1883 Proof Nickel Pattern - J-1715

Coin Details

Auction Record

$16,800 PR64+BN 02-25-2021 Heritage Auctions

Description

This proof pattern presents another design variation in the 1883 Liberty Head nickel series, struck in nickel with a plain edge. J-1715 features die characteristics that distinguish it from adjacent numbers in the Judd catalog, documenting a specific combination of obverse and reverse design elements that was evaluated and ultimately rejected during the development process. The 1883 pattern program was one of the most extensive single-year five-cent pattern series in American numismatic history, reflecting the significance of the design transition from the Shield to the Liberty Head type. Superintendent Snowden's directive to Chief Engraver Barber to create a unified design concept encompassing the cent, three-cent nickel, and five-cent piece elevated the stakes of the design process, as the Liberty Head portrait needed to function cohesively across multiple denominations while adapting to the specific size and format requirements of each. The five-cent piece, as the largest of the three denominations, offered the most generous canvas for Barber's classical Liberty portrait and demanded the most detailed reverse treatment, resulting in the extensive variety of die combinations preserved in the pattern record.

Rarity Notes

R-7 (Very Rare). Approximately 7-12 examples estimated. This variety appears less frequently at auction than some of its neighbors in the series.

Cross References

Judd J-1715, Pollock P-1920