1881 5C J-1673 PR(PCGS#62069)

1881 5C J-1673 PR (PCGS#62069)

The March 2012 Baltimore Auction

Lot Description: 1881 Pattern Liberty Nickel. Judd-1673, Pollock-1874. Rarity-7-. Aluminum. Reeded Edge. Proof-64 (NGC). CAC. Obverse Liberty Head motif by Charles E. Barber, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA around, date below, also used on the pattern one-cent <a href="http://uspatterns.com/uspatterns/j1665p1865.html" style="font-size: small; font-family: arial, helvetica;">(</a>J-1665) and three-cent <a href="http://uspatterns.com/uspatterns/j1668p1869.html" style="font-size: small; font-family: arial, helvetica;">(</a>J-1668) designs of this year, reverse with V at center of wheat and cotton and wreath. Brilliant silver gray surfaces with a full strike and modest yet appreciable reflectivity evident in the fields. A more frosty texture to the devices suggests a cameo finish, if only for the reverse. Solid near-Gem quality with no significant or otherwise mentionable blemishes. The <em>uspatterns.com </em>website notes: "In addition to nickel, which is fairly common, these were also struck in copper (J-1672) with about a dozen known, and aluminum (J-1673) with about a half dozen known of the latter." Aluminum at the time was a rare and valuable metal and was used occasionally for patterns at the Mint, but only sparingly. A rare prize indeed.<br /> <div><br /> </div>