1961 Bashlow Restrike, Nickel Cent

Coin Details

Description

The 1961 Bashlow Restrike of the Confederate Cent in nickel is a bright, silvery-white entry in the Bashlow multi-metal series. Pure nickel gives this piece a distinctive hard, brilliant appearance that differs markedly from the warmer tones of copper, bronze, and brass restrikes. The metal’s hardness makes for a well-struck piece with sharp, durable design details. Nickel has a long association with American coinage, serving as the primary metal for the five-cent piece since 1866 and as a component in various other denominations. The Bashlow nickel restrike thus presents the Confederate cent design in a metal familiar to American coin collectors, though one that was never used or considered for the original Confederate coinage. The bright, untarnishing surface provides excellent contrast between the raised design elements and the flat fields. The nickel Bashlow restrike is among the harder metals in the series, both literally and figuratively. The metal’s resistance to corrosion and toning means that surviving examples often retain much of their original brilliant surface, making well-preserved nickel restrikes particularly attractive display pieces. The design elements — Liberty’s classical portrait, the 13 Confederate stars, and the agricultural wreath — appear with clean precision on the nickel surface.

Rarity Notes

Scarce. Nickel restrikes were produced in limited quantities as part of the 1961 Bashlow program. They are comparable in availability to other base metal varieties in the series.

Cross References

NGC #886024