Picked this up in a dealer's bargain bin today. Looks pretty good, clear date, you can read everything, just covered in dirt or rust? What do you think? What would you have paid for it?
1863 Shield Cents never existed. This coin was first released in 1866, and for the first time known as a 5 Cent Piece and not a Half Dime.
Not really. And considering there is not such thing as an 1863 Shield Nickel (they started in 1866) I highly doubt it. Looks like it got hit by something.
Nice pic-up from a bargain bin, and the last 8 is just a little beat up. That would be worth some money if it were a 3...
its not dirt or rust. more patina. i dont know what i would of paid for it but it sounds like you must have gotten a decent price on it. about the date that cant be a 3 because the motto "IN GOD WE TRUST" didnt exist yet.
Well then it must be the rare pattern "In God We Trust" Shield Nickel that was when the Pattern 2 cent piece was out too or maybe not...eheheh
Haha just me then, looked like it curved into a 3 in the pic, looks like an 8 for sure in hand. Still curious about what someone would price it at haha, not saying how much I paid for it until then! Its a lot better than my other shield, thats for sure. I gotta go back to this dealer.
Not patina, but more like corrosion. 1868 reverse of 1867 - more common. Can't see any repunched date varieties. Reverse variety 5 or FS# 2.98 per cherry picker guide. What you probably do not realize is that per cherry picker guide only 1% of 1868 have no broken letters. No premium I have seen for the reverse varieties - only seen a few advertised, but none sold at those prices. Nice pickup and to $8 is about right for the details of the coin. Just my humble opinion.
Thanks for the info Mark, thats why I said rust/dirt first, because it looks pretty set in. I guess I need to invest in the cherry picker guides soon. What do you mean by only 1% have no broken letters?
First - reverse of 1868 star at 12:00 points to S in states, if it points to the E then the more common reverse of 1867. In CPG there is an article by Dennis Paulsen that shows the various reverses of 1868. What I forgot was that this percentage is the "Reverse of 1868". He estimated 2.9 million of the 28 million minted had Reverse of 1868 and of those 2.9 million 1% had unbroken letters. In this case I read the article wrong I thought it was for all reverses - not just Reverse of 1868. So forget that number. I recommend getting the CPG guide just to search for varieties. I really like the varieties. I search every shield nickel at my local shop almost every time I go to the store. I am anxiously awaiting Ed Fletchers new book on the series. I like shield nickels as much as large cents. Plus because (as far as I am concerned) a lot of people don't pay attention to some varieties you can find some interesting ones at cheap prices. This is also a series a lot of people shy away from since a few of the dates are proof only and business strikes on 3 other dates are very expensive. I think I have around 35 and need 2 for a date and strike series(need 1877 proof and 1880 business strike). I might not ever get them but I like trying to find the DDO's. http://www.cointalk.com/t116977/ - just a few of my varieties.
Nice information, I like them too, and this one that I picked up today looks so much better than the one in the collection that my mom gave me. Almost picked up a flying eagle for $1 but decided not to, the date was the only readable numbering/lettering haha so beat up, should have gotten it! next time. Thanks again.
Next time search the junk bin for DDO's on shield nickels - of course you need the CPG. If nothing else on ebay you could make a few bucks just marking them as DDO and selling them.
