NEWP - A Dream Coin Acquisition (For Me) - 1910 Proof Nickel - New Images and Comments Years Later
FlyingAl
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I recently was able to take some of the funds that I had left over from selling other parts of my collection that not longer fit in and also some older currency that had little to no premium (I sold the items that had a premium), and I wanted to consolidate it into a coin that I had wanted for some time and really liked. A proof Liberty Nickel was the obvious choice - it was within budget, I could get a nicer grade, and I really liked the design. With that said - I had a few guidelines.
1) The coin must be attractive for the grade - no obvious spotting or negative eye appeal.
2) The coin must have contrast on either the obverse or reverse, preferably both.
3) The coin must have some originality to it- I wanted a coin that appeared to be undipped, with some nicer color or even tone to it.
4) The coin must be reasonably priced.
I originally had my heart set on a nice 1883 No Cents example, but I realized that that date didn't quite offer what I was truly looking for - at least not within budget. I quickly branched out to include any date. This yielded more options - but I quickly narrowed down what I would say was a few thousand coins over time. I had been searching for an example for months, and hadn't found an example that I liked. I stumbled upon the piece I purchased after doing a deep dive of eBay the day I knew my budget (not quite sure how I had missed it before). It wasn't an impulse purchase in the way where you don't know what you were looking for, but it was an impulse purchase in the way of how is this coin still for sale?
Many coins had very attractive obverses, but the reverses were downright negative in eye appeal - often spotted and distracting, or they were blast white and were missing that element of originality I desired. Finally, as I was running out of dates to look at, this amazing 1910 popped out. It had everything, and I mean that. The originality pops in hand. Booming contrast, and no distractions.
After I purchased the coin, I went to GC and went through past sales of Liberty Nickels in proof. I didn't find a coin that I would buy over this one if it was offered to me. I'm glad I stuck to my guidelines and found this coin, as they say, buy the best you can afford. Well, without further ado, here's the coin, in a PCGS PR65 holder. A quick note - some light spots showed up under my two lamps that I use for photography, which allows for better pictures but in this case highlighted something that barely appears in hand. I knew where to look and I can barely see it with a loupe under my one light that I use.
Comments
That’s a fantastic example! I like it better than mine (also a 65). Congrats! Great reminder of the fruits of patience in this hobby.
Nothing is as expensive as free money.
Solid choice and a good move consolidating into better material.
Beautiful!
Nice, looks like a CAM based on the photo.
Great coin Buddy! Love the color, and the surfaces look really clean for grade. You know I'm a proof Barber guy, guess you are too now!!!!!
That's a really attractive coin my friend! Congratulations!!
That's a neat year, because a Proof set (Silver, Nickel and Copper) is probably doable, and would make one heck of a group.
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Very nice. So glad you consolidated resources to purchase a quality coin. Less is more!
One quibble. I prefer to replace the common advice of "buy the best you can afford" to "buy the best that you understand". It appears you did just that!
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running like a water color in the rain...."
That's a great looking proof V nick!
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
You did very well.... great detail on that nickel. You will enjoy that coin for many years. Cheers, RickO
Congrats on the pickup! Very nice example you found.
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Wonder what is keeping that coin from grading out as cameo?
Gorgeous nickel! Absolutely fantastic strike and color.
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Beautiful
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I think you made a great choice!
Excellent choice! Patience pays off!
I too am looking for one and it’s gotta be a stunner or I’ll continue to wait.
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Very nice coin. Congrats.
Nice, there's nothing wrong here. I like
Good looking newp, congrats on the addition.
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My goodness, that is beautiful. That would be a collection masterpiece for most of us. Congratulations and what a great piece to add to your collection. You are flying away with it.
Jim
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Awesome!
Throwback thread here (3.5 years), but I was re-imaging a good chunk of my collection and this 1910 was of course included.
The coin has since been sent to CAC, where it beaned and JA said it was CAM in his opinion as well. This coin remains one of the coins in my collection I enjoy most, and I figured the newer images were worth sharing.
I mentioned way back when in my OP that I looked for coins that met this one for eye appeal and quality, and I still use this one as the standard when I look through Liberty nickels. I haven't bought another, and I'd be willing to buy one if it was as nice as this one. I find I still use a similar approach to collecting - find the best that exists, and then try and get as close as possible to that in whatever grade I can afford. I guess I got a few things right early on.
It's also fun for me to see the change in photography, but this one is a little less apparent than normal. For whatever reason the images were slightly better than I normally produced in 2022 looking back at what images I took in that year. Since then, I have spent quite some time dedicated to the craft, made some drastic changes to my setup, and the results are much better IMO. I'm still always making tweaks to my images and how I produce them, and this year I've focused a lot on artistic ways to present coins. Volume also helps, and I've imaged large amounts of coins since I started photography.
Congratulations on the "seal of good housekeeping."
I love the toning/color scheme that goes with it
spectacular coin !!!
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That is a pretty example. I am surprised that you did end up with a 1909 Proof. That is the most common date in Proof. The cent and nickel came as a set from the mint. Collectors bought additional sets that year to get the three types of cents.
Ironically the 1883 No Cents nickel in Proof is somewhat tough. That coin is very common in AU and low end Unc. because of hoarding. The Proofs were issued for part of the year and are tougher.
Beautiful!
"She comes out of the sun in a silk dress,
running like a water color in the rain...."
I really like the originality of this coin. It looks cam to me which is my favorite thing about what I collect. I think its important.
Nice image as well.
Keep up the good work!
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Great coin and looks cool in the OBH.
Nothing is as expensive as free money.
Very nice coin, not sure why PCGS did not CAM this. The rev is a little weak on contrast, but it still should have. The reason 1910 on PLNs look so nice is the mint switched to sandblasting the dies to get a more even etch.
There is one very interesting variety for 1910 with heavy die polish below the ear.
Dannreuther and I have called this the "Janitor Variety," a togue-in-cheek pun at the large cent "Office Boy Reverse," or the "There, I fixed It Variety" after the internet meme. I've seen 3 or 4 of these and some later state pieces with just a bit of the sanding remaining.
There are several interesting varieties in the PLN series. I've attached our article which appeared in the BCCS journal.
That is a wonderful coin and great photography.