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1878 Shield 5C PCGS PF66 DCAM

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:3,000.00 USD Estimated At:6,000.00 - 9,000.00 USD
1878 Shield 5C PCGS PF66 DCAM
Low-mintage date of just 2,350 pieces, without the usual production of business strikes taking up the slack, means that date collectors put extreme pressure on the supply available at any one time. Ice-cold nickel-pure color streaks across the fields of this handsome Proof. Struck with almost scientific precision on the shield as well as the stars and wreath elements. Pop: 1/1 (8/05).

There were serious problems with the shield nickel five-cent coinage introduced in 1866. The size and thickness, but especially the hard alloy, made it a difficult coin to strike, and the average die life was well under low, compared to copper Indian cent or the silver denominations. The engraving department of the Mint was frequently hard-pressed to provide enough Proof dies to fill each year's order, and many Proof dies were used far longer than ought to have been the case; collectors report seeing die breaks on some Proof Shield nickels. In 1877 and 1878, the mint struck no nickels for general circulation, only these few Proofs. (#93832)