1866 Proof Nickel Pattern - J-492

Coin Details

Description

Another proof Shield Nickel struck in an experimental composition, J-492 belongs to the later phase of the 1866 alloy program where increasingly specialized formulations were being tested. The Mint's alloy testing was informed by contemporary advances in metallurgical science — European mints, particularly those in Belgium and Switzerland, had recently adopted nickel alloys for their own coinage, and American Mint officials studied these foreign examples while developing their own approach. The transatlantic exchange of metallurgical knowledge influenced the range of alloys tested in the 1866 program, with some formulations borrowed or adapted from European coinage practice and modified for American production conditions.

Rarity Notes

R.6 to R.7. Approximately 10-15 examples known.

Cross References

Pollock-3560