US Coins - Nickel Five-Cent Pieces 1866 to Date
This page depicts only US Coins, the representatives of a few types (not all), that I dug up at various locations in the North-East USA.
SHIELD TYPE 1866 - 1883
VARIETY 1 - Rays Between Stars on the Reverse 1866 - 1867
Specifics:
Diameter: 20.5 mm
Weight: 5 grams or 77.16 grains
Edge: Plain
Composition: 75% copper, 25% nickel
Quantity minted: 14,950,000
Proofs minted: Record incomplete
Mint: Philadelphia
Mint marks: None
Designers: James Longacre
Key-dates:
1866 Repunched date
VARIETY 2 - Without Rays 1867 - 1883
Specifics:
Diameter: 20.5 mm
Weight: 5 grams or 77.16 grains
Edge: Plain
Composition: 75% copper, 25% nickel
Quantity minted: 111,413,949
Proofs minted: 23,099
Mint: Philadelphia
Mint marks: None
Designers: James Longacre
Key-dates:
1871, 1879 (all and 9 over 8), 1880, 1881, 1883 (3 over 2)
LIBERTY HEAD TYPE 1883 - 1912
VARIETY 1 - Without CENTS 1883 only
NO PHOTO
Specifics:
Diameter: 21.2 mm
Weight: 5 grams or 77.16 grains
Edge: Plain
Composition: 75% copper, 25% nickel
Quantity minted: 5,479,519
Proofs minted: 5,219
Mint: Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco
Mint marks: None
Designers: Charles E. Barber
REVERSE: The absence of the word CENTS on the reverse of this nickel caused it to become the most famous of misdesigned and misused coins. Racketeer Nickels got their name from being gold-plated and passed as Half Eagles. Nothing on the piece gave a hint as to its denomination.
VARIETY 2 - With 'CENTS' 1883 - 1913
Specifics:
Diameter: 21.2 mm
Weight: 5 grams or 77.16 grains
Edge: Plain
Composition: 75% copper, 25% nickel
Quantity minted: 99,197,920
Proofs minted: 79,921
Mint: Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco
Mint marks: S and D (1912 only)
Designers: Charles E. Barber
Mint Mark Location
Key-dates:
1885, 1886, 1912S, 1913 Liberty Head (5 known)
The story behind the 1913 Liberty Head nickel is one laced in mystery. A coin has passed through the hands of the lowly to the collection of a king to become a million-dollar collectible. To date, no one knows for certain why or when the coins were produced, though Samuel Brown, a former Mint employee, is most often charged with the unauthorized minting.
BUFFALO TYPE 1913 - 1938
These pieces are known as Buffalo, Bison or Indian Head nickels. James E. Fraser designed the composite American Indian profile from models Chief John Big Tree, a Seneca, Chief Two Moons, a Cheyenne, and Chief Iron Tail, a Sioux. Fraser's initial F is beneath the date. The bison was modeled after "Black Diamond" in the New York Zoological Gardens.
In the first year of issue, 1913, there were two distinct varieties, the first showing the bison on a mound, and the second with base redesigned to a thinner, straight line.
VARIETY 1 - FIVE CENTS on Raised Ground 1913
Specifics:
Diameter: 21.2 mm
Weight: 5 grams or 77.16 grains
Edge: Plain
Composition: 75% copper, 25% nickel
Quantity minted: 38,435,520
Proofs minted: 3,034
Mint: Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco
Mint marks: S and D
Designers: James E. Fraser
Key-dates:
1913S Variety 1
VARIETY 2 - FIVE CENTS in Recess
Specifics:
Diameter: 21.2 mm
Weight: 5 grams or 77.16 grains
Edge: Plain
Composition: 75% copper, 25% nickel
Quantity minted: 1,174,084,709
Proofs minted: 13,114
Mint: Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco
Mint marks: S and D
Designers: James E. Fraser
Key-dates:
1913D Variety 2, 1913S Variety 2, 1914D, 1916 (Double die obv.), 1918D (8 over 7), 1921S
Also 1936D and 1937D "3-Legged" Variety exist
Mint Mark Location
JEFFERSON TYPE, 1938 - 1942, 1946 - to Date
This nickel was designed by Felix Schlag. He won an award of $1,000 in a competition with some 390 artists. His design established the definite public approval of portrait and pictorial themes rather than symbolic devices on the American coinage.
WARTIME ALLOY VARIETY 1942 - 1945
The need for nickel and copper during World War II made it necessary to alter composition in the US minor coinage.
Specifics:
Diameter: 21.2 mm
Weight: 5 grams or 77.16 grains
Edge: Plain
Composition: 56% copper, 35% silver, 9% manganese
Quantity minted: 869,923,700
Proofs minted: 27,000 (1942 only)
Mint: Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco
Mint marks: P, D and S
Designers: Felix Schlag
OBVERSEIdentical to all Jefferson types
REVERSEFor the first time in the US coinage history, the letter P designating Philadelphia was affixed, immediately above the dome of Monticello, to a coin.
Key-dates:
1943P (3 over 2), 1943P (Doubled eye)
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