Proof, right? Or business strike?

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I see what you are saying....rims look...my call 3955 proof strikes, 16000 mint strikes.I'll say business strike using a retired proof die. nice coin it also looks to have an mpd

 

John:

No idea if this will help, but for comparison here’s a proof I bought last weekend. It’s a cameo.

 

Paddy likely has something.

 

Found this one in the proof trueview images on Heritage. Matches mine.

 

See a and get rid of it??? Something ?

 

The hits in the left fields are they also present? The 6 around the left arrow tip.

 

Nope. Not on the trueview one.

 

@howards

 

You see the hits right and one at the right arrow tip

 

Doesn't really mean it's a proof. In the second half of the 19th century, proof dies were often used to strike proof coins and then used to strike business strike coins. There are numerous examples of business strikes struck from dies known to have struck proof coins.

The strike on yours doesn't seem as crisp as I'd expect from a proof.

Can you show us an edge-view? The squareness of the rims is often a highly important part of whether or not the coins is a proof or business strike.

For comparison, I've got a couple of shield nickels that anyone would swear was a proof from just looking at it - but they are actually ProofLike coins. (and sometimes, that's even more valuable).

 

Found my own thread answer to this question a couple years ago!
https://www.cointalk.com/threads/1880-shield-nickel-question.313438/

It has to have the "island" on the reverse or they will call it a proof.

 

Those rims scream business strike to me.

 

In the buffalo series there are 3 styles of rims square that are proof strikes, matte that show more beveling,and the ms that shows many edge lines. I was leaning towards a business strike on a proof die, poor record keeping ,any matte finished proofs struck?
Are the items in the denticals an mpd or clashes?

 

How did I know this was going to be a late 1800's nickel?

Right up to the link about the "island" reverse, I would have said business strike, mostly due to the rims. Amazing the price difference though! Business strike is listed at $1500 in PCGS's price guide... 1200 in PR66+ CAM!

Back on topic, though. I have been asked the same question in person about a Liberty nickel, where this same sort of weird pricing applies. The coin was in a PCGS PR holder, and I honestly couldn't tell which it was. It's tough to tell sometimes.

 

There are several series that proof specimens are cheaper as well easier to find . Some 3 cent nickels dates in me are almost impossible to find.

 

I think that business strike price should probably be $15,000.

When it comes the late shield nickels and three cent nickels the usual rules for identifying proofs often don't apply and the TPG's may or may not get them right. Proofs on these coins from that era do not always have prooflike surfaces, they may or may not have full rims and as often NOT sharp and square. Edges are also often not sharp and square.

 

Lol, I left out the grade. $1500 was for G4! It’s $125k for MS66.

Totally agree on late shield nickel and 3CN proofs. The same applies to earlier Liberty nickels. Later Liberty nickel proofs are a bit easier to identify, but still not easy.