NGC Distinguishes Jefferson Nickel Steps

Starting February 16, 2004 Numismatic Guaranty Corporation will begin labeling Full Step Jefferson Nickels as either 5FS or 6FS, based on the number of complete steps visible. Jefferson Nickels are often weakly struck on the steps of Monticello, and coins that are sharp in this portion of the design are prized by series specialists.

NGC has been using the single designation FS for many years, this designation being reserved exclusively for those coins having all six steps of Monticello complete. The growing popularity of this series, as well as the great rarity of coins having six full steps, prompted requests from NGC’s customers to provide a 5-Full Step designation for those coins that qualify. Specialists in this series know that even 5FS coins are challenging to locate for many Jefferson Nickel issues, and such coins are often highly prized.

Starting February 16, uncertified Jefferson Nickels submitted to NGC for grading will automatically be screened for the 5FS or 6FS designations as part of the grading fee. The same condition applies to coins certified by other grading companies and submitted to NGC for Crossover Service. Jeffersons already holdered by NGC may be submitted for 5FS or 6FS consideration under NGC’s Designation Review Service at $10 per coin, which includes the cost of reholdering.

Since NGC’s standard hitherto has been to label as FS only those coins having six complete steps, any NGC-certified Jefferson Nickel already carrying the FS designation may be considered to have six full steps. Such coins may be submitted to NGC for redesignation as 6FS under the company’s Reholder Service at $4 per coin. The NGC Census Report will be updated to reflect that previously certified FS coins are now considered 6FS, and the FS designation will no longer be used after February 16.

The NGC Certified Collectors Registry will include different scoring for non-FS, 5FS and 6FS nickels. Existing entries in the Registry’s Jefferson Nickel sets will be updated to reflect the change from FS to 6FS.