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1866 Proof Nickel Pattern - J-472

Strike Type
1866 Proof Nickel Pattern - J-472

Coin Details

Year
1866
Denomination
Patterns
Mint Mark
P
Strike Type
Proof
Series
Reconstruction Era Patterns (1866-1869)
Composition
Bronze

Auction Record

$3,190 PR61 09-12-1994 Bowers & Merena

Description

The final variety in the pre-adoption shield design series, J-472 sits immediately before J-473 — the number assigned to the adopted Shield Nickel design in its standard copper-nickel composition. This positioning makes J-472 of particular interest to numismatists studying the design's evolution, as it represents the last experimental variation before the Mint settled on the final configuration. Any differences between J-472 and J-473 illuminate the last-minute adjustments Longacre made before committing to production dies. The proof striking preserves these potentially subtle distinctions with maximum clarity, making this coin a key reference point for understanding the precise moment when the Shield Nickel transitioned from an experimental proposal to an approved production design.

Rarity Notes

R.6. Approximately 15-20 examples estimated.

Cross References

Pollock-3540

External References

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