Owner Comments:
Name: Pinnacle
Mintage: 271 Million
Full Step Availability: 20%
Date/mm Information: High quality eye appealing full step examples are readily available.
Coin Description: The 1943-P Doubled Die Obverse is often referred to simply as the "DOUBLED EYE" Jefferson Nickel. There is a secondary eye south west of the primary eye. Doubling is also prominent on the date, the motto, and LIBERTY. This is another variety that I consider a must for the serious Jefferson Nickel collection. FS-106, formerly FS-029, CONECA: 6-O-I, NGC Variety Plus (VP-002). The present example is brilliant and beautiful with clean surfaces and fully struck with 5 full steps. The steps of Monticello are full and rate 5-5-5-6 by the quarter step method. However, it should be noted that there is some weakness of the 3rd and 4th steps between the 3rd and 4th pillars which is common for the issue. NGC Census: 1 in 67 Five Full Steps, 0 finer regardless of step count (6/09). There are two known PCGS examples graded MS67 5FS bringing the total population to (3/0).
Comments: If not for the KING in the 1941-D slot, this coin would reign supreme in the collection. Forget that it is blast white, this coin rocks. According to Nagengast, only 5% of the "Doubled Eye" Jefferson Nickels have 5FS. This is by far my favorite Jefferson Nickel variety and I own three other gems in addition to this one. One is a rainbow toned gem with 5FS. The only problem with this coin is the point total as NGC does not yet reward this rare variety with a registry point premium to the common 1943-P war nickel.
Alas, the pinnacle of quality does not come cheap. This is the most expensive coin in the collection and was purchased in the Heritage Los Angeles Sale in July 2009.