Green’s Dictionary of Slang

something exceptional, e.g. a blow, a success, esp. referring to a robbery or a large payment.

1920		(ref. to 1910) F. Young (ed.) Trial of H.H. Crippen 13: Oct. 18, 1910 testimony of Clara Martinetti: When Mr. Crippen came I said, ‘Well, you're a nice one; Belle gone to America, and you don't let us know anything about it’.
1937		J. Curtis There Ain’t No Justice 21: His left ear had taken a nice one some time.
1997		C. McPherson Weir 2: He put me on to a nice one. We got her at eleven to four.