1939 5c Reverse of 1940 MS FS

Among circulation strikes, relatively few, perhaps 10%, are of the Reverse of 1938, with indistinct lettering with perhaps 1 in 1,000 having 5 Full Steps (see Nagengast). The rest are with the Reverse of 1940 with sharper details in the hub and master die. The vast majority of Proofs are with the Reverse of 1938 with somewhat indistinct areas to the steps. Relatively few Reverse of 1940 coins exist (including a remarkable cache of 30 in the 1985 Bowers and Merena sale of the Abe Kosoff estate), but most have 6 Full Steps. The FS denotes that the striking detail on the steps of the Jefferson memorial building are clearly defined.

Obverse Description

Felix Schlag's portrait of Jefferson, facing left, with the motto IN GOD WE TRUST on the left periphery, and LIBERTY * [year] on the right side.

Reverse Description

The Jefferson home is prominently centered with the name MONTICELLO captioned below. The denomination FIVE CENTS is spelled out in half circle underneath and the words E PLURIBUS UNUM and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA appear at the top and bottom periphery.

Source: Q.David Bowers