1871 Nickel Patterns

About This Coin

The 1871 Nickel Patterns is a United States nickel from the Trade Dollar Era Patterns (1871-1873) series — the first year of the series. In 1871, coins were struck at the Philadelphia Mint. The obverse features Liberty seated facing left, holding an olive branch extended to the viewer, with a sheaf of wheat behind and the reverse displays an eagle perched on a bale of goods, with an olive branch and three arrows. Minted during Reconstruction and the Gilded Age, as the nation healed from civil war and debated the role of silver and gold in the monetary system. A notable auction result reached $7.0K in PR63 grade at Stack's. Designed by William Barber.