1885 Three Cent Nickel, Gem Proof PCGS PR-66, Some Obverse Cameo




1885 Three Cent Nickel, Gem Proof PCGS PR-66, Some Obverse Cameo
JD-1, Obverse and Reverse die states (a), although late enough that the Cameo contrast remaining has weakened considerably. The Obverse shows some obvious contrast, the Reverse almost none. Otherwise a nice original example with attractive flashy surfaces - obviously not as dark and "yellow" looking as the PCGS cert image makes it appear. Always popular as a Date, as the Business strike Mintage of only 1,000 coins was vanishingly small and seem to be even scarcer in terms of survival. As such a Proof is commonly substituted as a date in many sets - this in fact came out of an old Whitman folder set, where it served that purpose. A little better than the average certified Proof grade, making up about 10% of the original number struck, but the air gets a bit thin in higher grades.
PCGS 3781.66/58924426