2003 May St. Louis, MO (CSNS) Signature Sale - Session 1

1889 3CN MS65 PCGS. The final year for the three-cent piece. Well struck with olive-gray obverse and reverse toning, and seemingly pristine surfaces.

1865 3CN PR64 Cameo PCGS. Repunched Date. B. 2-B. A choice representative of this difficult first year proof, with ample reflective qualities and a fa

1866 3CN PR65 PCGS. Modestly reflective with a touch of chalkiness to the portrait that lends appealing contrast. More difficult second year proof iss

1866 3CN PR65 Deep Cameo NGC. Particularly well frosted for this second year proof, and only a couple of insignificant spots on the portrait from Supe

1868 3CN PR65 PCGS. Basically untoned with strong reflective qualities. Horizontal lines across the center of the reverse are as the coin was made. Im

1869 3CN PR66 * Cameo NGC. The eye appeal is nothing short of breathtaking as both sides present a sharply contrasted finish in the absence of toning.

1872 3CN PR65 NGC. The word LIBERTY is not fully struck, otherwise the light-olive surfaces are well defined and free of hairlines or handling marks.

1873 3CN Closed 3 PR64 PCGS. Nicely conserved with attractive olive color, highly reflective fields, and no bothersome hairlines or handling marks. Th

1875 3CN PR65 PCGS. A lightly toned Gem with noticeably striated obverse fields and the expected strength of detail over the highpoints of the design.

1876 3CN PR65 Cameo PCGS. Light pastel patina accents both obverse and reverse. A few microscopic facial imperfections are Mint caused. Population: 12

1876 3CN PR66 Cameo NGC. Lovely silver on dark-gray contrast is seen on the frosty and highly reflective surfaces of this proof Gem. There is a very s

1877 3CN PR64 NGC. Crisply impressed with pastel obverse tinting and flickers of tan iridescence over the otherwise dove-gray reverse. Modest brightne

1877 3CN PR67 Cameo PCGS. Only 510 Three Cent Nickels were produced in 1877, all proofs, which, of course, makes this the most popular and sought-afte

1878 3CN PR64 NGC. All 1878 Three Cent Nickels are proofs, the present representative displaying essentially even apricot-gray patination. There are n

1881 3CN PR67 PCGS. An absolutely Superb, needle sharp specimen with strong traces of repunching on the date. The untoned surfaces look essentially as

1882 3CN PR67 Cameo PCGS. A conditionally rare Superb Gem, with beautiful smooth, flawlessly struck proof surfaces, this coin would be very difficult

1882 3CN PR67 Cameo PCGS. An extraordinarily well produced specimen with gleaming surfaces that are just a hint of discoloration at 7 o'clock on...

1883 3CN PR67 PCGS. A Superb, shimmering-white proof that is modestly frosted on the devices. One of the more available Three Cent Nickel issues in th

1886 3CN PR68 ICG. The Philadelphia Mint delivered only 4,290 Three Cent Nickels in 1886, all of which were proofs. Few survivors can match this Super

1887 3CN PR65 PCGS. Mildly reflective surfaces are accented by light golden shades on the obverse and more luminous hues of rose and blue on the rever

1887/6 3CN PR66 PCGS. The outline of the 6 underdate numeral can be plainly seen on this nicely impressed and well mirrored Gem specimen. Important no

1888 3CN PR65 Cameo NGC. A few wispy streaks of silver-gray patina endow each side. A razor-sharp Gem with impressive cameo contrast and pleasing surf

1889 3CN PR65 PCGS. The 1 is lightly recut, both at the base and above the serif. Variegated light gold and lavender patina endows this lovingly prese

1866 5C Rays MS62 PCGS. Decent luster is little affected by mustard-yellow and lilac toning. The obverse displays excessively mushy detail while much

1866 5C Rays MS65 PCGS. A much above-average striking for this first year issue, with bits of milky gray patina interspersed over both sides. Die crac

1866 5C Rays MS65 NGC. A beautiful brilliant Gem, with very pristine surfaces. We only found three trivial contact marks on the obverse, and two on th

1867 5C No Rays MS63 PCGS. The obverse surfaces are a burnished-copper color, while the reverse is primarily olive-colored, with strong iridescent ora

1871 5C MS64 PCGS. Extremely well struck with wispy die cracks seen about the obverse periphery. The low mintage 1871 (561,000 pieces) is among the sc

1876 5C MS65 NGC. Certainly not a match for the '76 that follows, but a nicely preserved example in its own right. The obverse is virtually unto...

1876 5C MS66 PCGS. Very close to fully struck, with speckled olive and golden-orange patina that takes nothing away from the underlying satiny luster.

1879 5C--Cleaned--ANACS. AU Details, Net XF45. Nicely struck, and very close to Mint State in terms of wear. The extensive remaining luster is subdued

1881 5C AU58 ANACS. A very scarce business strike Shield Nickel with a mintage of only 72,375 pieces. Proofs are much easier to locate and dull ones h

1883 5C MS66 PCGS. Basically untoned and sharply struck for this more available final year issue, giving this high grade representative strong type co

1883 5C MS67 NGC. The final-year 1883 is one of the most frequently encountered Shield Nickels in today's market. Relative to the number of qual...

1866 5C Rays PR66 Cameo NGC. The Shield Nickel series of 1866-1883 arose partly out of Uncle Sam's desire to retire the fractional currency that...

1866 5C Rays PR66 Cameo NGC. Struck in the initial year of the design and a low mintage two-year proof type coin with an official (but apparently unde

1867 5C No Rays PR65 PCGS. The first of two Gem quality specimens from this first year of the No Rays design. Both obverse and reverse of this nicely

1867 5C No Rays PR65 PCGS. The pristine, modestly reflective surfaces are mostly carbon-free with a delicate overlay of pinkish-rose and lilac patina

1867 5C No Rays PR65 * NGC. As the stars implies, this totally brilliant, well mirrored specimen is long on eye appeal. Modest flaking of the numeral

1869 5C PR67 NGC. A scarce issue in all grades (Peters and Mohon, 1995, rank it fifth in rarity in the proof Shield Nickel series), the 1869 is undeni

1869 5C PR66 Cameo NGC. Bright, untoned watery mirrors exhibit a fair degree of contrast for an early nickel issue and are solidly in the Gem category

1870 5C PR65 PCGS. A bit of haziness envelopes each side of this watery Gem. Important notice: We expect to be auctioning lots at the rate of 200-250

1870 5C PR66 Cameo NGC. A sharply struck and well preserved Gem with good cameo contrast. Brilliant aside from a hint of gold patina within the vertic

1870 5C PR66 Cameo NGC. An exquisite proof Gem, as frosty and eye-appealing as any specimen of this type which we have seen recently. Some light, milk

1876 5C PR66 NGC. Razor sharp striking definition is noted throughout both sides of this golden tinged Gem. Smooth with eye appeal that would do wonde

1876 5C PR65 Cameo PCGS. Brilliant throughout, the fields are highly reflective and the devices noticeably frosted, which yields an attractive white-o

1877 5C PR61 ANACS. Lightly toned surfaces with some minor hairlines and a visible scrape (to the right of the 5) on the reverse, and hampered by a so

1877 5C PR66 Cameo PCGS. The key 1877 is proof-only issue that has seen a roller coaster ride in price levels over the past 25 years, but the one cons

1878 5C PR63 ANACS. Seldom is this low mintage key found with such lovely surfaces. While only moderately reflective, both sides are smooth and unifor

1879/8 5C PR66 Cameo PCGS. The exquisite powder-blue, gold, and ruby-red patina combines with a needle-sharp strike and impressive surfaces for outsta

1879/8 5C PR67 Cameo PCGS. A mostly brilliant example of this popular overdate Nickel, one of only two overdates struck in the 19th century in proof f

1880 5C PR64 ANACS. Milky chocolate-brown patina embraces this well struck and immaculate near-Gem. The reverse periphery has a few additional freckle

1880 5C PR67 Cameo NGC. Not only do the devices have pleasing contrast with the mirrored fields, but the surfaces are seemingly as struck. The reverse

1881 5C PR66 Cameo PCGS. Powerfully impressed, and displaying seemingly complete detail on every design feature, this superlative proof Gem also exhib

1881 5C PR67 Cameo NGC. A marvelous Superb Gem, one of the most appealing Shield Nickels we have examined, with fully struck, utterly pristine surface

1882 5C PR66 Cameo PCGS. A sharply struck and essentially untoned Gem with good contrast and attractive surfaces. The date was struck from a filled di

1883 5C No Cents PR67 ICG. The ICG insert includes the attribution "NO CENTS," but this coin is definitely a Shield Nickel. The final-year...

1883 5C Shield PR64 Cameo PCGS. A razor-sharp near-Gem with brilliant surfaces and obvious cameo contrast. The obverse is immaculate, and the reverse

1883 5C Shield PR66 Cameo PCGS. Fully struck with light-tan and light-russet toning, along with immaculate surfaces that are virtually problem-free. T

1883 5C No Cents MS63 ANACS. Softly struck on the obverse stars, there is also some striking softness noted on the date. The olive-gold color is appea

1883 5C No Cents MS66 PCGS. A brilliant Gem that has flashy and moderately prooflike fields. The lowest portion of the wreath is not fully struck, but

1883 5C No Cents MS66 PCGS. Well struck aside from the first star. Brilliant and exquisitely preserved with booming luster. The peripheries on both si

1883 5C No Cents MS66 PCGS. A lustrous Gem with immaculate surfaces and occasional wisps of gold patina. Well struck aside from the final star and the

1883 5C No Cents MS66 NGC. Well struck and lustrous, the devices are sharp and there are no marks worthy of mention on this eye-catching Gem. Fully br

1883 5C No Cents MS66 * NGC. A flashy and semi-prooflike Gem with a seemingly unimprovable strike and well preserved surfaces. The obverse border has

1883 5C No Cents MS66 PCGS. Untoned, brilliant, and mildly-reflective. The obverse shows some light die cracks and the reverse displays diagonal stria

1883 5C No Cents MS67 ICG. A terrific example of this popular, one-year type coin. The surfaces are highly lustrous and each side is covered with brig

1883 5C No Cents MS67 PCGS. The importance of this coin should be obvious to Superb Gem type collectors. It is among the most beautiful No Cents Nicke

1883 5C No Cents MS67 NGC. Highly lustrous and clean, but exhibiting some of the typical softness on several of the stars and the left ear of corn in

1883 5C With Cents MS66 NGC. Fully lustrous with bright cartwheel effects and virtually no contact marks. Beautiful red-gold and olive toning enhances

1885 5C MS60 Uncertified. Wisps of faint apricot-gold color endow the centers. Boldly struck aside from the first two stars and the left ear of corn.

1885 5C MS64 PCGS. The smooth surfaces on this near-Gem are lustrous and covered with rich, original gray-rose toning. The devices are nicely textured

1886 5C MS64 PCGS. Lustrous and boldly-struck with even steel-grey color and light rose accents. An example that would likely grade higher if not for

1888 5C MS66 NGC. While this issue's original mintage of 10.7 million pieces is not particularly low in an absolute sense, it is limited for a L...

1890 5C MS65 NGC. Satiny and completely brilliant, with a bright, frosty appearance that is the equal of any Gem. The strike is basically bold, althou

1893 5C MS65 PCGS. A little uneven in strike, yet still uncommonly well produced for the type, the surfaces are awash in swirling mint frost with an o

1897 5C MS65 NGC. Well struck and exquisitely preserved, with an abundance of gleaming cartwheel luster. The surfaces display attractive olive and gre

1899 5C MS63 PCGS, sharply struck with flashy luster and pleasing surfaces, wispy tan-gold patina; and an 1889 PR64 PCGS, nicely struck, surprising ca

1903 5C MS66 PCGS. A bold striking for this centenary issue, with a uniform satiny luster that is exceptional for a heavily minted nickel issue. Splot

1903 5C MS66 PCGS. Boldly struck with a bright silvery finish interrupted by a few light blushes of golden here and there. An outstanding business str

1904 5C MS65 PCGS. A well struck and carefully conserved Gem, with lovely light color and dazzling cartwheel effects on display. A minor abrasion appe

1906 5C MS65 PCGS. Close to fully struck in most areas, leaving only a small area of softness at the left base of the wreath, often the last area to s

1906 5C MS66 NGC. A well struck Gem with gorgeous multicolored toning. The obverse is a rich mauve-brown, with iridescent green, yellow, and rose colo

1908 5C MS66 NGC. Lustrous and nicely struck with pastel violet colors and clean fields. The portrait has a faint diagonal slide mark. The reverse rim

1912 5C MS65 ICG. Well blended lilac, gold, and powder-blue iridescence drifts from one border to the other on both sides. Generally bold in strike wi

1912-D 5C MS66 NGC. The '12-D is always popular as the lone D-mint issue in the series and, at this outstanding grade level, is legitimately sca...

1883 5C No Cents PR65 ICG. An olive-gold Gem, with underlying pastel yellow, sea-green, and crimson iridescence on highly reflective fields. A popular

1883 5C No Cents PR67 Cameo PCGS. While it may be a commonplace to call No Cents Nickels "common," it would be a mistake to believe that p...

1884 5C PR66 Cameo PCGS. This early date Liberty Nickel would fit nicely into a proof type set. Both sides are bright with appreciable came contrast a

1885 5C PR67 Cameo NGC. Deeply mirrored with sharply contrasting white devices, this is a Superb cameo example. The 1885 is a popular issue in proof f

1887 5C PR66 PCGS. Tan-gray patina overlays both sides through which one can see lilac and champagne-apricot undertones at certain angles. A sharply s

1892 5C PR67 Cameo NGC. An intricately detailed specimen with exceptional contrast for a proof Liberty Nickel and nearly flawless, untoned mirrors. Bo

1893 5C PR66 NGC. Nice pastel color variations, with a coating of olive-green patina over most of each side, which prevents the proof fields from bein

1896 5C PR65 NGC. Magnificently toned in variegated bands of gold, violet, and sea-green patina. A seemingly fully struck Gem that has impeccably pres

1897 5C PR66 Cameo PCGS. Mottled pale gold iridescence overlays surfaces that are deeply mirrored in the fields and crisply detailed over the devices.

1898 5C PR66 Cameo NGC. Light coffee-gold patina visits the centers of this otherwise brilliant Gem. Carefully preserved and with attractive contrast.

1898 5C PR66 Cameo PCGS. With the exception of the first two star centrils on the obverse and the ear of corn in the left reverse wreath, all design e

1899 5C PR66 Cameo PCGS. Deeply reflective in the fields, each side is lightly overlaid with pale rose and lime-green toning of indescribable beauty.

1901 5C PR66 Cameo PCGS. Substantial cameo contrast is exhibited between frosty yellow-gold devices and deeply-mirrored, dark-olive fields. There are

1903 5C PR66 PCGS. A remarkably attractive proof Gem, with incredibly smooth, unmarked, and uniformly colored surfaces. There are no bothersome hairli