1883 V Nickle "no cents" opinion on quality and potential grade 1 1

[Mr.Bill347]

1883 V Nickle "no cents" opinion on quality and potential grade. Bought this from a dealer. Dealer states he never cleans coins, however he doesn't know provenance. Gash on obverse bottom left edge

[MarkFeld]

The pictures aren't very good, but the coin looks AU to me.

[Just Bob]

I agree with AU, but I don't think a TPG would grade it, due to the rim damage.

[Mr.Bill347]

1 hour ago, Just Bob said:

I agree with AU, but I don't think a TPG would grade it, due to the rim damage.

Here are a couple of better pictures of the coin.

[RWB]

Here is the OP's obverse photo (the very light one) adjusted for density and color. Not perfect but usable.

Edited February 2, 2021 by RWB
Fix formatting - as usual

[RWB]

Mint archives have many letters from citizens asking if the "centless nickel" is worth a lot of money. It wasn't; and isn't except in extremely high grade.

[JKK]

Low wear, but if I understand the standards correctly, the edge ding will keep it out of EF or better. Especially since that one's pretty blatant.

[RWB]

This letter might be of interest to the OP and others. It explains the reason the word "Cents" was not on the first issue of 1883 Liberty nickels. (More information is in the book Fads, Fakes & Foibles to be published soon.

June 22, 1885

B. C. Keeler, Esq.

Chicago, Ill.

Sir:

Your letter addressed to the Secretary of the Treasury, in respect to the five-cent nickel, has been referred to this Office.

The new nickel and its devices were designed by Mr. Snowden, for six years Superintendent and ten years Coiner of the Philadelphia Mint and who had been connected with that Mint twenty-eight years. It was submitted to Secretary Folger who approved of it as first issued, without the word “cents” although I specially called his attention to the omission; and he then decided that the Roman numeral V alone was sufficient compliance with the law, as in the case of the three-cent nickels, all of which issued (some thirty million pieces) had no other character to designate the value than III. The change of the nickel to the new device and diameter did not, therefore originate with any “young gentleman in the Treasury Department” as you suppose, but at the Philadelphia Mint, and was fully considered, approved, and adopted by the Secretary of the Treasury.

It is desirable that gold silver and minor coins should have different devices and be of different diameters as far as practicable, although their color and their weight generally will enable the one to be distinguished from the other. The same criticism made in reference to the nickel and the half eagle would apply to the English sovereign and shilling, both of which are of the same diameter and also to some of the gold and silver coins of many other countries.

Very respectfully,

Horatio C. Burchard, Director.

[RG104 E-235 Vol 038]

Edited February 2, 2021 by RWB
Fix formatting - as usual

[Mr.Bill347]

Thanks everyone ! i'll slab it and keep it along with my 1908 with "cents" 

LOL It Makes sense that the coins with "no cents" are worth less than those with "CENTS"

[MarkFeld]

7 minutes ago, Mr.Bill347 said:

Thanks everyone ! i'll slab it and keep it along with my 1908 with "cents" 

LOL It Makes sense that the coins with "no cents" are worth less than those with "CENTS"

Obviously, it's your choice, but the cost of postage and grading will far exceed the value of the coin.

[MarkFeld]

48 minutes ago, JKK said:

Low wear, but if I understand the standards correctly, the edge ding will keep it out of EF or better. Especially since that one's pretty blatant.

The coin looks AU, and while the ding might very well result in a details grade, that details grade would be XF at an absolute minimum.

[Mr.Bill347]

Not intending to grade it, Just have some empty slab holders Ill put it in. Thank You

[MarkFeld]

1 hour ago, Mr.Bill347 said:

Not intending to grade it, Just have some empty slab holders Ill put it in. Thank You

Great and enjoy.

[Oldhoopster]

It's definitely worth preserving in a 2x2, non-PVC flip, or other type of holder