Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 75

September Pre Long Beach

Nickel Three Cent Pieces

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 1256		1866. NGC graded Proof 65. Good mirrors and frosty devices. A scarce early date. Only 725 struck. Pop 61; 18 finer, 17 in 66, 1 in 67. Estimated Value $600 - 700 View details and enlarged photos	Realized $748
Lot 1257		1867. NGC graded Proof 66 Cameo. CAC Approved. Outstanding eye appeal. Good mirrors with frosted devices. A scarcer early date in the series. Only 625 struck. Pop 61; 3 finer in 67. Estimated Value $800 - 1,000 View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,323
Lot 1258		1869. PCGS graded Proof 65. CAC Approved. Good mirrors with very few marks. A scarcer early date in the series. Pop 60; 9 finer in 66. (PCGS # 3765) Estimated Value $700 - 800 View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $776
Lot 1259		1871. PCGS graded Proof 66. Very good mirrors. Scarcer early date. Pop 28; 1 finer in 67. (PCGS # 3767) Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,200 View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $920
Lot 1260		1873. Closed 3. PCGS graded MS-65. CAC Approved. Well struck with satiny luster. Very few marks. Pop 33; 10 finer in 66. (PCGS # 3739) Estimated Value $600 - 700 View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $834
Lot 1261		1873. Closed 3. PCGS graded Proof 65. CAC Approved. Good mirrors and frosty devices. Very few marks. Pop 100; 15 finer, 13 in 66, 1 in 66+, 1 in 67. (PCGS # 3769) Estimated Value $450 - 550 View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $776
Lot 1262		1874. NGC graded Proof 66. Medium mirrors. Small fly speck by the eye. At best, it is not easy to find such luster. So too crisp definition on the main devices counts for a lot. Mathematically exact standards are seen in the sharp hair definition along with a full beaded edge on the coronet. Only 700 struck. Pop 26; 2 finer in 67. Estimated Value $600 - 700 View details and enlarged photos	Realized $748
Lot 1263		1876. NGC graded Proof 66. Good mirrors with very few marks. For the Centennial year, where orders from buyers increased, the mint sold 1,150 Proofs, 450 pieces more than in 1874. Proof coinage returned to normal the year following. Pop 30; 3 finer in 67. Estimated Value $600 - 700 View details and enlarged photos	Realized $748
Lot 1264		1878. PCGS graded Proof 66. CAC Approved. Good mirrors and outstanding eye appeal. Proof-only date. No three cent nickels were struck for ciculation in 1877 and 1878 due to the overabundance of small change in circulation (see historic note below). This situation was brought on by a severe depression in 1877 that caused hoards of coins to come back into circulation. Housed in an Old Green Holder. Only 2,350 struck. Pop 85; 16 finer, 3 in 66+, 12 in 67, 1 in 68. (PCGS # 3774) Historic Note: It had long been thought that the subsidiary coins which suddenly disappeared in 1861-62 during the Civil War were melted or sent to Europe and sold as bullion. As a matter of fact only a small proportion were disposed of in this way. The great majority went to countries where they had values as coins above their bullion values, some to Canada but most to Latin-America. Their dramatic reappearance began in earnest in December 1877. The capacity of Latin-America to absorb United States silver was obviously limited in those days, but there was some place for new coins even after the wholesale exportation of 1862, and in later years the mints continued to coin silver for bullion dealers who shipped the coins to Latin-America and brought back gold or foreign silver coins. After June, 1862, the United States mints were, so far as silver was concerned, merely establishments conducted for the benefit of New York and San Francisco bullion dealers. Estimated Value $600 - 700 View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $1,006
Lot 1265		1879. PCGS graded Proof 66. CAC Approved. Very good mirrors and frosted devices. Pop 184; 46 finer, 1 in 66+, 43 in 67, 2 in 68. (PCGS # 3775) Estimated Value $500 - 600 View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $719
Lot 1266		1880. PCGS graded Proof 66. Very good mirrors with frosted devices. Pop 214; 39 finer, 2 in 66+, 37 in 67. (PCGS # 3776) Estimated Value $500 - 600 View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $604
Lot 1267		1881. PCGS graded Proof 67. Medium mirrors. Flawless surfaces. Pop 59; 3 finer in 68. (PCGS # 3777) Estimated Value $900 - 1,000 View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $949
Lot 1268		1881. PCGS graded Proof 66. Good mirrors and very few marks. Pop 250; 64 finer. (PCGS # 3777) Estimated Value $500 - 600 View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $575
Lot 1269		1882. PCGS graded Proof 66. Good mirrors and heavily frosted devices. Graded prior to the "Cameo" designation being given by PCGS. Pop 278; 94 finer. (PCGS # 3778) Estimated Value $500 - 600 View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $575
Lot 1270		1883. NGC graded Proof 65 Cameo. A Gem untoned coin with beautiful contrast between the reflective field and frosted devices. Estimated Value $550 - 600 View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 1271		1885. PCGS graded Proof 67. CAC Approved. Medium mirrors and superb nearly flawless surfaces. Housed in an Old Green Holder. Only 3,790 struck. Chief Engraver James B. Longacre was assigned the task of designing the nickel three-cent piece, and he wasted little time in doing so once congress passed the authorizing legislation in 1865. The head was taken from an unadopted cent design of 1857; it also had been used on a quarter eagle pattern of 1860. Longacre was partial to this head of Liberty and persuaded Mint Director Pollock to support it as well. The final decision was made by Treasury Secretary Hugh McCulloch and the president. The new coin was an instant hit with the citizenry, and mintage was relatively large during the rest of 1865 and well into 1866; during 1867 and 1868 there still was a substantial coinage, but after that the public lost interest and striking declined. Proofs were made every year, 1865 to 1889, after which the denomination was abolished by the Coinage Act of 1890. Strong interest in the Proofs has grown by leaps and bounds over the past 20 to 30 years. Although the coinage of three cent pieces was reasonably heavy in Proof, only few survive in this outstanding condition. Pop 31; 1 finer in 68. (PCGS # 3781) Estimated Value $800 - 1,000 View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $1,208
Lot 1272		1885. PCGS graded Proof 66. Medium mirrors with very few marks. Pop 151; 34 finer, 2 in 66+, 31 in 67, 1 in 68. (PCGS # 3781) Estimated Value $500 - 600 View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $633
Lot 1273		1886. PCGS graded Proof 66 Cameo. CAC Approved. Good mirrors with outstanding eye appeal. Only 4,290 struck. Pop 35; 21 finer, 1 in 66+, 20 in 67. (PCGS # 83782) Estimated Value $500 - 600 View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $690
Lot 1274		1887, 7 over 6. PCGS graded Proof 66 Cameo. CAC Approved. Strong Overdate. A beautiful example with deep mirrors and frosted devices. Very few are graded higher. Pop 31; 6 finer, 2 in 66+, 4 in 67. (PCGS # 83784) Estimated Value $700 - 800 View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $1,840
Lot 1275		1887, 7 over 6. PCGS graded Proof 65. CAC Approved. Strong overdate. Graded prior to that designation being given by PCGS. Slight debris strike-though by the obverse rim at 2:00. This does not limit the grade as it is as it left the mint.Pop 174; 59 finer; 55 in 66, 4 in 67. (PCGS # 3784) Estimated Value $500 - 600 View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $690
Lot 1276		1888. PCGS graded MS-67. A superb brilliant untoned gem! Only 36,500 minted. Although struck on a standard 25% nickel, 75% copper planchet, both the peripheries and the central areas are impressive for their sharpness of strike, and the frosty textured almost silvery white surfaces are glistening. No deviation in the sharp relief seen, not even in the centers of the coin. Pop 36; 1 finer in 68 (PCGS # 3757) Estimated Value $2,000 - 2,200 View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 1277		1888. NGC graded MS-67. A superb spot-free gem. Only 36,501 struck. While Mint State examples are routinely available through the near-Gem level, Superb Gems in the MS67 class are surprisingly elusive (see following census figures). This is a frosty, vibrant untoned survivor that is exquisite in every way. The Three-cent Nickel series isn�t one where you are lured to begin collecting and then skinned to the bone by a plethora of impossible to find mega-expensive dates. All are readily approached and affordable, even in superb condition such as this 1888. Pop 14; none finer at NGC. Estimated Value $1,800 - 2,000 View details and enlarged photos	Realized $2,185
Lot 1278		1889. NGC graded Proof 66 Cameo. CAC Approved. A beautiful example with good mirrors and frosted devices. An outstanding example of the last year of issue. Only 3,436 struck. Pop 23; 11 finer in 67. Estimated Value $500 - 600 View details and enlarged photos	Realized $978
Lot 1279		1889. PCGS graded Proof 66. CAC Approved. Good mirrors and outstanding eye appeal. A beautiful example of this last year of issue. Pop 255; 55 finer, 2 in 66+, 52 in 67, 1 in 68. (PCGS # 3786) Estimated Value $500 - 600 View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $690