One of the most notable collections of popular series, the George “Buddy”, Byers Jefferson 5-cent coin collection is on the market.
The Aug. 16 auction at Stack’s Bowers Galleries featured a huge $33,600 top lot: a 1969-D Jefferson 5-cent Coin graded Mint State 65 full step by Professional Coin Grading Service. This issue is very common in almost all grades except for full steps on Monticello. Full steps are defined as five separate steps (lines) at its base.
This is the only 1969-D “FS” Jefferson 5-cent coin that has been certified by PCGS. The cataloger noted a “brilliant platinum white complexion and pearlescent shine on each side” and added, “The surfaces have been comprehensively frosted with faint prooflike reflectivity visible in the fields.”
For decades, the master hub of Reverse of 1940 was used to make dies. Over time, the intricate design elements like steps had become less and less useful. The auctioneer said that while modifications were made to the master center in time to make it more legible for 1968’s production run, they were mostly in vain. “The hub was then retired in 1970,” he added. The auction’s 1969-D 5-cent coin was a significant improvement on the $30.550 it received when it was offered at a 2016 sale.