Is this a 1879/8 proof Shield Nickel?

CarlWohlforth

I noticed what looks like doubling or repunching in the G in the Motto. Upon looking closer it seems most letters in the motto appear doubled. I checked Breen and he lists a 1879/8 as being a very small percentage of the proofs. I checked the date and it looks like a repunch or something. Any comments are welcome.

Conder101

The picture isn't the best but it looks like it could be. Look also for a small die chip on the inside of the lower curve of the 5 on the back down at the 6 o'clock position. Most if not all of the certified 79/8 I have seen have it.

Personally I am not convinced that the 79/8 is really an overdate. The ones I have seen just appar to have some die chipping inside the loops of the 9. The upper loop has three distinct levels inside of it. I think this chipping continues and becomes the solidly filled upper loop often seen on circulated examples. (Mine is like that and also has the die chip on the reverse mentioned earlier.)

eyoung429

Carl, If you are in the area...stop by or give me a call and you can bring the coin over and hit it with either of the microscopes and get some better pics of it. Very nice coin though!!!!

1946Hamm

I have a PCGS PR-63 and it has all the characteristics that Conder 101 mentions. Your coin looks to be the same from the pic. Check inside the loop of the 5 for the die chip.

CarlWohlforth

Thanks for the feedback. I have two more photos. I can see the tiniest imperfection in the inner loop of the 5 at six o'clock. I'm not sure if this is the chip you all mention. Anyway the mintage figures for proof 1879s is only a few thousand. There is clearly something going on with this coin. The motto looks like photos of 1879/8 coins I see in the Heritage auctions. Proofs are normally produced in very high quality. I know of no other described variety of 1879 Shield Nickels. So I am tempted to conclude this is the 1879/8.

Assuming it is an 1879/8 I wonder if it is worth more than the regular 1879? If so I guess I should get it re-holdered. After looking at the pops is seems it shouldn't be worth more. The Greysheet has it as lower valued in grades 64 and below but has it worth more in PR 65.

Sunnywood

Carl,

That is definitely an 1879/8. I have studied the shield nickel series extensively, and in my opinion the 1879/8 is actually more common than a "regular" 1879 proof. In fact, there is more than one obverse die for the regular 1879 proofs (in addition to the 1879/8 die). There are 1879 proofs with a tripled date per Breen. Some people have questioned this, but I can confirm that such proofs do exist. In fact, on the example I owned, the date was quadrupled.

Bottom line: your coin is 1879/8, and that is more common than 1879.

Best,
Sunnywood