Rare nickel could be worth over $5,000 - the exact 'steps' detail to look for

A 1980s nickel sold for over $5,000 thanks to its extremely rare quality.

The 1982-P Jefferson Nickel sold for $5,351 at a Great Collections auction on March 5.

The sale was spotted by Shaun (@blueridgesilverhound) who covers rare and valuable notes and coins for his over 16,000 followers on TikTok.

Unlike many of the valuable rarities Shaun covers, this coin did not sell for thousands due to any rare mistake or error.

Instead, its the coin's unique level of quality that sets it apart.

FULL STEPS

While 1982-P Nickels are fairly common in circulation, those with the full steps (FS) designation are fairly rare.

FS means the steps on the design of Monticello on the coin's reverse are fully visible rather than a blur.

This is a sign that the coin is both well-struck and well-maintained.

1982-P FS coins routinely sell in the low thousands.

And this version may be the best available, according to Shaun.

"It is the single finest graded specimen of the 1982-P Jefferson Nickel," he said.

Shaun may be right, as according to an older description from Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS), no higher-quality versions were known to exist.

"None have been graded by PCGS higher than MS66+ with the Full Steps designation," said Jamie Hernandez at PCGS.

As of March 5, that seems to no longer be the case.

HOW TO SPOT

While your 1982-P FS nickel may not be this high quality, it still may garner interest on the auction block.

You will want to make sure the coin was minted in 1982 and has a small P just below the bust of Thomas Jefferson.

Then, you will want to inspect the steps of Monticello and see if they are fully visible.

Most importantly, you will want to get it professionally appraised by an expert coin grader like PCGS.

MORE RARE FINDS

Many of the most valuable rare coins have very subtle claims to fame and fortune.

A dime from 1968 recently sold for $45,000, mainly due to it missing a tiny S mint mark.

Other small errors can add up, too.

A Kennedy half-dollar missing the small lettering FG by the bust sold for over $2,000.

And a Buffalo Nickel with a buffalo missing a leg on the reverse sold for $3,000.

Check out our roundup of some of the most valuable bills.

And read about a $93,000 quarter mistakenly struck on a 19th-century gold coin.