1867 Shield Nickel. No Rays. Reverse Style D. Proof-66 Cameo (PCGS).A charming specimen dusted with iridescent champagne-pink toning. Fully struck with a soft satin texture, the devices contrast appreciably with mirrored reflectivity in the fields. The first of the No Rays Shield nickels in Proof format, the mintage of the 1867 was not recorded by Mint personnel. Q. David Bowers (2006) estimates it at 850 to 1,100 coins, survivors of which are scarce by the standards of the type. Creating more problems for advanced collectors, the typical example encountered in todays market is lightly hairlined with below average eye appeal, the kind of coin that grades Proof-60 to Proof-64. Conditionally rare as a Cameo Gem Proof, as such, the coin offered here would serve with distinction in the finest collection.<p>Reverse Style D, per Bowers, is the style seen on most Proof 1867 No Rays nickels. It is most readily attributable by looking at the two lowermost stars, which point to the top of the letters E and T in CENTS. On Reverse Style C, these stars point between the letters EN and TS, respectively.
