Just curious, looking for ways to identify and differentiate a proof from a business strike on liberty nickels. Someone said the number of denticles was different, but I don't see that to be true. I spent last night studying an 1883 no cents MS vs PF and can't find anything except for the depth and quality of the strike. Ideas? Insight? Knowledge? Let it all fall from the sky onto my screen! Thanks all
The 1995 edition of "The Complete Guide to Shield and Liberty Nickels" has a section on how to distinguish between proof and business strikes, but it says nothing about denticles. They go by die characteristics and rounded vs beveled edges (although it is difficult to use the edges as a guide for coins before 1890). I don't know if there has been any additional research in the last 20+ years
Correct as I also have this reference ( now out of print) But a good source on both Shield and Liberty nickels . Brett there are several varieties for the 1883 NC and cent nickels. Post an image of your specimen .
Most 1883 V ' s are hard to find in higher than mid 60s grades.I have 3 or 4 of each NC and Cents and none ever graded above a 58.
Does anyone know of the denticles were milled after hubbing the die, gibbed with the die, or if a special tool was used to press them in at some point in the hubbing process? If they were milled, they should move in relation to design elements between dies, if hubbed from one year to the next, should remain fixed in relation to design elements from one year to the next. If pressed or milled into the hub, should be slightly different from one working hub to the next. Since I don't believe one working hub was used for proof dies and another for business strikes, and it's likely only a few dies were used for proof strikes most likely only when needed to strike a few hundred proof strikes to fill a quota for the month ( check out the monthly breakdown for proofs for any year in 19th century)
Likely the same dies used to strike a few hundred proofs were then used to strike a number of business strikes too.
That a possibility see my post on the GTG -1915 buffalo nickel. As that date is known for the mint using retired proof dies to coin MS coins.
There are 5 1883 V nickels on eBay in MS 65 or better right now. They're pretty readily available if you want to pay the money for them.
And what would that price be ? I'm sure moon money ,my 58's suit my needs. However I'm sure they are pretty coins.
MS64 vs PF64 - sorry for the lousy photos. On top of my lack of skill, both of the slabs are a bit scratched and in need of serious polishing.
Brett the book noted in this post the complete guide to Shield & Liberty Nickels is a really good reference . They are costly since they are out of print. However you can find new unused copies. One other note they do tend to come apart. As the glue used in this paper back isn't the best . I wish they would do another edition up dated to new finds.