1951 Jefferson Nickel. MS-67 FS (PCGS). This lovely and rare Full Steps Superb Gem represents a fleeting bidding opportunity for advanced Set Registry participants. It is lightly toned with iridescent powder blue, pale gold and pink highlights to smooth satin surfaces. The striking quality is as impressive and noteworthy as the surface preservation with full detail from the rims to the centers. Sure to please even the most discerning collector, and worthy of the strongest bids.<p>The seemingly generous mintage of 28,552,000 pieces is limited for a circulation strike nickel-five cent piece of this design type, and the 1951 has long been considered a semi-key date Jefferson nickel in circulated grades. In Mint State the true connoisseur will find this issue challenging. The Reverse of 1940 hub introduced that year was already showing signs of fatigue by the early 1950s, and many dies simply did not have enough definition to produce Full Steps coins even if the striking pressure was sufficient. This problem had emerged as early as the late 1940s, and would become severe by the mid to late 1960s, resulting in the introduction of a new hub in the 1971. The result for the 1951 issue is a dearth of Full Steps examples, and since most of those that have been certified grade no finer than MS-66 FS, this remarkable Superb Gem qualifies as both a strike and condition rarity. PCGS reports only four grading events for this issue in MS-67 FS and, remarkably, we are offering two of those coins in this sale. (The other is the George "Buddy" Byers specimen presented in our special offering for that collection.) This is an unusual occurrence, to say the least, and we suspect that once these two coins are sold it may be many years before advanced Set Registry participants are presented with another buying opportunity. The strongest bidding strategies are encouraged.<p><p>
