1866 Proof Nickel Pattern - J-516

Coin Details

Description

Among the experimental compositions that close out the 1866 Shield Nickel alloy series, J-516 tests a formulation from the program's most adventurous phase. The extended series from J-513 through J-533 represents the frontier of Reconstruction-era coinage metallurgy, pushing beyond the conventional copper-nickel realm into alloys and metals that were novel, exotic, or deliberately chosen to test the Shield design's boundaries. For the contemporary collector encountering these patterns at auction, the combination of extreme rarity, historical significance, and the puzzle of precise alloy identification creates a compelling collecting challenge that has sustained interest in this series for over 150 years.

Rarity Notes

R.7. Approximately 5-10 examples estimated.

Cross References

Pollock-3584