Help with shield nickel 1875 dbl die obv FS- 101 F-4

Can anyone tell me anything about this variety like the rarity and such? I guess I should have checked into it before I bought it but I got it for only a little bit more than a regular specimen in this grade. Any info would be greatly appreciated. (should this go in error forum?)

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

I guess you don't have a copy of CPG (the Cherrypicker's Guide). My copy of CPG Vol I (5th Edition) values the coin at $135 in F-12 as compared to $95 for a normal coin in the same grade. (F-12 is the lowest grade they value.) You could say the value of this DDO is 50% higher than a normal coin.

The FS-101 (as it is identified by ANACS) is known as FS-05-1875-101 in the CPG book. (FS stands for the two authors of CPG - Bill Fivaz and JT Stanton.) This DDO is also known as Fletcher-04.

I have cherrypicked a couple of 1868 DDO Shield Nickels. The latest one is FS-05-1868-101. This DDO has very bold doubling with a wide spread. I bought this coin at a coin show. It is a VF but corroded and was priced at $50. I talked the dealer down to $25 because of the corrosion. I don't know how he missed the doubling. CPG values this DDO at triple the value of a normal coin so I made out great. I can't recall which DDO the other coin is. I should pull it out and look it up.

 

DDO are very cool on shield nickels. You can learn more from http://www.shieldnickels.net/. I have at least 7 of them. On the 1875 you should see doubling on the annulet, cross and leaves near it. There will also be extra lower horizontal lines.