The Buffalo Numismatic Association
P.O. Box 3462, Buffalo, N.Y. 14240-3462

The Most Active Numismatic Club In Western New York

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.

1888 Three Cent Nickel Proof Deep Cameo        1888 Three Cent Nickel Proof Deep Cameo

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: