1888 three cent nickel

I just got an 1888 three cent nickel in the mail yesterday. I was glad to get one with a lower mintage, just over 41,000 coins. The pics aren't real good, I will try and post better ones later. I was happily suprised that all the vertical lines in the III are there.
I would like some advice on the dark color though, how many of you would attempt to even out the color of the coin. I know cleaning is bad, but....
Thanks for any comments or advice.

 

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I wonder with those last dates, 1887-1889 how many of them actually saw circulation in the first place. I have read accounts that the 3¢ coins and even 2¢ coins circulated to some extent into the 1930's, but I wonder about those last dates and whether collectors snapped up a lot of them as there seem to be more in nicer condition than circulated like yours.

 

From what I have read, they circulated quite a bit because of the coin shortage after the civil war, so they are commonly found in vg to vf. Most I come across are, and I am very happy to have them in circulated grades. Currently I don't have 400 plus dollars for a nice MS 64 example.

 

Hmm, not sure how you'd even out the color on that, especially since it's a nickel three-cent piece and not a silver one.

 

I'd leave it alone Viper.
Tougher date so why risk it?

Looks OK to me.

BTW I posted a coin just for you the other day. 1869/69.

clembo

 

That coin looks corroded to me, and any attempt at improvement would likely make the coin look worse not better.

If the coin were mine, I'd enjoy it for what it is, not what it might be. But that's just me...Mike

 

i wasked $6k for the one i liked so i will just enjoy the pic you posted. mine was different metal and date though

 

Yea, I should probably leave it alone.

 

I'd leave it alone, most likely it might look worse after you try to "improve" it. Nice coin, I think it's nice the way it is. :thumb:

Phoenix

 

Those lower mintage 3 cent pieces are REALLY tough!

Good catch.

 

these pics are a little better.

 

Dirt, crud, as long as it isn't PVC, I'd leave it alone.

 

I would guess there's some amount of corrosion there. 1888 is one of the better dates but there are several ahead that one. Try finding an 1875 for instance!

Personally, I'd be tempted to soak the coin in distilled alcohol overnight to see if some of that stuff comes off. There's a bunch of people who would advise against doing anything, but it's totally up to you.

 

I have the 1888 and the 1882, not the rarest 3-cent nickels, but not easy to find. This series is one of those case of lower demand driving the prices more than lower supply. If these were collected as heavily as the regular series, the prices would boom.

 

No doubt Ernie that's why it's a good time to work on them now. My last additon was an 1883 in AU50 ANACS slab. Mintage of 10,609 but very affordable considering the mintage.

 

First I would love to see a pic of the 1883, second I think it is a horrible Idea for people to collect these right now and I think everyone should concentrate on the popular sets for a while.:whistle:

 

I dont know about people not collecting them. I was talking to a few people about these about a month ago, ( As I am a 3 cent collector ) It seems that some one in the Greater Boston area has been buying them up from just about every dealer in the Metro North, South, and West for the past year. Maybe trying to corner the market. Or a big time collector of them. Not to sure about that part. But I do know that I havent seen a MS of Proof in a single store around my parts in months. Infact now that I think about it. The last time i saw one at my Fav/Coin shop I went back to get it a week latter and it was gone. Needless to say I wished I had the money on me at the time I saw it. It was one I didnt have.

 

I know there is a seller I have gotten a few from that said he has been buying all the 75 and 76,s he can pic up at a reasonable price from shows and dealers in his area. In my area they are few and far between and even fewer at reasonable prices. I just wish I had started collecting them sooner because they are starting to creep up in price.

 

I posted it a long time ago but looks like I deleted the pics. If I dig it out I'll get some pics for you.

I'm only collecting 3CNs because I have five sets of the 2 Cent. When I get five sets of 3CN I'll stop.

 

I agree - you might not like what's under that dirt! Thank for sharing!