Ever notice how few mint state Liberty Head nickels there are at coin shows? As a coin show promoter I always take the opportunity at my shows to check out the Lib Nickels. Always a frustration.
Its a slow series. It always has been as long as I have been a collector. Stronger prices bring out better pieces, and with not a lot of attention to the series not a lot new comes onto the market. My view of it at least.
I did get lucky recently. After a ten year search I found an 1893 MS 64+ PCGS and at a very fair price. The search may be frustrating but I'll admit the hunting is a big part of the fun. Just don't want to have too much fun.
The absence (lack of abundance) of high quality pieces points to the fact that there were not very many folks collecting coins at the time. But take a piece like the 'no cents' nickel and there are tons to be had in pristine condition. For some odd reason folks hung on to these in quantity.........
Because of the "racketeer nickel" story. Newspapers were even worst back then, (hard to believe I know), and many led people to believe ANY no cents nickel was worth $5. So you had millions of people checking nickels and pulling every no cents nickel out to save. Its a classic case, since the with cents nickel actually has higher mintage in 1883, yet is MUCH rarer in high grades today. Classic survivorship bias case.
Actually, wasn't there a case where some folks were gold plating the 'no cents' nickels and passing them off as half eagles?
Yeah, that was the "racketeer nickel" story I referred to. But, those were rare. However, the papers sensationalized it to a point people thought ANY nickel without the words cents was worth $5.
Actually, there was a belief at the time that the government was going to 'recall' and melt the w/o cents variety. So they would be come rare. Which we all know never happened. That is why they were saved.
I'm currently trying to build a collection of "V" nickels... easy to do in the low grades, but I'm aiming to build a set that's EF and up. It's tough to do, but I think with some patience, time, and $$ I'll be able to do it. Liberty nickels were minted in a time when many things cost 5 cents. They were a work horse among coins, so we therefore see a large supply of worn pieces. Fortunately, I have found a favorite dealer in my area who always has some nice pieces that meet my criteria. I avoid stained ones and I try to find "V" nickels with strong strikes.
I've got a coin show coming up January 3 and 4 at the Clarion Hotel, Concord, California and I'm hoping to find a Liberty Head nickel that I need as well as one that meets my standards. Not easy to do.
And reeding the edges. I have one with very old gold plate, no reeding, that may have been an early attempt to pass it off. The originals were passed by a deaf mute named Josh Tatum, who handed it over and just accepted the change. Charge with stealing, he was found not guilty. no one could prove that he asked for change. just accepted in. [supposedly, according to some, that is where the expression 'Don't josh me' came from. Others vehemently deny that reference.]
I only have a 1910 in PCGS 63 and an 1883 No cents, in MS-62, alsoi PCGS. Tough coins. I should sell. But I like my 1886 in G-04 and VG-08, so I'll keep those.
I have an 1890 that should be back from PCGS in January. I'm guessing it will come back MS 63. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Don't Josh me makes a certain amount of cents (sense?) to me Frank. Thanks for inserting some explanation for colloquial terms........ You da best brother. Happy Holidays.
