1887 Proof

2,960 coins: the 1887 proof Liberty Head nickel had the lowest proof production of the series to that point and reflecting a dip in collector demand that affected multiple denominations. Proof sales had softened across the board in 1887, possibly due to economic uncertainty or simply ordinary fluctuations in hobby interest. The 1887 proof is correspondingly scarcer than adjacent years and commands modest premiums.

Strike quality remains strong for the year. Philadelphia's proof production techniques in the late 1880s were well developed, and the 1887 coins show typical mirror fields, frosted devices, and sharp detail characteristic of the period. Cameo examples exist but are scarcer, and Deep Cameo pieces are rare enough to command significant premiums when they appear at major auctions.

Collectors pursuing complete Liberty Head proof sets face slightly more challenge with the 1887 than with the 1884 or 1889. PR63 and PR64 examples are readily available, and PR65 pieces appear at major auctions several times per year. Specialist dealers typically maintain inventory for the date, and acquisition is more a matter of budget than availability.