Washington nickel

Last updated
Shield nickel
United States
Value5 cents (0.05 US dollars)
Mass5.000 g (0.1615  troy oz)
Diameter20.50 mm (0.8077 in)
EdgePlain
CompositionVarious
Years of minting1866, 1909–1910
Obverse
1866 5C Five Cents, Judd-461, Pollock-535, R.5.jpg
Design George Washington
Designer James B. Longacre
Design date1866
Reverse
1866 5C Five Cents, Judd-461, Pollock-535, R.5 rev.jpg
DesignDenomination surrounded by wreath (shown), stars, or stars with rays
DesignerJames B. Longacre
Design date1866
Design discontinued1866

The Washington nickel is a pattern coin that was struck by the United States Mint in 1866 and again in 1909 and 1910. [1] [2]

Contents

1866 pieces

The Washington nickel was one of several proposed designs for the five-cent nickel coin, which was to replace the half dime as the five-cent coin of the United States. The obverse of the coin features a portrait of George Washington facing right. [3] This design was not chosen for production, and the Shield nickel was produced instead, although some patterns of the Washington nickel utilized some of the reverse designs that were eventually adopted for the Shield nickel.

The 1866 Washington nickel is relatively common for a pattern coin, and is popular with coin collectors. [4]

1909–10 pieces

In 1909 the US Mint once again struck nickel patterns with Washington's portrait. The coin was produced in two major varieties, one with Washington facing right and one facing left. [5] Only seven pieces are known to exist, all of which are in the National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian Institution.

Two coins with Washington facing left were struck in 1910. These, like the 1909 pieces, are at the Smithsonian. [6]

Obverse designs

Reverse designs

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References

  1. "J461/P535". uspatterns.com. Archived from the original on 2018-07-05. Retrieved 2019-06-24.
  2. "J1934/P2017". uspatterns.com. Archived from the original on 2018-10-05. Retrieved 2019-06-24.
  3. "J461/P535". uspatterns.com. Archived from the original on 2018-07-05. Retrieved 2019-06-24.
  4. Reynolds, Greg (2016-12-15). "U.S. Coin Patterns for Less Than $5,000 Each, Part 4: 1866-71 5¢ Nickels". CoinWeek. Archived from the original on 2020-11-08. Retrieved 2019-06-24.
  5. "J1934/P2017". uspatterns.com. Archived from the original on 2018-10-05. Retrieved 2019-06-24.
  6. "J1942/P2023". uspatterns.com. Archived from the original on 2019-06-27. Retrieved 2019-06-24.