The contest that Randy has going right now led me to pull out the example of this nickel that is in my collection. Please make a selection in the poll and add any comments if you please. I'll let this one run until Saturday morning.
Look at the devices with the most relief. The stars on the reverse and the vertical shield lines. Those vertical lines in the shield and the stars are the first places that wear shows on a shield nickel. The dark toning doesn't affect whether or not this one was circulated. There is some evidence on the reverse of a lovely die clash.
Lordy, a high mint state shield nickel is a beauty to behold! Makes me wish I had my young man eyesight back!
I think it is a low grade proof. Look at the contrast between the devices and the stars. I see some die striations on the obverse. I am going with PR 62.
I would probably go for proof but since its not as bright and the toning holds me back on PR. I'm not good with this series and can't tell %100 if its a proof but it does have the detail.More of a silver dollar person.
I went AU-58 as it appears to me to be a very small amount of rub on the coin. I just don't know as these are not my thing.
I beat you by 1. I called it a PR. 62. The photographs do not do it justice, but it looks like a low end Proof that had a battle with the dies, and got beat up a bit. Still a really nice coin.
I was thinking it was a proof but couldn't tell %,100 because of the dark appearance so I stuck with MS,nice coin.