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 Replies: 14 / Views: 868 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1111 Posts |
Hey all. I came across this fairly nice 1884 Liberty nickel recently on ebay. The seller, however, wasn't entirely sure of the grading and used their own estimations. They claim it is "VG." I don't know, though. What do you guys think the grade of this coin would be? Obverse  Reverse  Any thoughts? |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
73798 Posts |
I'm thinking Good details, scratched.
Errers and Varietys.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11880 Posts |
VG details scratched.
IN NECESSARIIS UNITAS - IN DUBIIS LIBERTAS - IN OMNIBUS CARITAS THE MAN IN THE ARENA, Theodore Roosevelt at the Sorbonne Paris on April 23, 1910: " It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat." My coin website: https://fairfaxcoins.com |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
878 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
10491 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3628 Posts |
Obverse VG-10, reverse VG-08, details, damaged (graffiti/scratches).
The 1884 is tough in higher grades, but you should be able to get a problem free G/VG coin for a reasonable price. Personally, I would pass on this particular coin.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
36643 Posts |
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Moderator
United States
15395 Posts |
G6/VG8 details, scratched and likely cleaned.
I suggest you pass on this one.
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
18645 Posts |
VG details (cleaned/scratched)
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1111 Posts |
Thanks, folks. Yeah, I opted to pass on this one. Quote:
The 1884 is tough in higher grades, but you should be able to get a problem free G/VG coin for a reasonable price. Personally, I would pass on this particular coin. Yeah, I agree. Definitely tough to find. Is the 1884 a kind of "semi key" for the series? The cleaning I can deal with possibly. That doesn't bother me. But the scratches, nah. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3628 Posts |
Quote:
Yeah, I agree. Definitely tough to find.
Is the 1884 a kind of "semi key" for the series? The 1884-1885-1886 coins are tough and get pricey. I don't know that 1884 is quite a semi-key, but it is a tougher date. Even though it seems like an internet phantom, the 1884 really does exist in fairly decent numbers, and can be found with some searching. Multiple AG/G/VG examples can be found in most regional or national coin shows and off and on in local coin shops in the $15-$40 range. F/VF examples are a bit harder to find and above mid-VF, expect to pay over $100. MS-64-65-66 examples run in the mid-$2,000s. They are common enough to be choosy and wait for a coin with better eye appeal. Just be patient with this date. You will find one that is in your price range and that you like. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10491 Posts |
A little over 11 million minted. So readily avaliable.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1111 Posts |
Quote:
The 1884-1885-1886 coins are tough and get pricey.
I don't know that 1884 is quite a semi-key, but it is a tougher date. Even though it seems like an internet phantom, the 1884 really does exist in fairly decent numbers, and can be found with some searching. Multiple AG/G/VG examples can be found in most regional or national coin shows and off and on in local coin shops in the $15-$40 range. F/VF examples are a bit harder to find and above mid-VF, expect to pay over $100. MS-64-65-66 examples run in the mid-$2,000s. They are common enough to be choosy and wait for a coin with better eye appeal. Just be patient with this date. You will find one that is in your price range and that you like Odd. It does seem many of the dates before the 1890's are on the tougher and pricier side. Another coin that seems to be up there in the series, for whatever reason, is the 1883 with cents. I've not really been able to find any really nice examples, at least so far, for under 30 dollars. I would think it would be the NO cents that would be more costly, considering they didn't mint as many, but the no cents for whatever reason can be found in nice examples for not very much money. The biggest purchase in terms of coins, if it's one I'm ever able to do, is the 1885 I think. I've seen the 1886 go for 100 dollars on ebay. The 1885 seems to go from 200-500 in lower grades. The 1912-S I think is around 100 as well. Edited by Humanist1287
01/19/2026 06:43 am
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
25008 Posts |
Quote:
go for 100 dollars on ebay I just got back from a large coin show and many dealers had binders and binders of Liberty nickels. They are quite willing to bargain. This is a far better option than ebay. Inordinately fascinated by bits of metal with strange markings and figures
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1111 Posts |
I mean, yeah, when there is one around that I can get to and have the opportunity to do so lol One of the biggest reasons I go the ebay route is that with my busy life, going to the coin store (and the things that proceed it) or coin shows is not always viable. It's much easier for me to be able to browse, purchase and receive all from home. |
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Replies: 14 / Views: 868 |
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Posted 01/15/2026 12:48 pm
