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The 1872 Proof Nickel has a low mintage of 950 coins of which most were saved, making this issue tough but extremely accessible. Commonly found in most grades and becoming scarce only as a gem. Slightly harder to find with cameo surfaces. Deep cameos are a rarity. Be on the lookout for anything from blast white to rainbow toning.
Obverse Description
A shield flanked on the left and right by leaves topped with a cross with arrows positioned behind at the bottom so the arrow heads and shanks protrude at the sides. The motto IN GOD WE TRUST appears at the top periphery with the date positioned at the bottom center.
Reverse Description
A large numeral 5 surrounded by 13 stars centered in the design with UNITED STATES OF AMERICA * CENTS around the periphery.
Book Reference
Key to Collecting: The 1872 Shield nickel is available in all grades through gem Mint State, but is somewhat scarce at higher levels. Proofs often lack eye appeal, and care is suggested when buying. Most Proofs have slight doubling of the date numerals.
CIRCULATION STRIKES:
Characteristics and Appearance: Usually fairly well struck. Mint State coins have satiny (rather than deeply frosty) luster. The Proof die pair with doubled-date obverse was also used to make a few circulation strikes.14 About 10% of the 1872 nickels are of Obverse Style 1b, with the remaining being of Obverse Style 1c.15
PROOF STRIKES:
Characteristics and Appearance: Lintmarks can be a problem on Proofs of this era. Some Proofs have tiny nicks and marks in the shield stripes, the result of the original planchet’s not being flattened completely during the striking process. One Proof die has doubling on the obverse (see the illustration above), most obvious at the annulet at the lower tip of the cross and at the meeting of the horizontal and vertical shield lines. Most seen today are from this die. A rare variant from the same die has the alignment in the same direction as the reverse, or medal-wise. “I have seen exactly one of these in years of searching,” Howard Spindel reported.16 As noted above, this die and its mate were also used to make some circulation strikes. Proofs have a mirrored edge (when viewed edge- on), while circulation strikes do not.
VARIETIES:
Doubled Die—Many doubled obverse dies are described in the literature, including FS-101 through FS-107; one of these (FS-105, F-05) is tripled.17 FS-103, (F-124, shown) is strongly doubled, including the upper frame of the shield. One curious die of this year is tagged with this comment by Fivaz and Stanton: “We just love this series, and with the number of new, great varieties that continue to turn up, you should too!” It is truly amazing that only a tiny fraction of the die doublings, repunchings, and so on described by Fivaz-Stanton, Fletcher, and Peters-Mohon were known to numismatists a generation ago.
In total, the CONECA files, maintained by Ken Hill, identify 32 doubled dies for 187218 (a number second only to that for the year 1868). These examples are documented in the panorama of photographs in Howard Spindel’s Shield Nickel Viewer as well.
Small Over Large Date—FS-308, F-102. A too-large, four-digit date logotype for a Liberty Seated dime was first used, mostly effaced in the die, and the standard (Small Date) 1872 nickel punch was used. Traces of the Large Date remain. This variety was first reported by Ken Hill in the summer 1988 issue of Nickel News. URS-4. A similar error (FS-301) exists for the 1867 With Rays.
Catalog Information
GSID:
2910
Designer:
James B. Longacre
Obverse Designer:
James B. Longacre
Obverse Lettering:
IN GOD WE TRUST, 1872
Reverse Designer:
James B. Longacre
Reverse Lettering:
5, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, CENTS
Weight (gr):
5 gr
Weight (oz):
0.1608 oz
Strike Type:
Proof
Diameter:
20.5
Coin Shape:
Round
Edge:
Plain
Coin Date:
1872
Denomination:
5c
Designation:
PR
Mint Location:
Philadelphia
Mintage:
950
Coinage Type:
Shield nickel
Coinage Years:
1867-1883
Composition:
75% copper; 25% nickel
PCGS #:
3826
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Coin Value History
1872 5c PR
Value By Grade
1872 5c PR
CPG (retail) values
Currency
Grade Range
Grading Authority
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Pricing
Values
Greysheet & CPG® Values
| Grade | CAC | CPG Value (Retail) | Greysheet Price (Wholesale) |
|---|---|---|---|
| PR67 |
|
$4,500 | $1,234 |
| PR67 | - | $3,750 | $1,234 |
| PR66 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| PR66 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| PR65 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| PR65 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| PR64 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| PR64 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| PR63 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| PR63 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| PR62 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| PR62 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| PR61 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| PR61 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| PR60 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| PR60 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU58 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU58 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU55 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU55 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU53 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU53 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU50 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU50 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| XF45 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| XF45 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| XF40 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| XF40 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
Shield Nickel 5c Rays, 1866-1867 PR [Type]
![Shield Nickel 5c Rays, 1866-1867 PR [Type]](https://images.greysheet.com/Ctc/CatalogEntry/ha_com_1316_3020-2.20200624040933286.jpg?MaxWidth=200&Mode=Pad&Scale=UpscaleCanvas&format=webp)
Worth: $875 – $12,600
1866 5c Rays PR
Worth: $875 – $12,600
1867 5c Rays PR
Worth: $18,000 – $50,000
Shield Nickel 5c No Rays, 1867-1883 PR [Type]
![Shield Nickel 5c No Rays, 1867-1883 PR [Type]](https://images.greysheet.com/Ctc/Catalog/ha_com_1291_4375-0.20200718080538892.jpg?MaxWidth=200&Mode=Pad&Scale=UpscaleCanvas&format=webp)
Worth: $180 – $6,600
1867 5c No Rays PR
Worth: $180 – $1,800
1867 5c No Rays, Pattern Reverse, FS-1902 PR
Worth: $1,800 – $13,200
1868 5c PR
Worth: $180 – $3,500
1869 5c PR
Worth: $180 – $3,960
1870 5c PR
Worth: $180 – $1,080
1871 5c PR
Worth: $180 – $5,400
1873 5c Closed 3 PR
Worth: $180 – $2,880
1874 5c PR
Worth: $180 – $3,120
1875 5c PR
Worth: $180 – $6,000
1876 5c PR
Worth: $180 – $2,640
1877 5c PR
Worth: $1,250 – $7,500
1872 5C PR66 PCGS. PCGS Population: (69/11). Mintage 950. ...
$810
1872 5C PR64 NGC. Mintage 950. ...
$588
1872 5C PR65 PCGS. Mintage 950. ...
$552
1872 5C PR63 PCGS. PCGS Population: (46/335). Mintage 950. ...
$408
5C 1872 PCGS PR67 CAC
$4,112
1872 5C Proof PCGS Genuine. The PCGS number ending in .97 suggests environmental damage as the reason, or perhaps one o...
$200
1872 5C Doubled Die Obverse PR60 ANACS. ...
$218
1872 5C --Doubled Die Obverse--PR62 ANACS. FS-7, Fletcher-...
$299
1872 5C PR66+ PCGS. CAC. CAC Population: (30/5). Mintage 950. ...
$1,440
1872 5C PR64 NGC. Mintage 950. ...
$552
1872 5C PR65 PCGS. Mintage 950. ...
$516
1872 5C PR63 PCGS. Gold CAC. PCGS Population: (47/325). NGC Census: (25/267). CDN: $355 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS PR63. Minta...
$690
1872 5c PCGS/CAC Proof 67 ex: D.L. Hansen Collection
$4,250
1872 5C PR66 PCGS. CAC. PCGS Population: (66/11). NGC Census: (45/9). CDN: $720 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS PR66. Mintage 950. ...
$750
1872 5C PR64 NGC. Mintage 950. ...
$528
1872 5C PR65 PCGS. Mintage 950. ...
$552
1872 5C PR63 PCGS. PCGS Population: (48/311). NGC Census: (23/269). PR63. Mintage 950. ...
$288
1872 5C PR67 PCGS. ...
$4,560
5C 1872 DOUBLED DIE OBVERSE. PCGS PR66
$734
1872 5c NGC/CAC Proof 64
$527
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