Proof Three-Cent Nickels Are Cool

Sequitur

I've been buying a lot of coins the last two weeks, and decided to jump right into three-cent nickels after seeing a beautiful cameo proof in a dealer's display. The three-cent nickel design is much more impressive when the coin is in-hand -- I don't think online photos do this series justice. And the metal composition gives these coins a distinct look.

Anyway, don't know all that much about them, and I normally like to do my research before committing, but after seeing that cameo proof I had to get me some proofs, so I did.

Here are a couple online auction photos, hope to take some of my own pics and get pics of the other cameo proofs I purchased.



Old PCGS holder:





There also are a couple threads about this series here and here.

LincolnCentMan

Awesome. Dpoole is the resident x-spert on proof three cents. I bought this one from him a couple of months ago. I couldnt be happier with it. You might send a PM his way if you need some advice.

David

Sequitur

Appreciate that. And I hope the online coins I bought look like yours. I bet that 1877 looks fantastic in-hand. Frankly, I'm surprised at how cheap some of these coins are, especially the cameo proofs.

PR70

Congratulations on the purchase. I love the 3 cent nickel variety. I don't like the silver version much at all. I can only imagine what a PR66 cameo would go for!

PR70

Sequitur

I don't like the silver version much at all. I can only imagine what a PR66 cameo would go for!

Well it depends on the year, obviously. But for a 19th century proof cameo coin with a very low mintage, I paid a cheap $880 for the 1879. And that 1884 was around $500 -- and that one's a bit of a gamble, 'cause that's a really old holder and some were counterfeited. It'd be nice if its undergraded by a point. Compared to many proof coins from this time period, that is very, very low, perhaps reflecting the fact these coins haven't really caught on with collectors.

But I don't care if they've caught on with others, really I don't. I thought the three-center was interesting after seeing a high-grade deep cameo in person, and that's all that matters to me. Same reason I buy those damn 1943 high grade steel pennies -- I like them.

michael

both superb coins the 1879 pf66 cameo and the proof65 1884

the 1879 from the photo looks original too

i would love to see it in person!!

the three cent nicks are really great attractive coins and the prices are reasonable to say the least

a fantastic set and even fantastic type coins!!

many just do not have much eye appeal and the ones that do are sleeper undervalued coins


michael

mgoodm3

Sequitur

many just do not have much eye appeal and the ones that do are sleeper undervalued coins

Yeah, and I don't think that's a tired cliche' when it comes to these coins. I really was astonished at how inexpensive they were. Then again, dally around in old gold these days and just about anything looks cheap by comparison.

And mgood, that is a stunning picture -- never seen one so good. It accurately captures what the three-centers look like up close and personal. (Why hasn't Heritage offered you a six-figure salary to shoot and otherwise help sell their coins? With photos like that, money would drop from wallets like rain in London.)