1881 Hawaiian Five Cent Pattern - Nickel

Coin Details

Auction Record

$41,400 MS66 05-31-2012 Goldberg Auctioneers

Description

The 1881 Hawaiian nickel five-cent pattern is one of the most important and enigmatic pieces in Hawaiian numismatics. Cataloged as Medcalf-Russell 2CN-2, this pattern was struck at the United States Mint as a proposal for a Hawaiian nickel denomination that was ultimately never authorized for production. King Kalakaua's monetary ambitions initially encompassed a full range of denominations including minor coinage in base metals. The 1881 nickel pattern represents an early stage of planning before the final 1883 program was limited to silver denominations (dime, quarter, half dollar, and dollar). The decision to produce only silver coinage reflected economic considerations about the costs and logistics of distributing minor coins in the Hawaiian Islands, where the relatively small population and concentrated commercial centers made silver coins more practical. This pattern exists in very small numbers and represents the road not taken in Hawaiian numismatic history. Had the nickel denomination been adopted, it would have given the Hawaiian Kingdom a more complete monetary system comparable to the U.S. coinage it was designed to complement.

Rarity Notes

Extremely rare. Fewer than 20 examples exist. PCGS #10975, NGC #50005. Major Hawaiian numismatic rarity that commands strong premiums at auction.

Cross References

Medcalf-Russell 2CN-2; PCGS #10975; NGC #50005