Coin of The Week Archive
1888 Three Cent Nickel Proof
PR67 Deep Cameo PCGS
None Finer
This 1888 Three Cent Nickel Proof was auctioned by Heritage Auction Galleries on January 3, 2007 for $21,850.00 (including all auction fees). The following is an exerpt from Heritage's website. For a complete description of this pattern coin, please visit 1888 3CN PR67 Deep Cameo PCGS.
Light mottled tan-gold toning is all but imperceptible without a glass, but otherwise the surfaces appear silver-white and show no distractions of any kind. The deep cameo contrast is noteworthy, as is the thick mint frost coating the devices. The penultimate year for this odd denomination, with a proof-only mintage of 4,582 pieces. The denomination had long since outlived its utility, despite an 1881 mint attempt at resurrection, by the time this piece was struck. Neither service has certified a piece finer.
Photos of the Deep Cameo 1888 Three Cent Nickel Proof
Click on the images below to view a beautiful high resolution photo.
Click on your browsers "Back" button to return to this page.
Images Courtesy of: Heritage Auction Galleries, Ha.com, Copyright Heritage Auction Galleries. Used with permission.
Detailed Coin Specifications
| Description | 1865-1889 Liberty Head Three Cent Nickel |
| KM# | 95 |
| Denomination | Nickel 3 Cents |
| Country | United States |
| Coinage Type | Circulation Coinage |
| Mint | U.S. Mint |
| Composition | Copper-Nickel |
| Weight | 1.94 g |
| Diameter | 17.9 mm |
| Description Obverse | Coronet head left, date below |
| Description Reverse | Roman numeral value within wreath |
| Legend Obverse | UNITED STATES OF AMERICA |
| Designer Obverse | James B. Longacre |
| Designer Reverse | James B. Longacre |
| Issue dates | 1865-1889 |
| Composition | 0.75 part copper and 0.25 part nickel, an alloy commonly called "nickel" |
| Diameter | 17.9 mm. |
| Weight | 29.94 grains (1.94 grams) |
| Edge | Plain |
| Business strike mintage | 31,332,527 |
| Proof mintage | 56,000 (estimated) |
For more information on United States coins and world coins, please visit:
Coin Of The Week Archive of all past Coin Of The Week pages.
