1887 5c PR CAM

Key to Collecting: The 1887 nickel is easy to find in just about any grade desired, from About Good to Mint State. However, quality can be a problem for coins in higher levels, and discrimination is needed. Many Mint State coins have granular surfaces from dies that remained in service too long. Although the mintage quantity for Proofs was on the low side for this era, today they come on the market with regularity and are usually well struck and attractive.

Characteristics and Appearance: Luster and surface quality vary from frosty to dull. Coins with certain details lightly struck are the rule, not the exception. Flashy gems are rare. The date logotype used on all dies (circulation strikes and Proofs) has the 1 too high in relation to the curved baseline of the following three digits, this being characteristic of other years in the 1886 to 1889 era. There were 143 obverse dies made for this year, equating to 107,000 impressions per die, if all were used. Readymade planchets were obtained from the American Nickel Works in Camden, New Jersey. More than a million worn nickels were cleaned and reissued.

Characteristics and Appearance: Usually well struck with Full Details. Sometimes with slightly rounded (rather than sharp) rim edges.

Mintage and Distribution Notes: At least two obverse dies were used.