| Description: |
A sharply struck and choice example of the first year of issue. The date is sharply
repunched, with parts of the earlier figures of 1, 6 (especially), and 5 visible under
magnification. Attractive and even light gray toning. The key Proof issue to the entire
series.It was not until the summer of 1865 that nickel three-cent pieces made their
appearance. By that time many collectors had already ordered Proof coins for the year. In
absence of information about the new issues (it was not until 1866 that the American
Journal of Numismatics was launched, providing monthly information to collectors), many
were not aware that Proofs could be obtained. The number of Proofs minted is not known,
but our estimate would be somewhere in the range of 500. Today this stands as the rarest
of all Proof nickel three-cent pieces, with the 1887 (not overdate) being the second
rarest.
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