From what I have read online, all business strike 1880 Shield Nickels were struck using proof dies, making it very difficult to determine MS coins from Proof. Is there any way to tell? I haven't even found anything online referring to squared rims. Here is an 1880 (pics borrowed from the web). Looks proof, but I'm curious if there is a die marker that may make finding business strikes easier to distinguish. @howards
Just send it in until they say business strike. I talked to a dealer at a show and he recounted how it was a 50/50 shot to get proof or business strike on coins like this. Though he was talking about late 3CNs, I think it would apply here as well
The latest practice (by major TPGs) is to accept only those 1880s that show the "island reverse" as business strikes. The island is a small lump of metal below the second T in STATES.
This advice could cost you a lot in grading fees, with no possibility of success unless the coin shows the island reverse (if you want to use one of the top grading services).
Additional info: There are 2 obverse dies and 2 reverse dies known for 1880 coins. They are not used in a mix and match fashion - there is a strict obverse/reverse pairing resulting in only two possibilities for the pairing. Only one of these pairs has a later die stage which includes the island reverse. It is always paired with the obverse that shows a repunched second 8. But the repunched 8 is not a marker that distinguishes between proof and business strikes - it occurs on both. I have seen a few older slabs with a non-island reverse slabbed as business strikes. That would not happen today. So, if you're lucky enough to have one of those, don't ever resubmit it!
BTW, the coin pictured in the OP's post is not the repunched date obverse and not the island reverse. Also, it looks like an obvious proof to me even I didn't know the die pair.
No he says its a proof. The business strike has the little lump of metal on the reverse. Below the 2nd T in STATES. Photo post #4.
Have to correct an error I made. This is the RPD date obverse - didn't notice until I enlarged the photo. It's still not the island reverse and is still an obvious proof to my eyes.
