Owner Comments:
Total Graded: 6450
Total Prooflike: 1
Percentage: 0.0155%
While the 1883 No Cents nickel is the most common date of the Liberty Nickel series, it is still an intriguing coin. Rumour has it that a number of the nickels were plated in gold by racketeers, and passed off as $5 coins. Thus, the word cents was added to the reverse to prevent this. These racketeering nickels can sometimes be found with traces of gold plating still clinging to them.
This one year subtype is exceedingly scarce in prooflike. Liberty nickels in general are quite scarce, but being a one year only type, the chance for prooflike coins is that much smaller. Out of the 16 prooflike coins graded by NGC for the entire series, my example is the only one of the No Cents subtype. I have seen a couple other PL No Cents nickels in ANACS holders, but it was questionable whether they would garner the PL designation at NGC.
This coin is absolutely spectacular. CAC gave it the green bean, which really means nothing to me but some people care about it. The coin is mark free, with beautiful deep mirrors and a strong cameo effect. The strike is sublime with only the barest hints of weakness on the lower left stars and some of the vegetation on the reverse. The color is a delicate icy blue, with little to no toning. There is minor spotting in places, but it is insignificant. While prooflikes in general are difficult to evaluate through photos, this is one that you definitely need to see in hand.