1883 Proof Nickel Pattern - J-1705

Coin Details

Description

The second five-cent pattern of 1883, J-1705 shares the same obverse and reverse design as J-1704 — Liberty Head with UNITED STATES OF AMERICA replacing the stars on the obverse, and the "PURE NICKEL" inscription within a wreath of corn, cotton, maple, and wheat on the reverse — but was struck in a different metallic composition. The pattern tests the standard 75% copper, 25% nickel alloy that had been used for the Shield nickel since 1866 and would continue as the standard five-cent piece composition through the present day. The irony of a coin inscribed "PURE NICKEL" but struck in copper-nickel alloy illustrates the experimental nature of these patterns, where the Mint freely combined different die designs with various planchet stocks to evaluate all possible combinations. Charles Barber's Liberty Head obverse, with its coronet-wearing profile facing left surrounded by the national legend rather than stars, represents a transitional stage between the pattern designs explored in 1882 and the final production version adopted later in 1883. The wreath reverse with its explicit compositional inscription would not survive to production, replaced instead by the Roman numeral V design that proved so controversial when released without the word CENTS.

Rarity Notes

R-6 to R-7 (Rare to Very Rare). Approximately 10-20 examples exist.

Cross References

Judd J-1705, Pollock P-1909