1866 Proof Nickel Pattern - J-481

Coin Details

Auction Record

$7,638 PR66 11-01-2013 Heritage Auctions

Description

Another entry in the exhaustive 1866 Shield Nickel alloy program, this proof pattern tests a composition that may include aluminum, tin, or another lightweight metal being evaluated as an alternative to the adopted copper-nickel formulation. The period following the Civil War saw rapid advances in metallurgy, and the Mint was eager to explore whether newer alloys might offer advantages for coinage. Aluminum, in particular, was a cutting-edge material in the 1860s — still relatively expensive and novel, but possessing properties like light weight and corrosion resistance that made it an intriguing candidate. Each experimental striking taught the Mint something about the interplay between die design and metallic composition that would inform coinage production for decades to come.

Rarity Notes

R.6 to R.7. Estimated 10-15 examples extant.

Cross References

Pollock-3549