1872 Shield Nickel, FS 7.75 and 007, need help!

MichaelB

I desperately need help in course of action, and all opinion are welcome. I have a Mint State 1872 Shield Nickel that has 2 varieties that are listed in the cherrypickers guide. One is FS 7.75, misplaced date that per guide is only 2 known back when the book was printed, and the the other is FS 007, double annulet and leaves right of annulet. PCGS says they would put both designation for me on the holder. I'm not even mentioning the fact that the reverse has every star doubled and most of the USA and cents doubled.
My desperate question is that one dealer friend in town tells me to send it first to Numismatic Conservation Services (NCS) a division of NGC first for conservation purposes before sending to PCGS. Another says to not risk the conservation and to send directly to PCGS.
I'm trying to do the right thing here due to the rarity of 2 varieties on the same coin and the strait up misplaced date, and that it is in mint state.
Pg 238 and 242 per guide. All rays easily present. Must have been some grease on die for the G and O of GOD as they are weak strike when nothing else is weak. Missing part of S in Cents which is common.
Thanks in advance.
Mike

Sunnywood

Michael,

First, there should be no desperation about your decision. Take your time to decide what you wan to do with your coins. Sending a coin for grading does no harm; however, if you send the coin to NCS for "conservation," that is irreversible. I would have the coin graded by PCGS, but not conserved - unless there is adherent debris or contaminants that need to be removed.

Second, it is not possible to comment on the varieties without seeing the coin, but you do NOT have both FS-007 and FS-007.75 on the same coin. Those varieites represent two different obverse dies used to strike 1872 nickels. Because you have doubled stars on the reverse as well, it is likely that you have a "strike doubled" coin. This is a form of doubling that occurs in the coining press from a double strike, rather than from doubled features on the dies.

For example, you might have an FS-007 that is also strike doubled, giving the appearance of a misplaced date (when in fact it is only a strike doubled date). I am guessing here, for without images I cannot be sure.

Best,
Sunnywood

MichaelB

Thanks Sunnywood,
I like to hear about the different dies!
The misplaced date should be the top of the 2, but I feel it looks more like the top of the 8. The misplaced date comes off the ball right at 3 o'clock, and is unmistakeablely a date letter, which is the same location as the 7.75 variety. I can take wonderful pictures, but getting this close and staying in focus maybe an issue. I have help, so I will get it so I can post the picture.
Your description of the doubling on the reverse would then be like a hub double or shift.
mb

MichaelB

With news of 2 different dies, and the fact that both misplaced date and 007 double is apparent, would you suggest that I send it to Coneca for verification/classification?
Coin has no distractions, and suggestion to send to NCS was based on small dots seen with a 30X loop that the coin dealer thought could easily be removed by a conservator and thus get a better grade.
mb

seanq

Send a PM with a link to this post to Forum member "howards". That is Howard Spindell, and he's a leading authority and author specializing in Shield Nickel varieties. He's also a heck of a nice guy, I'm sure he'll be happy to help you out with your coin.

FYI, Sunnywood is exactly right, the two CPG listings refer to two distinct obverse die varieties, so your coin could be one or the other but not both. It could also be a new discovery entirely, or known to specialists such as Howard and not listed in the CPG.


Sean Reynolds

MichaelB

Thanks Sean, I will do!
mb