In G4 I would suspect $10 to $12. In this case it looks harshly cleaned and the scratches are very distracting. Maybe $20. VF Details.
Yeah those scratches would make me walk away and find a problem free one. Honestly, I wouldn't even trade a nickel for it unless it had the same type of damage.
Only if you needed a cheap hole filler. The problem with a coin that has problems is, it's value is never really going to increase much as long as there are problem free coins available. I think people are crazy if they're willing to spend over $10 on the coin with those scratches, but to each their own I suppose.
I just found it is the change it seems very good on the front though if you put it in a paper folder you will not see the back anyway. I seen some that are worn down so far that you can hardly see any writing so I thought this should be worth a little more.
Hiding the damage doesn't mean it's gone though. Unfortunately, scratches equal damage and damage significantly lowers the value.
I agree, I'm not saying that I love the coin at $11-13, I'm just saying that the price could probably be attained given the correct sales outlet. I do, unforunately, have a habit of buying older coins with small problems (old light cleanings, environmental damage, etc.) when the price is right. Tough habit to break, when I can get into them for the right $. I really should stick to the strictly problem-free stuff, even if I have to pay a premium.
It'll still be damaged. I'd buy it as a hole filer, as stated by others, but that's a $5.00 coin, in my book.
I'd buy these out of change drawers all day long! eBay has recently added a feature that I've wanted for many years -- if you do a search that's sufficiently specific, it gives you the option of searching active, completed, or SOLD auctions. That last option provides a fast check of what things are really getting, without having to wade through all the wishful-thinking Buy It Now and "Reserve Not Met" results. So, you can search on "1887 nickel details", and then select the "sold listings" link at the top of the results. A nickel worse than yours recently went for $11 shipped; another, slightly worse than that, got $6.80 including shipping. You might do better on this one; you'd be unlikely to do much worse. I'm not sure you'd get more for it in any other venue.
