1883 5C J-1717 PR(PCGS#62134)

Summer 2025 Global Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

6672

Grade

PR66

Price

9,300

Lot Description

<strong>Obv:</strong> The same design used to strike regular issue 1883 Liberty Head nickels. <strong>Rev:</strong> The denomination expressed as a Roman numeral V is in the center surrounded by a wreath of corn, wheat and cotton. The legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is above, and the Latin motto E PLURIBUS UNUM is below. This design is similar to that used to strike regular issue 1883 Liberty Head nickels of the No CENTS design type, but a scroll with the word CENTS has been added to the center atop the Roman numeral V. Beautifully toned premium Gem surfaces exhibit iridescent pinkish-apricot and powder blue colors. Although the Mint produced several pattern Liberty Head nickels in 1882 and 1883, this is by far the most popular. Judd-1717 (and its counterparts Judd-1718 and 1719 in copper and aluminum, respectively) is thought to have been produced to correct for the omission of the word CENTS on the original regular issue Liberty Head nickel. The Mint had received reports that individuals were reeding the edges of and adding gold plating to No CENTS coins and passing them off as gold half eagles. This is one of very few examples of Judd-1717 in nickel that we have offered through the years, and it is certainly among the finest of the 12 or so examples believed extant (per the <em>uspatterns.com</em> website).