Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 39

Pre-Long Beach Coin and Currency Auction

Nickel Three Cent Pieces

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 1081		1865 Nickel Three Cents. PCGS graded Proof 66 Cameo. The key date in Proof. A brilliant spot-free Cameo Gem. Bright, untoned surfaces are boldly contrasted between mirror-finish fields and satiny fresh devices. Fully struck as well as free from contact marks, this impressive Gem would make a beautiful addition to any collection. Not only is the 1865 the first Proof in the Three-cent nickel series, but it is also the rarest. Given the fact numismatists frequently prefer first-year coins when assembling Type sets, one can easily understand the elusiveness of survivors in today's market. Only 500+ Proofs struck. Pop 22; 1 finer in 67. (PCGS # 83761) . Estimated Value $6,500 - 7,500. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $7,188
Lot 1082		1866 Nickel Three Cents. PCGS graded Proof 66 Cameo. Pristine Gem Proof! Brilliant, untoned surfaces are boldly contrasted between mirror-finish fields and satiny devices. Fully struck with nary a detracting contact mark to report, this impressive Gem would make a fitting addition to any numismatic holding. Not only is the 1866 a scarce year in the Three-cent nickel series, but it is also among the rarest to find with strong cameo contrast. Given the fact that numismatists frequently prefer the earliest issues when assembling Type sets, one can easily understand the elusiveness of 1866 Proofs in today's market. The rarity structure of this series is in inverse relationship to that of the business strike issues in this series. Whereas the more elusive circulation strikes are those from the latter years of the series, the most hard to get hold of Proofs were struck early in the life of this denomination. In addition to the first-years, 1865-67, the 1877 and 1878 are also popular dates for this type due to their Proof-only status. Pop 11, 1 better in 67. (PCGS # 83762) . Estimated Value $2,000 - 2,500. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $2,300
Lot 1083		1866 Nickel Three Cents. PCGS graded MS-63. Old green holder. Lustrous. Some minor softness on the rim dentils (PCGS # 3732) . Estimated Value $100 - 120. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $168
Lot 1084		1870 Nickel Three Cents. NGC graded Proof 65 Cameo. A brilliant untoned gem. A nice example of this Proof date, the fields being fresh and lustrous, the designs boldly struck and well frosted, providing a treat for the appreciative collector. 1,000+ Proofs struck. Pop 15; 17 finer; 12 in 66; 2 in 66 Star;; 1 in 67; 2 in 67 Star. (PCGS # 3766) . Estimated Value $1,500 - 1,700. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 1085		1870 Nickel Three Cents. NGC graded Proof 65. Mostly untoned. Scarce in Proof 65. From center to periphery the gleam of luminous original luster glows on this well made Proof. In the late 1860s, the mint authorities were becoming interested in having a uniform design for the minor coins. James Longacre, the mint's chief engraver, therefore prepared a Liberty head obverse for the nickel five-cent piece similar to that used on the regular three-cent piece and tried it with several reverse designs. He also made a set of three reverses for the minor coins having a wreath of oak and olive branches connected at the top by scrolls and a six pointed star with a pellet beneath. These differed only in size and the Roman numeral within the wreath, V, III and I. Nothing came of the experiment, and therefore only the III copper-nickel Three-cent pieces remain from that experiment. Total of 1000+ Proofs struck in 1870. Pop 75; 77 finer; 15 in 66; 1 in 66 Star; 1 in 67 Star. (PCGS # 3766) . Estimated Value $1,400 - 1,500. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $1,380
Lot 1086		1872 Nickel Three Cents. NGC graded Proof 66 Cameo. Brilliant untoned gem. Truly, this is a blazing nickel-white beauty with intense luster on the snow-capped devices, a sharp strike, and visual appeal commensurate with the Proof 66 grade. Collectors find the meticulous strike and cameo appearance attractive, which we'd like to emphasize since the Proof issues from the 1870s are generally scarcer grade-for-grade than those in the 1880s due to their lower mintage. Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,250. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,380
Lot 1087		1872 Silver Three Cents. NGC graded Proof 65. Mostly untoned. Rich original surfaces and color. A well struck Gem that has gleaming fields. 950+ Proofs struck according to the sparse Mint records. Prior to 1878, the U.S. Mint did not keep accurate totals of the Proof sets and Proof singles sold to collectors. Estimates had to be compiled from the records by later numismatic researchers. Pop 129; 20 finer in 66. (PCGS # 3723) . Estimated Value $650 - 700. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $834
Lot 1088		1874 Nickel Three Cents. PCGS graded Proof 65. Old green holder. An incredibly lustrous gem of this earlier date. The obverse and reverse both explode with bright nickel-fresh iridescence while there is a faint blush of color. The devices were struck with the requisite force and energy by the Proof dies that all design elements show boldly. 700+ Proofs struck (the exact number of Proofs is uncertain since the Mint failed to keep accurate accounts in those days). Pop 78; 22 finer; 21 in 66; 1 in 67. (PCGS # 3770) . Estimated Value $850 - 900. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $978
Lot 1089		1874 Nickel Three Cents. NGC graded Proof 65. Lightly toned. The surfaces are smooth, oscillating with nickel-gray to warm golden color, and quite lustrous. Only 700+ Proofs struck. Pop 99; 22 finer; 21 in 66; 1 in 67. (PCGS # 3770) . Estimated Value $750 - 800. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $748
Lot 1090		1876 Nickel Three Cents. NGC graded Proof 65. Brilliant untoned surfaces. From tip to toe an refreshing gem with impressive mint brilliance over spotless surfaces. 1,150 Proofs struck. Centennial year Proofs at times command a fair premium over the other dates in the series. Pop 97; 33 finer; 30 in 66; 11 in 66 Star; 2 in 67. Estimated Value $750 - 800. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 1091		1876 Nickel Three Cents. PCGS graded Proof 64. Old green holder. Lightly toned. Lustrous satiny golden gray surfaces with rich toning highlights. A truly beautiful choice Proof specimen of an early Centennial Year three-cent piece, scarcer than most of the Proofs struck in the 1880s. Only 1,150 proofs struck (PCGS # 3772) . Estimated Value $300 - 325. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $460
Lot 1092		1879 Nickel Three Cents. NGC graded Proof 65. In an old NGC holder. Brilliant and untoned. A total of 3200 proofs struck (PCGS # 3775) . Estimated Value $400 - 450. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $575
Lot 1093		1880 Nickel Three Cents. PCGS graded Proof 67. Old green holder. Light gold toning on both sides. Some scratches on the holder not the coin. A superb example of this date. Pop 35; none finer. (PCGS # 3776) . Estimated Value $900 - 950. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 1094		1880 Nickel Three Cents. NGC graded Proof 65. Lightly toned. A satiny to mirror-like gem typical of the 1880 Proof strike with near-superlative luster that radiates boldly beneath the toned highlights. Possessed of a much finer strike than is found on an 1880s decade Proof. 3,955 Proofs struck (PCGS # 3776) . Estimated Value $500 - 525. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 1095		1882 Nickel Three Cents. PCGS graded Proof 67. Nice even light toning. An elevated degree of blistering luster springs to life beneath splendid toned highlights. Nowhere yielding in its crisp design, the superb detail can be found here, there, and everywhere, more so than on the typical Proof example of the date. A rock-solid gem that will excite bidders to attend the sale. 3100 Proofs struck. Pop 93; 7 in 68. (PCGS # 3778) . Estimated Value $900 - 950. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 1096		1882 Nickel Three Cents. PCGS graded Proof 67. Lightly toned. Bold cartwheel luster spins broadly beneath rich toning highlights with the fields accruing aspects of both prooflike reflection and more traditional satiny tendencies (all characteristic of the Proofs struck in the 1880s). The reverse strike at the wreath and Roman numeral is complete in detail, crisp and sharp, making the present specimen well above average where design definition is concerned. A superb coin for the collector. 3,100 Proofs struck. Pop 93; 7 finer in 68. (PCGS # 3778) . Estimated Value $900 - 950. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 1097		1883 Nickel Three Cents. PCGS graded Proof 65. Old green holder. Nice golden toning. A fresh and original gem with splendid Proof to satin-like cartwheel luster typical of the 1880s Proofs, plust the aforementioned toning on both sides. Sharply struck with nearly full Roman numeral lines. Absolutely gem 65 quality. 6,609 proofs issued (PCGS # 3779) . Estimated Value $500 - 525. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $575
Lot 1098		1884 Nickel Three Cents. NGC graded Proof 66 Cameo. Nice bright coin. An immaculate, blazing Gem Proof of this low mintage date, the surfaces bursting with vivid nickel-fresh originality over both sides. A respectable amount of detail with not even a hint of weakness to the main designs such as the pearls of the coronet and the Roman numeral's vertical lines. 3,942 Proofs struck. Pop 31; 15 finer; 13 in 67; 2 in 68. (PCGS # 3780) . Estimated Value $650 - 700. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $690
Lot 1099		1884 Nickel Three Cents. NGC graded AU-50. Very scarce in all circulated grades. The 1884 is, in fact, commoner to find in Proof than circulated! Low mintage of 1,700 coins struck for circulation. Pop 3; 10 finer. Estimated Value $500 - 600. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,500
Lot 1100		1884 Nickel Three Cents. PCGS graded Proof 65. First generation holder. Sparkling golden iridescence imbues this satiny-to-mirrored beauty with a life of its own. Add a high degree of originality and the appeal is virtually irresistible. 3,942 proofs struck (PCGS # 3780) . Estimated Value $500 - 525. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $633
Lot 1101		1885 Nickel Three Cents. NGC graded Proof 67. A bright and reflective gem of the superior quality, glittering, with lustrous lightly frosted motifs and beautiful untoned fields. Boldly struck with every tiny gradation of Longacre's design present and accounted for. We note here that no other examples of this scarce date have been certified finer than the present gem Proof 67 within any designation by NGC. One of those coins that is just a hair's breadth away from perfection! Only 3,790 proofs struck. Pop 19; none finer at NGC. (PCGS # 3781) . Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,100. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $1,035
Lot 1102		1886 Nickel Three Cents. NGC graded Proof 66. Nicely toned. Collectors really go for the vivid mint bloom of these low mintage Proofs, and this coin's originality nicely matches the high quality of the surfaces. Fully struck, also, with just a no room for improvement in the key devices. There is a tiny toning dot below the 86 in the date. 4,290 Proofs struck. Pop 177; 33 finer; 30 in 67; 2 oin 67 Star; 1 in 68 Star. (PCGS # 3782) . Estimated Value $600 - 650. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $644
Lot 1103		1887 Nickel Three Cents. NGC graded Proof 65. Subdue surfaces that are a uniform slate grey. The smooth surfaces of this low-mintage Proof eddy and churn with almost "frothy" semi-prooflike luster, a common trait among 1880s period Three-centers. 2,960 Proofs struck. Miss Liberty has the stolid woodenness of coin portraiture seen in the late 19th century. This design lasted many years past its prime. By 1887, few people ever saw this denomination in change. Eventually, Congress got around to abolishing it. Pop 86; 26 finer in 66. (PCGS # 3783) . Estimated Value $750 - 800. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 1104		1887/6 Nickel Three Cents. NGC graded Proof 66 Cameo. Blast white gem. Estimated Value $1,200 - 1,300. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 1105		1888 Nickel Three Cents. NGC graded Proof 66 Cameo. Nice untoned example. This piece displays attractive natural nickel-gray color over the abrasion-free, near-pristine surfaces. A bold strike, improves things considerably, with outstanding detail in the hair and coronet, the wreath and Roman III. 4,582 Proofs struck. Pop 33; 12 finer; 2 in 66 Star; 9 in 67; 1 in 67 Star. (PCGS # 3785) . Estimated Value $650 - 700. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $719
Lot 1106		1888 Nickel Three Cents. NGC graded Proof 65. Nice even light toning. A shimmering gem of the finest Proof 65 order. The luster is unbeatable, the strike is agreeably full, being quite crisp in all places, with lovely toning to cap things off. 4,582 Proofs struck (PCGS # 3785) . Estimated Value $500 - 525. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $546
Lot 1107		1889 Nickel Three Cents. PCGS graded MS-64 PQ. First generation holder. Low mintage of 18,125 struck. A frosty, eye-appealing coin for the connoisseur of this series. Bold strike on the main devices. Pop 33; 61 finer; 22 in 65; 30 in 66; 9 in 67 (PCGS # 3758) . Estimated Value $400 - 450. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $546