1882 Proof Nickel Pattern - J-1684

Coin Details

Auction Record

$8,225 PR65 04-24-2013 Heritage Auctions

Description

Tenth variety in the 1882 Liberty Head Nickel pattern competition, continuing the methodical exploration of design possibilities. This pattern may test a variation in the size or style of the Roman numeral V on the reverse, an element that would prove critically important when the adopted coin entered circulation in 1883. The famously large V on the production Liberty Nickel, combined with the absence of the word CENTS, led to the notorious "racketeer nickel" episode in which unscrupulous individuals gold-plated the new coins and passed them as five-dollar gold pieces. The variety of V sizes and treatments visible across the 1882 pattern series indicates that Barber experimented with different approaches to making the denomination unmistakable, though the final adopted design infamously fell short of that goal. Struck in nickel alloy, this pattern documents one of the denomination display options that was considered.

Rarity Notes

R-6 to R-7 (Very Rare to Extremely Rare). Estimated 8-12 specimens known.

Cross References

Judd J-1684, Pollock P-1886