1877 coins

Cam40

Most of us know of the 1877 IHC as a key-date cent,but you dont hear about the 1877 sheild nickel much.
A little more than only 500 Proofs were ever struck and no business strikes.A very scarce coin you just dont hear about much,at least here anyway.
Does anyone on the forum own one of these?
Any pics to share?

boiler78

Don't forget the 3 cent nickel and the twenty cent pieces of 1877 which are also proof only issues.

barberlover

Sorry, all i have from 1877 is an 1877 cc seated quarter in mint state 67

Pushkin

1877 CC Trade dollars in high grade a certainly a prize also!

EVillageProwler

The proof-only material of 1877 aren't really anything to die for. Many are overrated. Take the TD; it has the lowest PF mintage of all the TD's save the '84 and '85. Yet, it is hardly difficult to get. The 1874 PF TD is far tougher.

To me, the ``key'' date of the year in terms of being underrated is the 1877 MS TD. The finest graded by PCGS is only MS64, and there is only 1 or 2 gems extant. If you can find a decently struck near gem, then that is the coin to get. Gems go for moon money -- because you can't outbid TDN or the few of us who will die for one. Well struck near gems are excellent value -- if you can find one!

EVP

Sunnywood

Hi Cam40,

Thanks for posting this thread. 1877 has always been one of my favorite year sets (after 1873) !! Of course there is the Indian Head cent, which is the key to the series in business strike format, and hence there is substantial date pressure on the proofs as well. But that is only the beginning of the 1877 story.

An 1877 proof set contains THREE proof-only issues: the three cent nickel, the shield nickel, and the twenty cent piece. The published mintages of 510 pieces are probably too low for the cent, three cent and nickel, because the mint sometimes sold "minor proof sets" comprising these three non-precious coins, without reporting the mintage as proofs. However, one can be sure that no more than 510 twenty cent pieces were issued. In addition, the dime, quarter, half and Trade dollar, are all better dates. So an 1877 proof set is quite the thing !!

Now, let's consider the gold proofs. There are six denominations, $1.00 through $20.00. Each of the six proofs had a mere mintage of TWENTY pieces !!! The lowest in the series for each of the six coins !!! So an 1877 GOLD proof set is really an accomplishment !!!! Of course the experts among you also know that there are two unique 1877-dated $50.00 "Half Union" patterns in the Smithsonian collection.

The Sunnywood Collection has included two 1877 proof sets, plus one complete 1877 gold proof set !!! One of the two proof sets includes only high-grade white cameo coins, while the other includes beautifully toned original coins. The white cameo set includes the following coins:

1c NGC PF66RD CAM
3CN NGC PF66 UCAM
5c NGC PF66 CAM
10c NGC PF66
20c NGC PF66 CAM
25c NGC PF66 CAM
50c NGC PF66
T$1 NGC PF65 CAM

The toned set includes:

1c NGC PF66 RB
3CN NGC PF67 nickel blue & light gold over strong cameo
5c NGC PF67 fabulous color and mirrors
10c NGC PF66 ex Vermeule
20c PCGS PF65 CAM
25c NGC PF67 ex Vermeule
50c NGC PF66 ex Vermeule
T$1 NGC PF67 ex Eliasberg (sold; no longer in the Sunnywood Collection)

The gold set includes:

$1.00 NGC PF65 CAM
$2.50 NGC PF67
$3.00 PCGS PR64 DCAM ex Dallas Bank
$5.00 PCGS PR64 ex Bass
$10.00 NGC PF64 CAM ex Garrett, Trompeter
$20.00 NGC PF64 UCAM ex Garrett, Trompeter

Now that's just the proofs !!! A truly complete year set should include all the business strikes as well, but my collection has focused on the proofs. Another very cool aspect of 1877 coinage is the series of pattern half dollars. The Bass Collection had a remarkable group of those coins.

I have attached a photo of the obverse of the Bass $5.00, which I use as my avatar on the NGC Boards.

Best regards,
Sunnywood

scher

Sunnywood, I have been collecting awhile and i gotta say..that is one hell of an accomplishment..thanks for sharing ..especially the picture..wow wow wow..
Bruce Scher

Sunnywood

Thanks Bruce !! Coming from you that's a compliment !!

Just for that I'm going to post an obverse photo of my 1877 $2.50 NGC PF67 CAM !!

Sunnywood

Zerbe

Hi Sunnywood, As usual, you are very thorough and seek out the very best. I just love seeing sets with important pedigrees. Thanks for sharing. Paul Taylor

dpoole

Sunnywood,

That's an astounding collection. If it can easily be done, I would LOVE to see the photos of any of the other coins. I'm afraid otherwise I'll never get to see such quality.

Sunnywood

Thanks guys !!

Unfortunately I don't have pics of all the coins, as I myself am not very good with the camera.
Most of the pics I have were downloaded from the auction house or dealer website when I bought the coins.
But I have attached a pic of the half dollar from the toned proof set, ex Vermeule. Enjoy !!

Sunnywood

Zerbe

Absolutely stunning!!!

relayer

Those gold proofs are incredible and that half is beautiful. Very nice.

Sunnywood

OK here's one for Cam40. When he started this thread, Cam40 asked for a pic of an 1877 shield nickel. Now, my two nicest ones are the NGC PF66 CAM (white coin) in my white cameo proof set, and the gorgeous rainbow target-toned NGC PF67 in my toned set. Unfortunately, I don't have pics of those two. However, here is a pic of the obverse of an 1877 5c PCGS PR66 CAM which was in my collection until several months back, when I sold it to P&M Rare Coins. I don't know if it is still available from their inventory or not. It was a very high-end PR66 in my opinion.

Sunnywood

1jester

Sunnywood, thanks so much for sharing pix of those fantastic coins!!!