Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 80

June Pre Long Beach Sale

Nickels

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 200		1867. Rays. PCGS graded Proof 65 Cameo. Lovely even light golden toning on both sides. A wonderful rare Proof coin. Only 60 minted. A lovely specimen of the second year of issue, a glittering Gem Proof Cameo with deep mirror surfaces (not always the case with Proofs of this type) and with excellent eye appeal. Perfect for the advanced collector who focuses on high grade type or the rarities date collector who must have only the most formidable United States numismatic treasures. The number of Proofs minted of the 1866 Shield nickel is left unknown, the mint records obscure; but in all probability the number is in the range 400 to 500 or so judging by the census numbers. Coins of this type were not released until summer of 1866, by which time many Proof sets had been sold without the five-cent nickel denomination. The Mint struck additional Proof With Rays Nickels in the early months of 1867, believed to be on the order of sixty pieces. This design was produced at a time when the mint was desperately trying to catch up with the huge demand for small change after the American Civil War ended and the business boom sparked by it continued. The use of the metal nickel instead of unavailable silver (which was being hoarded at the time) was the decision rendered by the powers that be. James Barton Longacre quickly designed the new coin and had patterns struck for various Congressmen. Upon striking only a few coins the dies were found to crack. Longacre determined that the rays were contributing to this rapid die deterioration, and so the Mint eliminated them after only a small number were issued in 1866-67. The Proofs of this 1867 issue are well known for their extreme rarity. Pop 6; 8 finer, 2 in 65+, 6 in 66 (PCGS # 83818) . Estimated Value $60,000 - 65,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $61,688
Lot 201		1867. Rays. NGC graded MS-66. Well struck and white. Business strike Shield nickels appear to be one of the more undervalued areas in the coin market today. They are very scarce in an absolute sense, especially in comparison to their Proof counterparts, and are also very challenging to locate in better-than-Gem grades. This is an outstanding brilliant With Rays 1867 that displays generous, satin frosted surfaces whose only imperfections are a few Mint-made die polishing lines. There is virtually no softness of strike as seen on most other Rays nickels, and best of all the stars surrounding the denomination on the reverse are finely detailed. It was because of the interaction of the rays with the hard nickel-copper alloy that the mint dropped the rays the next year in order to extend die life, improve the strikes, and minimize breaks. The United States already had a five-cent coin in the form of the Seated Half Dime. However, there was a great drive in the country after the Civil War to introduce the metric system. Political activist and nickel miner, Joseph Wharton's new nickel alloy coin seemed to fit in well with that concept. (Joseph Wharton owned had a mine at Lancaster Gap, Pennsylvania.) In May 1866 the legislators accepted his arguments for a metric coin based on nickel and enacted the necessary legislation. Of course, since the voters were anxious to get new coins in circulation, the measure probably would have passed whatever the arguments. Mint Director Pollock determined that the design of the new five-cent piece should reflect the highest artistry possible and reflect well on the government. To this end, Chief Engraver James Longacre prepared a number of pattern dies illustrating different concepts. Both Lincoln and Washington portraits appeared on the Patterns, but the former was quickly rejected as it was unlikely that such coins would have circulated in former Confederate strongholds. Popular prejudice against actual portraits on American coins doomed the Washington rendition as well. The final artwork for the obverse of the new five-cent piece featured an American shield surmounted by a cross for decoration, though some saw in it a religious symbol. The reverse has thirteen stars with rays between them, a good design for the times. The coin was soon issued and the public accepted it readily. It became very popular and was given the name "nickel," which had formerly been designated to the copper nickel cent of 1857-1864. Pop 12; 1 finer in 67. Estimated Value $5,000 - 5,500. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $5,875
Lot 202		1869. NGC graded Proof 65. CAC Approved. Housed in an Old Holder. Only 600 minted. A nice mostly untoned Proof and squarely within the Gem quality standards for crisp detail and swirling-fresh mirror originality. Pop 122; 44 finer (PCGS # 3823) . Estimated Value $600 - 650. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $911
Lot 203		1872. PCGS graded Proof 67. Fully white gem. A more than moderately bright and lively gem with strong luster and a confident, no-compromises strike. Everything you would want from the grade, and probably then some. The shield nickel series was a workhorse coin where most production coins reached circulation. The Proofs survive in substantial numbers, of course, but then spotting or tarnish took its fair claim to many, leaving only a scant few at the Kilimanjaro heights this coin has achieved! Notice the low census. Only 950 minted. Pop 2; none finer at PCGS (PCGS # 3826) . Estimated Value $4,200 - 4,500. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $4,935
Lot 204		1874. PCGS graded Proof 67 PQ. CAC Approved. A hint of lovely light pastel toning on both sides. Only 700 minted. Dancing mirrored luster careens off the satiny, glowing surfaces of this attractively toned Proof. A superb blend of pale shades can be seen on both sides. Unlike the usual weaker-struck circulation survivors with their diminished impression on shield and stars left by an inconsistent blow of the dies, this handsome Gem Proof is very sharp from top to bottom, center to periphery. Pop 8; none finer at PCGS (PCGS # 3828) . Estimated Value $3,800 - 4,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $4,230
Lot 205		1875. NGC graded Proof 66 PQ. Lovely even gold toning. Only 700 minted. Pop 24; 2 finer, 1 in 66 Star, 1 in 67. Estimated Value $1,500 - 1,600. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,704
Lot 206		1875. NGC graded Proof 65. PQ. Light hint of tone. Housed in an Old Style Holder. Only 700 struck. Pop 65; 28 finer at NGC. Estimated Value $500 - 525. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,234
Lot 207		1876. PCGS graded Proof 66 Deep Cameo. Fully brilliant and boldly struck. Only 1,150 minted. Pop 3; 1 finer in 67 (PCGS # 93830) . Estimated Value $4,000 - 4,200. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $5,170
Lot 208		1877. NGC graded Proof 65. CAC Approved. PQ. Popular low mintage Proof only year. A hint of light tone. Only 900 struck. A white, eye-catchingly untoned Shield Nickel, a vibrant a Gem example, and as crisp and lustrous as when first issued. Struck with mathematical precision by the dies. Pop 107; 44 finer, 38 in 66, 1 in 66 Star, 5 in 67. Estimated Value $3,500 - 3,700. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $4,113
Lot 209		1879. PCGS graded Proof 66 Cameo. CAC Approved. Fully brilliant Gem Cameo Proof. Only 3,200 minted. Pop 13; 3 finer in 67 (PCGS # 83833) . Estimated Value $1,200 - 1,300. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $2,174
Lot 210		1880. PCGS graded Proof 67 Cameo. CAC Approved. Only 3,955 minted. Fully brilliant and superb. Silver-nickel to satin-like luster skims along over both sides and is boldly displayed on this fresh-appearing Proof. Here, too, we are struck by the sharp, convincing design detail for all areas of this important coin with not even the slightest amount of flatness on the shield or wreath, the stars or legends. Exquisite cameo contrast. Pop 19; 1 finer in 67+ (PCGS # 83835) . Estimated Value $2,000 - 2,100. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $2,291
Lot 211		1881. PCGS graded Proof 67 Cameo PQ. CAC Approved. Tied for the finest graded at PCGS. Fully brilliant gem proof cameo. Only 3,575 minted. Bright silver-nickel gray color with strong two-tone effect between the mirror field and raised, frosted devices. The coin is well struck and incredibly well preserved, spot-free, gleaming from across the room. Sometimes on this issue, the devices that were left by the dies are short of the required precision due to the hard nickel alloy, even on the Proofs, but especially so on circulation strikes. We find that everything is finely detailed, including the shield lines centers and central veins in the leaves, as well as star radials on the reverse. It would be ludicrous to hope this Shield Nickel will sneak by unnoticed by other bidders. Pop 19; none finer at PCGS (PCGS # 83836) . Estimated Value $2,500-UP. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $2,938
Lot 212		1881. PCGS graded Proof 67 Cameo PQ. Only 3,575 minted. A hint of light gold tone. Clean as a whistle, as one would expect from the superb grade; however, what really sets this coin apart from others is its intense flashing luster that rolls around each side. A hint of weakness at that is typically on the business strike Shield Nickels is entirely absent on this sharply struck Proof, with the key central areas strongly impacted by the dies. Pop 19; none finer at PCGS (PCGS # 83836) . Estimated Value $2,000 - 2,100. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $2,174
Lot 213		1881. PCGS graded Proof 64. A hint of light gold tone. Only 3,575 minted and a well made exmaple of this low mintage year. (The dates 1879-81 saw drastic production cutbacks on the business-strike end, although Proof totals were in line with other post-1877 years in the nickel Five-cent series.) (PCGS # 3836) . Estimated Value $350 - 400. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $400
Lot 214		1882. NGC graded Proof 67 Ultra Cameo. Only 3,100 minted. A well struck brilliant coin. Pop 2; none finer at NGC . Estimated Value $8,500 - 9,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $9,988
Lot 215		1882. PCGS graded Proof 67 Cameo. Only 3,100 minted. Well struck and fully brilliant. Pleasant nickel-silver satin fields and devices demonstrate lots of luster as the viewer tilts the coin from side to side. Pretty impressive! One would be hard put to find a more truly beautiful, original Gem Proof specimen of a popular Type date with not even a smidgen of softness on the main motifs. Pop 22; 1 finer in 68 (PCGS # 83837) . Estimated Value $2,000 - 2,100. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $2,174
Lot 216		1883. NGC graded Proof 66. Housed in an Old Holder. Only 5,419 pieces struck. A hint of light tone. Boldly struck by the perfect Proof dies, which imparted the fine detail with clarity. Final year of this design (1866-83). Pop 228; 52 finer (PCGS # 3838) . Estimated Value $600 - 650. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $676
Lot 217		1883. PCGS graded Proof 66. A hint of tone. Only 5,419 struck. A lustrous silver and nickel gray specimen with a grand display of bright mirror surface, on both sides. Nicely struck Gem Proof with lightly frosted devices. This being a Proof, the design features razor-sharp devices everywhere, providing enough detail that its charm is enhanced immeasurably over a softer-strike general circulation 1883 Shield Nickel. Pop 191; 39 finer, 6 in 66+, 32 in 67, 1 in 67+. (PCGS # 3838) . Estimated Value $600 - 650. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $676
Lot 218		1883. PCGS graded Proof 64. Housed in a First Generation Holder. A nice untoned example that falls just shy of Gem quality. Only 5,419 pieces struck (PCGS # 3838) . Estimated Value $350 - 375. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $400