Who collects 3 cent nickels ?

These small coins have caught my eye. Fakes are all over and the graded bring large dollars.

Pep

 

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I've been dabbling in the series for some time. Some low mintage yet affordable coins in the set.

 

I have a few of these in my inherited collection. I'll try to post a few pictures in the next few days as the work week winds down..

 

They are interesting.. Still haven't found the desire to collect them though.

 

I collect them by type.

Really? I've not seen one, and my impression was that fakes were not common at all (outside of China copies on eBay). Please post a few examples.

 

I picked up a few high grade, well struck examples a few years back. I don't know much about the series other than they were used mainly by the Post Office and many were minted with "mushy" strikes.

 

Just wait until Viper sees this thread!

 

I've only got one for my type set.
The tough part is getting a fully struck one.
Most have bald spots on the first "I" of the "III" on the reverse.
Even better ones generally have flat tops on the ribbing.
I saw an MS-66 that had that problem.
MFD found me a MS-65 that is as fully struck as I've ever seen (not counting proofs).

 

I have several but haven't really put much thought into finishing the series. It just isn't long enough to be interesting.

3 Cent Nickel Sets

1. 1865
2. 1866
3. 1867
4. 1868
5. 1869
6. 1870
7. 1871
8. 1872
9. 1873 Closed 3
10. 1873 Open 3
11. 1874
12. 1875
13. 1876
14. 1879
15. 1880
16. 1881
17. 1882
18. 1883
19. 1884
20. 1885
21. 1887
22. 1888
23. 1889

The additonal Proof only issues are:

24. 1877
25. 1878
26. 1886
27. 1887/6

 

To me, this is an under-appreciated series. I've always thought they were kind of cool. Affordable, since there aren't a lot of date collectors.

 

Proof three cent nickels can be collected by anyone with a big enough budget and a little patience; there are no real stoppers. Circulation strikes are another matter -- you'll be lucky to even find some of the tough dates, and you can throw the price guides out the window if you do.

 

I collected them. Still need the 1884 and 1887. Moen the series may not be long, but with the exception of the 1881 all the issues after 1876 are tough, especially the business strikes. Not real expensive but hard to find. Proofs are much easier to find.

I've seen some chinese fakes but I wouldn't say that fakes are all that common.

 

Frank was right, my eyes lit up. I love these little coins. I have been concentrating on the business strike coins from the 70's and 80's mainly. I'll have to go back and fill in the mass produced coins from the 60's some day.
I think there is a lot of interesting features to look for on these coins. You can see differences in the dies from coin to coin and finding fully struck examples is a challenge.

Here are a few of mine.

 

I really like these coins as well...I have 5 now 1865-68( I accidentally bought two of the 65) Pays to keep track of what you own...all of mine are in lower grades, but I do think one of them is a doubled die...I am going to post pics as soon as I am able..

 

there is a lot of Longacre doubling on these coins.

 

I only have a few. Started to build a set of these years back and wish I had.

 

Now that is one nice coin Larry. Wow :thumb: :high5:

 

Nice one.
All the ribs are there on the "III".
Maybe(?) there's slight flattening of the ribs on the first "I", but for business strikes that's about the best you can find.

 

Also good depth on the ribbon and full base leaves. Is it a proof?

 

Yes, It'a a proof.