]

THIS is my idea of FS!!!!

 

 

David

 

AMEN!

 

If one is goin' to pay such a premium for full steps, full bands, etc. then it darn well better be!

 

p.s. The nick between pillars three and four does not bridge the gap so I see no problems with that.

[spy88]

Only when Venus and Pluto are aligned with Alpha Centauri and our sun is eclipsed by the moon and a butterfly alights on the first dandilion of spring does that nick REALLY show how bad it is!!!

 

Thanks for the kind words, Jason!

 

David

[Leothelion]

David

I can't help thinking your coin is a 1940ish Denver. Am I right?

Leo

[spy88]

Leo,

 

PLEASE STAY OUT OF MY COLLECTION!!! You left fingerprints on the flip and Fritos on the floor!

 

The answer to your question is yes---it is a 1940-D 6-6-6-6, an easy MS66.

Here it is.

 

 

Could have posted pictures of quite a few of my 6-6-6-6 Jeffs---this is just the first one I grabbed from my flip box.

 

David

[Leothelion]

How would I have known that! Beautiful coin!

 

Leo

[jom]

I think Tarzan has a good point. In the Merc series you can't get a FB if there is a hit on the bands. I would imagine it's the same for Jefferson's.

 

Nice close up pic there Spy.

 

jom

[spy88]

jom, different series, different criteria. The FS is good unless the hit or nick cuts all the way to the incuse of the steps completely breaking the line. A small nick TO a step line will not negate the FS attribute. Pinched and/or bridged steps will also lose out on a FS.

 

All six lines are distinctly visible and clean, even with the small nick. Still 6FS from NGC and FS from PCGS.

 

David

[jom]

Since I don't know the series you are probably correct...

 

This, btw, is one reason I don't collect these "designation" driven series. It seems you have to let someone else dictate to you what the "criteria" is on what constitutes a FS or FB or FH or whatever. To me, if I look at a coin and if the hits don't detract from the overall eye appeal AND if the price is confortable for me I'll buy (Of course, the "comfortable" price is usually dictated on what the market dictates). Otherwise it's a pass....

 

jom