1883 Proof Nickel Pattern - J-1713

Coin Details

Auction Record

$12,650 V CH PR 10-16-2003 Stack's

Description

J-1713 continues the exploration of die combinations incorporating the Roman numeral V reverse, presenting yet another pairing of obverse and reverse elements struck in nickel with a plain edge. This pattern was produced during the critical months when the Mint was finalizing the design that would replace the Shield nickel, a denomination that had served American commerce since 1866 through the Reconstruction era and into the Gilded Age. The transition from the Shield to the Liberty Head nickel represented more than a simple design change — it marked the end of the Civil War-era coinage aesthetic and the beginning of a classical revival in American coin design that would characterize the late nineteenth century. Barber's Liberty Head, inspired by classical Greco-Roman portraiture, established the design language that would define American minor coinage for the next three decades. J-1713's specific die characteristics distinguish it from adjacent catalog numbers, preserving a distinct moment in the iterative refinement process that transformed Barber's original concept into the production coin familiar to millions of Americans.

Rarity Notes

R-6 to R-7 (Rare to Very Rare). Approximately 10-15 examples estimated across all grades.

Cross References

Judd J-1713, Pollock P-1918