Here’s an 1886 PCGS PR65 Cameo Three Cent Nickel...

dan1ecu

I bought this one a while ago for just under $500. It’s a proof only issue with a mintage of 4,290. There are a couple of what look like carbon spots on the portrait, which I think is what’s limiting the grade to 65. It also looks like a nice cameo, as opposed to a borderline one. There are 5 graded by PCGS as cameo, with 20 higher.

In your opinion, would it be worth upgrading to a PR67 (not necessarily of the same year), since PR67's are quite reasonable ($1200 - $1400), or would you be happy with a PR65?

Dan

1886 3CN Obverse

1886 3CN Reverse

wingedliberty

Dan:
I love the coin just the way it is.

Brian.

dan1ecu

Hi, Brian --

I agree, it's a pretty nice coin as a 65. For the price, I think 65's are a good value in this series.

Dan

Gemini

Thats a very nice coin Dan. I have been collecting for forty years and still don't own a slabbed coin. I don't care about some numbers as long as I am happy with the coin.
Enjoy it and don't sweat it...

dan1ecu

Gemini --

NO slabbed coins!? Do you ever buy slabbed coins and then crack them open? I would think that it would be difficult to stay away from slabbs completely.

Dan

agfox

I think it's a beaut of a coin. If you believe you got a good deal, and you're happy, you're already ahead of 95% of the people in the game.

wingedliberty

Dan:
I think the three cent nickel series is greatly undervalued and underated. The later dates in particular.
The Greco-Roman design is excellent. I think small coins tend to get overlooked alot. This is also the
case with Roosevelt dimes. I am currently having alot of fun with both series. I started the three cent
nickels last year by concentrating on common dates like the 1865 and 66 and then going to the later dates. Have fun with the series and keep us updated.

Brian.

Gemini

No Dan I bought many of my coins before slabbing was invented and I also bought coins such as large cents and colonials-paper money at shows and I also took an interest in the Civil War-Hard Times Tokens and Foreign coins which were mainly sold unslabbed at the time.

dpoole

Nice looking coin!

Yes, be happy with that PR65CAM.

As wingedliberty said, though, it is an undervalued series. If you can find a nice CAM in PR 67 in the series, it's still worth the money. CAMs in that series are striking-looking! There remain some in the price range you cited for 1880-89, particularly 1881 and 1882.

CarlWohlforth

I like cameo 3 cent nickels and I like that one in particular. I would probably keep that one and use the upgrade money to fill a different hole in my type set...

michael

i thnk the coin you got looking from the scan is a very good coin with great eye appeal and a proof only issue to boot! also a very nice strong cameo i would keep it as it is and also buy a proof 67 coin too!!! cameoed utlra cameoed toned or blast white just kake sure the coin has grest eye appeal and is at least solid for the grade

since the three cent nicks are 85% copper they usually have toning dots on the face common as such but if not too large or distracting that is okie such is the way it is with these coins from the middle to latter part of the 19 th century! adds charactor and authenticity to these coins and this is the way they come

but they still look better than many modern era coins!

i think it has a fundemential reason to rise in value and is currently undervalued and a sleeper series

here is a scan of an ultra cameo 1871 ngc pf65

sincerely michael

Conder101

<< <i>NO slabbed coins!? Do you ever buy slabbed coins and then crack them open? I would think that it would be difficult to stay away from slabbs completely. >>


Not hard at all, walk up to dealers case and look down. See any coins that aren't in slabs? If yes, examine them to so if you can use them. If no, move on to the next case. Works for me. None of my coin collection is slabbed, and I won't even look at slabbed coins when I am looking for coins for my collection.

Baley

conder...
"None of my coin collection is slabbed......slab collector and researcher"
so, technically, none of the slabs in your collection have coins in them? or do you not consider the coins in your slabs to be in your "coin collection" because they are in your "slab collection"
just curious