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1878 Three Cent Nickel Proof - For Grading

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Author Previous TopicReplies: 5 / Views: 583Next Topic  
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fortcollins's Avatar
United States
3059 Posts
 Posted 04/12/2025  11:59 am Show Profile   Bookmark this topic Add fortcollins to your friends list Get a Link to this Message Number of Subscribers
This proof-only date coin is from a partial 1878 proof set that I acquired way back in the day. The rest of the coins were sold some time back. When I bought them, the coins had not been stored in ideal conditions, though they have lived lives of comfort since then. Frankly, I forgot I had these.

I'd welcome all thoughts and opinions. I have additional detailed photos, if needed.

Thanks!


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United States
528 Posts
 Posted 04/12/2025  11:53 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add adam126402 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
I don't know Jack about grading proofs. I'll say the obverse strike looks a little weak to me with the broken nose ridge. "Liberty" looks a little weak and the hair details a little soft. The reverse looks better IMO.

I'll take a stab and say PR64

Hard to tell from the pics, is there luster? It just looks a little dull in these pics.
Edited by adam126402
04/13/2025 12:32 am
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BH1964's Avatar
United States
10922 Posts
 Posted 04/15/2025  10:58 pm  Show Profile   Check BH1964's eBay Listings Bookmark this reply Add BH1964 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
PR64 sounds about right to me too.
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fortcollins's Avatar
United States
3059 Posts
 Posted 04/16/2025  10:11 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add fortcollins to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Thank you both!

This coin has luster, and the obverse central devices and reverse peripheral devices have some frost. It is nowhere near being a CAM though. The surfaces are original, but a bit toned. The same is true of the nickel from this set. The cent, however, had a rougher go. On this coin, there are some small dings along a line from the throat to the hair curl beneath the ear. I could see PR-63 or PR-64 here, too.

When I bought these 1878 proofs, they and the Twenty Cent proof were stored in a leather coin purse, wrapped in cotton. I suspect this was once a complete (or more complete) set, but very well could have been broken up during the depression of 1893-1897. That was a common fate for collections. (They have lived a very pampered life since I bought them, though.) I bought the remaining coins as a group to get the proof Twenty Cent for a client. The three remaining coins ended up as freebies in that transaction.
Edited by fortcollins
04/16/2025 10:12 am
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numismatic student's Avatar
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10949 Posts
 Posted 04/16/2025  6:00 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add numismatic student to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
PF65
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panzaldi's Avatar
United States
17528 Posts
 Posted 04/20/2025  10:16 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add panzaldi to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
the obv is quite weak for a proof but the metal content really makes it difficult to get fully struck up coins on both sides especially business strikes. for an obv strike like this I would knock it just for that. the photos are not the best for seeing the surfaces. I'm thinking PF63 barring any surface issues
Edited by panzaldi
04/20/2025 10:25 am
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