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Toughest date of Proof Liberty Nickel (besides 1913)?

rheddenrhedden Posts: 6,567 ✭✭✭✭✭
Besides the infamous 1913 Liberty nickel, what is the toughest date in the Proof Liberty Nickel series to obtain? I have an opinion, but I will withhold it for now because I'm eager to hear what other collectors of this series think.



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Comments

  • I don't know. I just started a set, so I'm interested in hearing some opinions too.
  • RichieURichRichieURich Posts: 8,359 ✭✭✭✭✭
    How about 1882?

    An authorized PCGS dealer, and a contributor to the Red Book.

  • UtahCoinUtahCoin Posts: 5,345 ✭✭✭✭✭
    1902 seems to be tough to find...
    I used to be somebody, now I'm just a coin collector.
    Recipient of the coveted "You Suck" award, April 2009 for cherrypicking a 1833 CBHD LM-5, and April 2022 for a 1835 LM-12, and again in Aug 2012 for picking off a 1952 FS-902.
  • rheddenrhedden Posts: 6,567 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Anyone else? There are a lot of people doing this set. I am actually missing the 1902 from my set (one of just two dates), so maybe there really is something going on there?


    Rich: no fair counting weird patterns!
  • PerryHallPerryHall Posts: 45,296 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Were the 1913's proofs? I thought they were business strikes.image

    Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.

  • rheddenrhedden Posts: 6,567 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I believe the 1913s are considered proofs. At least PCGS and NGC have chosen to slab them as such.
  • dbldie55dbldie55 Posts: 7,717 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Cameo proof 1889.

    Edited to add: Actually a 1902 Reverse of 1900, is the toughest, but this is not a specific date.
    Collector and Researcher of Liberty Head Nickels. ANA LM-6053
  • clarkbar04clarkbar04 Posts: 4,922 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>1902 seems to be tough to find... >>



    There's one on the NEN website - although its in 65 and I think you were looking for a 64.
    MS66 taste on an MS63 budget.
  • rheddenrhedden Posts: 6,567 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I saw the NEN 1902 coin too. Though I like this dealer and they generally have nice coins, I prefer to avoid PR65 graded Liberty Nickels that have a light coating of haze. There are an awful lot of them out there. These have generally been dipped at some point, and the haze is the remnants of whatever toning the coin had. For PR65 or higher money, the coin had better have clear mirrors or light attractive tone. I don't care if CAC liked it or not- a hazy coin is not a gem to me. DLRC also recently had a 1902 in PCGS PR65 that had the same exact look.

    I'll divulge my nominees for the toughest date. It's a toss-up between 1890, 1893, 1894, 1896, and 1898 for me. I personally had an awful time finding an 1896, though one is on the way to me right now. Of course, it may go back to the seller like the last one did.

    The 1886-1889 coins are indeed tough if you insist upon cameo coins. I'm not even sure how they determine whether the 1888 and 1889 coins are proofs or not, because the mirrors are usually so shallow. These coins are almost matte proofs in some cases.

  • ctf_error_coinsctf_error_coins Posts: 15,433 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Finding one with an Error has got to be tough .....


    image
  • Walkerguy21DWalkerguy21D Posts: 11,114 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I sold a proof 1893 to forum member Opus a few months back, that later slabbed PF63. At the time, I recall it having a somewhat lower pop compared to most other dates, though I doubt it's one of the toughest.
    How about 1885? May be tougher to find, as a number of people use the Proof instead of the business strike in their sets as it's relatively more plentiful than business strikes in Unc.
    Successful BST transactions with 170 members. Recent: Tonedeaf, Shane6596, Piano1, Ikenefic, RG, PCGSPhoto, stman, Don'tTelltheWife, Boosibri, Ron1968, snowequities, VTchaser, jrt103, SurfinxHI, 78saen, bp777, FHC, RYK, JTHawaii, Opportunity, Kliao, bigtime36, skanderbeg, split37, thebigeng, acloco, Toninginthblood, OKCC, braddick, Coinflip, robcool, fastfreddie, tightbudget, DBSTrader2, nickelsciolist, relaxn, Eagle eye, soldi, silverman68, ElKevvo, sawyerjosh, Schmitz7, talkingwalnut2, konsole, sharkman987, sniocsu, comma, jesbroken, David1234, biosolar, Sullykerry, Moldnut, erwindoc, MichaelDixon, GotTheBug
  • dsessomdsessom Posts: 2,212 ✭✭✭✭✭



    << <i>How about 1882? >>



    That would be considered a pattern.


    In the proofs, 1889 CAM is toughest.


  • << <i>How about 1885? >>


    The 1885 is like the 16-D Merc. Low mintage, high demand, but every dealer has one-or more.
  • Walkerguy21DWalkerguy21D Posts: 11,114 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i><< How about 1885? >>


    The 1885 is like the 16-D Merc. Low mintage, high demand, but every dealer has one-or more. >>


    We're talking proofs in this thread - every dealer has a proof 1885 Liberty nickel? An AG maybe, but I have seen very few proof 1885 Lib nickels, and I hit a fair number of shows every year. But maybe you hang out at tables with better material than I do image
    Successful BST transactions with 170 members. Recent: Tonedeaf, Shane6596, Piano1, Ikenefic, RG, PCGSPhoto, stman, Don'tTelltheWife, Boosibri, Ron1968, snowequities, VTchaser, jrt103, SurfinxHI, 78saen, bp777, FHC, RYK, JTHawaii, Opportunity, Kliao, bigtime36, skanderbeg, split37, thebigeng, acloco, Toninginthblood, OKCC, braddick, Coinflip, robcool, fastfreddie, tightbudget, DBSTrader2, nickelsciolist, relaxn, Eagle eye, soldi, silverman68, ElKevvo, sawyerjosh, Schmitz7, talkingwalnut2, konsole, sharkman987, sniocsu, comma, jesbroken, David1234, biosolar, Sullykerry, Moldnut, erwindoc, MichaelDixon, GotTheBug
  • MFHMFH Posts: 11,720 ✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Cameo proof 1889.

    Edited to add: Actually a 1902 Reverse of 1900, is the toughest, but this is not a specific date. >>



    image......I have so much to learn....
    Mike Hayes
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Coin collecting is not a hobby, it's an obsession !

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  • dbldie55dbldie55 Posts: 7,717 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>How about 1885? >>


    The 1885 is like the 16-D Merc. Low mintage, high demand, but every dealer has one-or more. >>



    In terms of Liberty Nickel proofs, the 1885 is not even low mintage. (it ranks 25th out of the 31 dates)
    Collector and Researcher of Liberty Head Nickels. ANA LM-6053
  • rheddenrhedden Posts: 6,567 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The 1885 is always available in proof format, as is the 1886. Others that a very common are the 1909 (probably commonest proof?) and both of the 1883 issues. The 1885 is just a very expensive thing to buy, due to the rarity of the business strike.
  • rheddenrhedden Posts: 6,567 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Thought I'd call up this old thread from 2009. I just bought a 1902 in PCGS PR65, completing a 4-year search for this date.image These are sometimes available in NGC holders, but finding a nice on in a PCGS holder was a real task, for some reason. Have to agree with Utah that the 1902 is one of the difficult ones!
  • UtahCoinUtahCoin Posts: 5,345 ✭✭✭✭✭
    It took me a few years to find a nice 1902 myself. It was the last one needed to complete my registry set.
    I used to be somebody, now I'm just a coin collector.
    Recipient of the coveted "You Suck" award, April 2009 for cherrypicking a 1833 CBHD LM-5, and April 2022 for a 1835 LM-12, and again in Aug 2012 for picking off a 1952 FS-902.
  • rheddenrhedden Posts: 6,567 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Same here. It was 96% complete since 2009, and I couldn't get the 1902.

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