Unc or proof Nickel?

logger7

A dealer sold this as MS61, what say you?

291fifth

It would not surprise me if it was a proof. I suspect the dealer sold it as an MS61 just to get rid of it as it is very unattractive.

Walkerguy21D

Hard to tell, but at a minimum it’s PL.

Submit it as a Proof to NGC, I’m sure they’ll accommodate you 😉. Sorry couldn’t resist….

ricko

It does seem to approximate a PL coin.... but that is the best I can offer. Cheers, RickO

Maywood

The image looks proof but the Mint re-used proof dies and the first year of issue tends to be very well struck. I suspect it's just a well struck Mint State coin with PL surfaces and scattered hairlines/contact marks which might "disappear" if the coin was angled properly.

lilolme

The OP coin has a strange strike when compared to others. But this is not a series I keep track of so maybe not uncommon.

Here is the OP enlarged. I put some arrows on it to point out what I was seeing. However, just about all of the letters and some other areas look similar. The letters look 'fat', a little flat and have much less area in the inside loops. The wreath is similar and one area appears to go to the PL field. The obverse is similar on the date and the ear just blends into the face. Added a proof and MS for comparison.

Proof 64

MS 64

erwindoc

Some 1883 NC Nickels have a PL appearance as well as a very strong strike. You would have to look at the rims the thickness of the planchet.

I believe Id treat it with some MS70 prior to submission.

LanceNewmanOCC

unless the proofs are known to have a lot of long die cracks, it is a BS.

the PL appearance could also be exaggerated by what appears to be bright scanned images and that is if the images weren't also tampered with.

MFeld

If the images are at least reasonably accurate, my guess is Proof. I don’t recall seeing many, if any business strikes with that apparent degree of reflectivity and contrast. That said, some of the design details look quite weak for a Proof. And if those are die cracks through some of the stars on the left side of the obverse, that bolsters the case for a business strike.

logger7

Probably the die cracks are indicative of a business strike. Some significant toning, not sure how that would have happened. Big jump in value between business strikes and proofs. That dealer has left money on the table before, sold me an "ugly" 3 Bust half once for common 1823 money.

erwindoc

Here is my MS example and has a long crack that gives it some character!

LanceNewmanOCC

fwiw, i tried to find another coin to match the obv crack pattern of the OP coin but after viewing MANY unc examples, at least half with various crack patterns, i didn't find a single example on business strikes. there appear to be a LOT of different obv dies used.

logger7

Thanks for others' due diligence on this; someone actually bought it after I listed it for $55 on ebay, bought it for around $42. It would be great if the buyer gives a critical assessment on the coin but that rarely happens. Of course I could have cancelled the order under the grounds that I had listed it as an Unc. and it may be a PR, but the buyer could have left me a neg on that.

rmpsrpms

Is the closed loop on the bottom of the wreath a known variety of these Nickels? If not, then this would be a new variety, or perhaps a counterfeit.

MrEureka

@MFeld said:
… if those are die cracks through some of the stars on the left side of the obverse, that bolsters the case for a business strike.

They look like die cracks to me, which leaves me 99% sure it’s a business strike.

logger7

Apparently yes. Here is a random HA listing with the same reverse:

https://coins.ha.com/itm/liberty-nickels/nickels/1883-5c-no-cents-ms63-pcgs-pcgs-population-1978-6197-ngc-census-1456-5169-cdn-70-whsle-bid-for-ngc-pcgs-ms63-m/a/132235-29171.s?ic4=ListView-ShortDescription-071515#