Lot 164
1866 Shield Nickel. Rays. PCGS graded Proof 66. Only 200 pieces were coined as Proofs in this, the very first year of America's nickel 5c coinage. It was a hard metal, the die-pressure was often refigured for the business strikes as they often came from the dies softly struck or mushy, so the Proofs are the truest examples of the elegance of this then-new design. It was a classic, based upon the concept of balanced images: the shield centered amid the branches (possibly of State), and the new, big-fat "5" offset by the stars and rays surrounding it. There may be better numbers out there, but certainly few can claim the exquisite eye-appeal of this champagne-colored sparkling beauty. It is Superb.
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| Realized $4,140 |
