1873 Nickel Three-Cent Piece. Close 3. Proof-67 (PCGS).The obverse features a pale lavender portrait surrounded by ever-widening halos of powder blue, yellow, sunrise orange and fuchsia. The reverse exhibits dominant iridescent gold with subtle multicolored peripheral highlights. The razor sharp, softly frosted design elements seem to float atop virtually flawless, appreciably reflective fields. Outstanding visual appeal, and exceptionally well preserved for both the type and issue. The mintage for the Proof 1873 nickel three-cent piece was not recorded by Mint personnel at the time, but it is likely on the order of 1,500 to 2,000 coins, the mintage that Q. David Bowers (2006) estimates for the Proof 1873 Shield nickel.