1866 Nickel Patterns

About This Coin

The 1866 Nickel Patterns page brings together the Judd-numbered five-cent patterns dated 1866 in the Reconstruction Era Patterns (1866-1869) series. Congress authorized a copper-nickel five-cent piece on May 16, 1866, and Chief Engraver James B. Longacre prepared designs with a shield, with George Washington and with Abraham Lincoln, paired with reverses showing the numeral 5 in several styles. Treasury Secretary Hugh McCulloch chose the shield and the stars and rays reverse on Director James Pollock's advice, and Pollock did not show him the Lincoln design (Wikipedia, Shield nickel). The patterns pair these dies in many combinations and metals. USPatterns.com believes a large group of mulings, including most pieces that join two obverse dies, was struck outside the Mint from dies Joseph Mickley bought as scrap.