1879 Shield Nickel Proof : A Collector’s Guide

By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for CoinWeek Notes …..
 

The United States Mint struck approximately 3,200 1879 Shield Nickel Proofs. These coins were sold individually and as part of Minor and Silver Proof Sets. The 1879 Shield Nickel business strike is a series semi-key and significantly more Proofs survive than business strikes in Mint State.

Possibly as many as one-half to two-thirds of the surviving Proofs are of the 1879/8 “overdate” Red Book variety. This is one of four dies for the 1879 Shield Nickel Proof that have been identified by John W. Dannreuther and described in detail in United States Proof Coins, Volume II: Nickel (2023).

* * *

1879 Shield Nickel Proof Market Data and Noteworthy Specimens

In Proof: (PCGS PR68+CAM, 8/2020 – as of 11/2013, PCGS top pop was PR67CAM, pop 3).

1879/8 Overdate in Proof: (PCGS PR67CAM, pop 7, 11/2013).

Top Population: PCGS PR67+CAM (2, 11/2024), NGC PF67+CAM (3, 11/2024), and CAC PR67DCAM (1:0 stickered:graded, 11/2024).

• NGC PF68 #571889-002: Heritage Auctions, January 7, 2015, Lot 3526 – $6,462.50; Heritage Auctions, December 5, 2019, Lot 3031 – $4,500; Stack’s Bowers, November 22, 2021, Lot 1236 – $4,080.
• PCGS PR67CAM CAC #81606240: Stack’s Bowers, March 1, 2019, Lot 7080 – $5,280. JD-3 variety.
• NGC PF67CAM #1916975-005: Heritage Auctions, July 7, 2016, Lot 3238 – $1,762.50.
• PCGS PR67CAM #10851897: Heritage Auctions, September 2006, Lot 817; Heritage Auctions, August 2011, Lot 3336; “The Greensboro Collection, Part V,” Heritage Auctions, August 12, 2015, Lot 3428 – $2,999.78.
• PCGS PR67CAM #25029827: “Just Having Fun Collection,” Stack’s Bowers, November 9, 2014, Lot 22056 – $6051.25. Gold and blue hue.
• NGC PF67CAM #3626319-002: Heritage Auctions, August 2, 2012, Lot 3780 – $2,064.48; Heritage Auctions, November 6, 2012, Lot 26785 – $2,291.25.
• NGC PF67CAM #2091586-001: “The Slotkin Family Trust Collection,” Heritage Auctions, April 27, 2011, Lot 3041 – $2,300.
• NGC PF67CAM CAC #1997809-001: Heritage Auctions, August 12, 2010, Lot 4262 – $2,415; Heritage Auctions, October 29, 2010, Lot 3973 – $2,530.
• NGC PF67CAM #3402169-002: Heritage Auctions, July 8, 2010, Lot 3266 – $2,990.
• NGC PF67CAM #3325740-001: Heritage Auctions, December 3, 2009, Lot 238 – $3,220.
• NGC PF67CAM #1515563-002: Heritage Auctions, July 9, 2009, Lot 207 – $4,025.
• NGC PF67CAM #1939042-002: Heritage Auctions, September 22, 2005, Lot 1616 – $7,475. Pop 3, none finer when offered.
• PCGS PR67CAM #90086097: Heritage Auctions, May 29, 2003, Lot 5542 – $7,475. Pop 2, none finer when offered. JD-3. 
• NGC PF66+UCAM #6060324-003: Heritage Auctions, August 22, 2021, Lot 7060 – $3,066.
• PCGS PR66+DCAM CAC #38305723: Heritage Auctions, February 20, 2020, Lot 3024 – $7,200. Top pop, pop 1 in DCAM when offered.

* * *

1879/8 Shield Nickel Proof

Date appears to be repunched or clogged, but under magnification reveals that it is most likely a repunched 8. Some recent auction catalogs dispute this, but Dannreuther’s recent research is convincing.

* * *

Market Data and Noteworthy Specimens

Top Population: PCGS PR67+CAM (1, 11/2024), NGC Not Reported (11/2024), and CAC PR67DCAM (10:1 stickered:graded, 11/2024).

• PCGS PR68 #33331758: Stack’s Bowers, August 13, 2019, Lot 1142 – $6,000.
• PCGS PR68 #25232600: Stack’s Bowers, November 2015, Lot 22115 – $5,287.50.
• PCGS PR67CAM CAC #46986886: Heritage Auctions, May 4, 2023, Lot 3659 – $3,360.
• PCGS PR67CAM CAC #39424838: “The Maurice Storck Collection,” Heritage Auctions, October 14, 2020, Lot 18081 – $4,200.
• NGC PF67CAM #1634636-001: Heritage Auctions, January 4, 2018, Lot 4280 – $4,560.
• PCGS PR67CAM #33331757: Stack’s Bowers, August 13, 2019, Lot 1143 – $6,600.
• PCGS PR67CAM CAC: “Just Having Fun Collection,” Stack’s Bowers, November 6, 2013, Lot 2039 – $4,406.25.
• PCGS PR67CAM #10851897: Heritage Auctions, August 11, 2011, Lot 3336 – $3,450.

* * *

Coin Specifications