1870 Proof Nickel Pattern - J-807

Coin Details

Auction Record

$10,575 PR67 07-28-2022 Legend Rare Coin Auctions

Description

Departing from both the production copper-nickel alloy and Linderman's standard silver, J-807 was struck in pure nickel using the Shield obverse with rays and numeral 5 within stars reverse. Pure nickel is significantly harder than the 75% copper / 25% nickel alloy used for production Shield nickels, creating different striking characteristics and a slightly different color tone. This composition experiment explored whether the denomination's namesake metal could stand alone without its copper partner, a question with both practical manufacturing and public perception implications.

Rarity Notes

R-7. Extremely rare, approximately 4-12 examples survive.

Cross References

Judd-807, Pollock-900