1913 Proof Nickel Pattern - J-1790/1954

Coin Details

Auction Record

Norweb specimen (PR-66): sold privately for an undisclosed sum reported to be in excess of $5 million.

Description

Judd-1790, also cataloged as Judd-1954, represents another die combination or variety among the five known 1913 Liberty Head nickels. The dual numbering (J-1790 original, J-1954 reassigned) parallels the J-1789/1950 cataloging, reflecting editorial decisions across different editions of the Judd reference. The distinction between J-1789/1950 and J-1790/1954 lies in a detectable die difference — a different obverse or reverse die, a repunched date digit, or a die crack or other marker that distinguishes one group of specimens from another. The 1913 Liberty Head nickels occupy a unique position in American culture: they have appeared in a 1973 episode of Hawaii Five-O, have been featured on an episode of NBC's Today Show, and are referenced in countless numismatic publications. Their mystique stems not just from their rarity but from the circumstances of their creation — coins that should not exist, struck without authorization after the design was officially retired, by a person or persons whose identity remained unconfirmed for nearly a century. The coins represent the intersection of numismatic rarity, institutional intrigue, and American cultural mythology.

Rarity Notes

R-8+. Only 5 specimens known total across all die varieties. The Norweb specimen, graded PR-66 by PCGS, is among the finest of the five and has been off the market since its acquisition by a private collector.

Cross References

Judd J-1790, also J-1954; Pollock P-2007; Charles Barber (designer); Samuel W. Brown (attributed striker); cf. J-1789/1950, J-1789a