Full steps or not?

[MichaelHansen]

I have reviewed many pictures of graded FS coins try8ng to understand this, but am confused. On videos they show perfect steps with not dents, scratches and visible full length steps. I look at samples and see some with scratches or slight bumps and thus to my understanding makes them not FS I will post mt example with has a small scratch in the center of the top step and bottom step. Would this be full step or not? I am a bigginer to this level of collecting previously I just tried to get good copies of every year and mint. I can even see all the steps on both sides the full coin photos are 3x and the zoomed 8n lo9k is 6x.

[Paul]

Personally, I don't look at the "Steps", I look at the "Baluster Definition" on the top of the building.

[MichaelHansen]

I think I found my answere, no idea what PCGS will call FS unless monticello is worn smooth. Steps that look perfect don't get it, steps that have damage or flats sometimes do get it.

[SensibleSal66]

I don't like stairs either. That's because I walk with a cane.

[Earle42]

The FS designation is a marketing gimmick which induces more people to try to get a more expensive label on a slab. As with a lot of "money grade" labels on slabs, the number f designated ones will be kept low to keep up the business interest. They are not consistent with FS designations (or Franklin FBL etc.)

The companies are not trustworthy on variety designations unless its something as obvious as the 1955 DDO etc.

All the above is just heresay unless there is something given to back it up. So take the time to read the essay in my signature. It's a real eye opener for the actual expertise of the grading companies in this area. It uses actual data from the PCSG website and is all linked to so anyone can check the facts. On this one designation the paper is about, the No FG Kennedy halves, PCGS has about a 30% error rate, break their own rules to label some halves as being the more expensive variety, and their lack of rookie knowledge has cost collectors thousands of dollars.