1887 Nickel Three-Cent Piece. MS-66 (PCGS). CAC.

1887 Nickel Three-Cent Piece. MS-66 (PCGS). CAC.，Beautiful to behold, this brilliant Gem displays satiny mint luster on virtually pristine surfaces. Sharply struck. Originally conceived as a replacement for its silver counterpart that was hoarded during the Civil War, the nickel three-cent piece was initially produced in respectable numbers and circulated extensively in the East and Midwest. By the 1880s, however, the usefulness of this denomination had long since passed and, apart from a single sizable output in 1881, circulation strike production was small through the series end in 1889. The 1887 has a mintage of just 5,001 pieces, among which this is one of the finest certified. This Mint State Gem is rarer than a Proof in the same grade.，From the A.J. Vanderbilt Collection. Earlier from our (Bowers and Merenas) Chicago Rarities Sale of April 2008, lot 181; via Stacks.，