1971 5C MS66 Certification #34004929, PCGS #4086

Ron Guth

 In 1971, the Mint improved the quality of their Jefferson Nickels production.  For the first time in a long time, Full Steps become available in large quantities, which means the collecting focus shifts away from the non-Full Sep versions.  It is almost safe to say that the non-Full Sep Nickels certified by PCGS are the ones that didn't "make it."  For collectors, this means that the non-Full Step 1971 Nickel is a very affordable coin in most grades.  The finest examples certified by PCGS are almost two dozen MS66s.