Nickel (United States coin)
Encyclopedia
The nickel is a five-cent
coin
, representing a unit of currency
equaling five hundredths of one United States dollar
. A later-produced Canadian nickel
five-cent coin was also called by the same name.
The nickel's design since 1938 has featured a portrait
of Thomas Jefferson
on the obverse
. From 1938 to 2003, Monticello
was featured on the reverse
. For 2004 and 2005, nickels featured new designs to commemorate the bicentennials of the Louisiana Purchase
and the Lewis and Clark Expedition
; these new designs were called the Westward Journey nickel series. In 2006, Monticello returned to the reverse, while a new image of Jefferson facing forward was featured on the obverse.
coins called half dime
s. Due to shortages of silver during and after the American Civil War
, an alternative metal was needed for five-cent coinage, and the copper
–nickel
alloy still in use today was selected. Numerous problems plagued the coinage of nickels through the middle of the 20th century due to the extreme hardness of the alloy, but modern minting equipment has proven more than adequate for the task.
Nickels have always had a value of one cent per gram
(even when special nickel-free versions were issued temporarily during World War II). They were designed as 5&NBA;grams in the metric units when they were introduced in 1866, shortly before the Metric Act of 1866
declared the metric system to be legal for use in the United States.
Applying the term "nickel" to a coin precedes the usage of five-cent pieces made from nickel alloy. The term was originally applied to the 1857–1858 Flying Eagle cent
and the Indian Head cent
coin from 1859 to 1864, which were composed of 12% nickel, 88% copper. Throughout the Civil War these cents were referred to as "nickels" or "nicks" from their metal content. When the three-cent nickel came onto the scene in 1865, the first coin to raise nickel content to the modern 25%, these were the new "nickels" to the common person on the street. In 1866, the Shield nickel
was introduced and forever changed the way Americans associated coins made from nickel alloy with a particular denomination. Save for alloy changes during World War II, nickel coins from 1866 to the present have been composed of 25% nickel, 75% copper.
Local calls placed from public phone booths in the United States cost a nickel in most places until the early 1950s, when the charge was doubled to a dime (10 cents). However, in some places — notably in New Orleans, but mostly in scattered rural areas — the price for such calls remained at a nickel as late as the mid-1970s. This gave rise to the phrase "It's your nickel" in conversations to refer to the prerogative of the person who paid for the telephone call to steer the conversation. In many cities, the cost of a ride on a public transit vehicle — such as a bus
or subway
— also stood at a nickel during the same period that a pay-phone call carried that charge.
The Shield nickel, designed by James B. Longacre
, was the first nickel five-cent piece minted in the United States, in accordance with the Act of May 16, 1866. There is an early variety with rays passing from the numeral 5 through the spaces between the stars. These were minted only in 1866 and part of 1867. Longacre's original design had failed to take into account the difficulties of minting with such a hard alloy, and the rays caused a general lack of detail in areas on the opposite face of the coin.
The metallurgical difficulties were the source of many minting errors in the Shield nickels. It is unusual to find a piece that does not have die cracks, and such examples trade for more in uncirculated condition, unlike many other coins where die cracks are considered an interesting variety with slight to moderate premium value. There are also many overdates, doubled dates and other punch errors.
Liberty Head (V) nickels were officially minted from 1883 to 1912. However, an unknown mint official illegally produced an unknown quantity of V Nickels with the date 1913, with only five known genuine examples. V nickels were minted only at Philadelphia until 1912, when Denver and San Francisco each minted a small quantity. All five 1913 examples were minted in Philadelphia. The D or S mint mark is located on the reverse, just below the left-hand dot near the seven-o'-clock position on the rim.
The original 1883 issue lacked the word "cents" on the reverse. Since the nickels were the same size as five-dollar gold pieces, some counterfeiters plated them with gold and attempted to pass them off as such. According to legend, a deaf person named Josh Tatum was the chief perpetrator of this fraud, and he could not be convicted because he simply gave the coins in payment for purchases of less than five cents, but did not protest if he was given change appropriate to a five-dollar coin. There is no historical record of Tatum outside of numismatic folklore, however, so the story may well be apocryphal. The 1883 nickel is sometimes referred to as the "racketeer nickel".
for $3,737,500.00. Legend Numismatics, a coin dealership in Lincroft, New Jersey
, bought another from collector Ed Lee of Merrimack, New Hampshire
on June 2, 2005 for $4.15 million, the second-highest price ever paid for a rare U.S. coin. These coins were made famous by B. Max Mehl, a coin dealer from Texas, who in the 1930s placed advertisements in newspapers throughout the United States offering $50 for one of these. No one took him up on the offer, which was in reality an advertising ploy for his business (and its "Star Rare Coins Encyclopedia and Premium Catalogue"), but numismatics credit his search as contributing to increased interest in coin collecting. There was also an ad placed in 1978 offering $500 for one. The price was later raised to $600.
The Indian head buffalo nickel was produced from 1913 to 1938, inclusive. Mint marks for the coins are on the reverse, beneath the words "Five Cents" and above the rim. The Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco mints
all participated in the mintage, though San Francisco generally had a much smaller annual production than either of the other two mints.
The buffalo nickel, as designed by James Earle Fraser, featured a profile of a Native American
on the obverse and an American Bison
(buffalo) on the reverse. Fraser said he used Indian chiefs in the composite portrait. His memory was often faulty in this regard.
The most likely models were Iron Tail
, Two Moons
, and Adoeette. Adoeette was also known as Big Tree. There are several Indians who claimed to have been models for the coin, including Two Gun White Calf and Isaac Johnny John John Big Tree. They are sometimes incorrectly named as having posed for Fraser. Neither did.
The model for the bison may have been Black Diamond
, from New York City's Central Park Zoo
. Fraser's design is generally considered to be among the best designs of any U.S. coin. Matte proof coins were specially struck for collectors from 1913 to 1917 at the Philadelphia
mint.
There was a type change in mid-1913 when the mound on the reverse was changed mid-year to an incuse flat plane because of wear problems. Thus, with the three mints, there are six types of 1913 nickels. There was no change to the date placement, so the dates on many early buffalo nickels have been completely worn off. As the series progressed, the date was gradually struck with larger and bolder numerals, which ameliorated the problem.
Often, dateless buffalo nickels can have their dates "restored" by applying a ferric chloride
solution to the date area. From a collecting standpoint this destroys the value of the coin, taking it from "very worn" to "very worn and chemically damaged". In addition to weak dates, many buffalo nickels — especially those minted in Denver or San Francisco in the 1920s — are found with the horn and/or tail on the reverse, or the word "LIBERTY" on the obverse, badly struck and lacking complete detail. The 1926-D is particularly noted for these defects.
Four valuable varieties exist in the series. In 1918 some of the Denver mint nickels were minted from a redated 1917 die. The resulting 1918/7-D overdate is a rare and sought-after coin. This previously occurred with 1914 Philadelphia strikes, showing traces of a 3 under the last digit in the date. Also, in 1937 excessive polishing of a Denver mint die following a die clash removed most of the right foreleg, leading to the famous "three legged" variety. One estimate is that the number released may be only about 20,000, and specimens in higher grades are particularly valuable. Collectors should be cautious when purchasing this variety since counterfeits have been extensively produced. A 1936-D "3½ leg" variety also exists. However, the most valuable is the 1916 doubled die. The most well preserved examples of this variety trade for between $250,000 and $500,000 when they appear at public auction.
Some 1.2 billion buffalo nickels were issued during the coin's 26-year lifespan, and only one date/mintmark combination (the 1926-S) had a mintage of less than 1 million. No buffalo nickels were made in 1922, 1932, or 1933. The lack of 1922 nickels, as well as some other denominations, resulted from the Mint's placing a priority on silver dollar production due to an economic recession that year, and no nickels — and many other denominations — were issued in 1932 or 1933 due to the Great Depression
.
Because some consider this design to be one of the best ever used in American coinage, the Mint has reused the design on the 2001 commemorative buffalo dollar and the American Buffalo
gold bullion coin, a series that began in 2006.
The Jefferson nickel, designed by Felix Schlag
in a Mint-sponsored contest, was minted beginning in 1938. In 1966 his initials were added to the base of the bust. The obverse features a left-facing profile of Thomas Jefferson
adapted from a marble bust sketched from life by French sculptor Jean-Antoine Houdon
. The reverse features an elevation image of Jefferson's Virginia estate, Monticello
. The steps on the building were slightly modified during 1939, but otherwise the design did not change until 2003. All three mints turned out vast quantities of Jefferson nickels until 1954, when San Francisco halted production for 14 years, resuming only from 1968 to 1970, although it still produces proof coins. Since 1970 all nickels for circulation have been minted at Philadelphia and Denver. Mint marks may be found on the reverse, in the right field between Monticello and the rim, on nickels from 1938 to 1964. From 1965 to 1967 no mint marks were used regardless of where the coins were struck, and beginning in 1968, the mint mark was moved to the obverse, just below the date, where it remains today. In 1980, the Philadelphia mint began using a "P" mint mark on all nickels. This design is by far the most common currently in circulation.
. The only other U.S. coins to use manganese are the Sacagawea
and presidential dollars. These coins are usually a bit darker than regular nickels, said to be due to their manganese content (as was true of many British coins minted from 1920 through 1947). However, carefully protected proof sets of these coins are difficult to tell from the standard alloy.
The wartime nickel features the largest mint mark to appear a United States coin, located above Monticello
's dome on the reverse. This mark was a large D, S, or P, as appropriate for each mint. Nickels of this series minted in Philadelphia have the unique distinction of being the only U.S. coins minted prior to 1979 to bear a P mint mark. There are eleven coins in the regular series (plus a moderately scarce overdate, the 1943/2-P), and they can be purchased in circulated condition at low cost. When the price of silver rose in the 1960s the "war nickels" quickly disappeared from circulation.
An unofficial variety of the wartime coin dated 1944 was made in 1954 when counterfeit
nickels were produced by Francis LeRoy Henning of Erial, New Jersey
. He had previously been arrested for counterfeiting $5 bills. The 1944 nickels were quickly spotted since Henning neglected to add the large mintmark. He also made counterfeit nickels dated 1939, 1946, 1947, and possibly 1953 as well as one other unidentified date. It is estimated that more than 100,000 of Henning's nickels reached circulation. These can still be found in pocket change, and there is a thriving collectors' market for them, although owning a counterfeit is technically illegal. Henning dumped another 200,000 nickels in Copper Creek, New Jersey
, of which only 14,000 were recovered. Another 200,000 are thought to have been dumped in the Schuylkill River
. When caught, Henning was sentenced to 3 years in jail, and was required to pay a $5,000 fine.
from circulation. One can still find coins from the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s in circulation on occasion. Even Buffalo and Liberty nickels can turn up once in a while, however, Shield nickels are almost never found because the diameter is smaller than on the other nickels, allowing it to be missed in the rolling process. Many Jefferson nickel collectors look for fully struck steps on the image of Monticello. Premiums are paid for coins with five or six full steps. These are fairly rare. Proofs and special mint set coins (1965–1967), as well as matte proof
s, exist, and have value above circulating coinage. Specialists look for the number of discernible steps on the façade of Monticello, and those on which the steps are fully struck are known as "Full Step" Jefferson Nickels. When looking for full step Jefferson nickels, often the area of steps below the third pillar of Monticello will be the weakest. The 1950-D along with the 1938-S and 1939-D nickels are the key dates in the series, the war nickels have become more valuable with the increased silver prices. While some argue that the 1950-D nickel is readily available (because collectors hoarded them due to the announced low mintage), the 1950-D still commands relatively significant prices, especially if highly graded by a reputable grading service. The 1939-D is even more challenging to locate in Brilliant Uncirculated state.
allowed the U.S. Mint
to make changes to coinage every 25 years without specific authorization. Since the 1990s the government had begun to respond to lobbying in favor of changing coinage design. This led to the State Quarters series and in 2002, a proposal to change 2003 nickels as well. Initial proposals by the Mint had a new obverse based on a portrait by Gilbert Stuart
, and a reverse with an American Indian
and a bald eagle
facing west.
Congressman Eric Cantor
(R-Virginia
), the Chief Deputy Majority Whip for his party, objected to the lack of consultation with Congress about their proposal, and was particularly concerned that Monticello
, located near his district, would not return to the reverse of the nickel in 2006. Some raised the issue that the Mint's proposed new reverse did not relate specifically enough to Lewis and Clark or the Louisiana Purchase, the events that the proposed changes were meant to commemorate. This led to the enactment of Public Law 108-15, the American 5-cent Coin Design Continuity Act
, in 2003. This act, originally dubbed the Keep Monticello on the Nickel Act by Cantor, modified the United States Code
to require the return to a depiction of Monticello starting in January 2006, and permanently eliminate the Mint's right to change it again without Congressional approval. The delay and controversy meant the Mint ran out of time to change the reverse of the nickel in 2003.
Upon passage of Cantor's new law, the Mint proposed the Westward Journey nickel series. The series consisted of two new reverse designs for 2004 and two for 2005.
In 2004, the reverse of the nickel changed, with two different designs during the year. The first design, placed into circulation on March 1, 2004, featured a design based upon a rendition of the original Indian Peace Medal
commissioned for Lewis and Clark's expedition. It was designed by Norman E. Nemeth.
In late 2004, the reverse changed again to feature a view of Lewis and Clark's keelboat
in full sail that transported members of the Corps of Discovery expedition and their supplies through the rivers of the Louisiana Territory
. This design depicts Meriwether Lewis
and William Clark in full uniform, standing in the bow of the keelboat. This nickel was designed by Al Maletsky.
On September 16, 2004, the U.S. Mint unveiled its new designs for 2005. They had been chosen by John W. Snow
on July 22, 2004 but
were not disclosed to the public. The U.S. Mint revealed that the Felix Schlag depiction of Thomas Jefferson was being done away with in favor of a more modern depiction of Jefferson. The new obverse of the Jefferson nickel was designed by Joe Fitzgerald
and engraved by Don Everhart II. Its circulation began on February 28, 2005.
Also unveiled on September 16, 2004 were two new reverses. A depiction of the American bison
temporarily returned to the reverse after a 67-year absence. The new reverse was designed by Jamie N. Franki and engraved by Norman E. Nemeth. The U.S. Mint had been lobbied to include the American bison on the nickel in the hope of keeping the public interested in its continuing recovery after nearly being hunted to extinction after the completion of the transcontinental railroad
.
The final Westward Journey nickel reverse was designed by Joe Fitzgerald
and engraved by Donna Weaver. It depicts the Pacific Ocean and the words from William Clark's diary upon reaching it. In a controversial move, the U.S. Mint decided to amend Clark's actual words. He had originally written, "Ocian in view! O! The Joy!" but as the spelling "ocian" is nonstandard (and might have led to hoarding in the mistaken belief that the Mint had made an error that would soon be corrected), the U.S. Mint decided to modify it to "ocean."
's Monticello design on a newly cast reverse, while the obverse features a new forward-facing portrait of Jefferson, based on the 1800 Rembrandt Peale
painting of Jefferson. It is the first U.S. circulating coin that features the image of a President facing forward. The new obverse was designed by Jamie Franki. The word Liberty is shown in Jefferson's own handwriting, as it was on the 2005 Westward Journey nickels.
Felix Schlag's initials now appear on the reverse. They are located to the right of Monticello, where the mint mark was located until 1964.
. In an attempt to avoid losing large quantities of circulating nickels to melting, the United States Mint had earlier introduced new interim rules on December 14, 2006 criminalizing the melting and export of cents and nickels. Violators of these rules can be punished with a fine of up to $10,000, five years imprisonment, or both. See Title 31, United States Code Section 5111(d). The rules were finalized on April 17, 2007.
As of March 14, 2011, the value of the metal in a nickel is $0.0665396, 33.07% more than its face value.
As of April 10, 2011, the value of metal in a nickel is approximately 7.1 cents at current spot prices for constituent metals, a 40%+ premium over face value.
Costs of producing and shipping 5-cent (nickel) coins during fiscal year 2007 was $0.0953 per U.S. nickel. Canada, which produced a "nickel" of nearly pure (99.9%) nickel starting in 1922 (except during the war years of 1942–45 and 1951–54), switched to cupro-nickel in 1982. Since late in 2000, this denomination is usually produced in plated steel. The metal value of some of these older coins is greater than their face value. In a similar move, on February 8, 2008, a bill was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives that would allow for changing the metal components in U.S. coins due to the rising cost of commodities and the declining U.S. Dollar. No such bill has yet been signed into law.
The silver content of nickels minted during World War II from 1942 to 1945 is 1.75 g (0.0617294336839459 oz), and is valued at about $2.86 based on the closing price of silver on April 22, 2011.
Cent (currency)
In many national currencies, the cent is a monetary unit that equals 1⁄100 of the basic monetary unit. Etymologically, the word cent derives from the Latin word "centum" meaning hundred. Cent also refers to a coin which is worth one cent....
coin
Coin
A coin is a piece of hard material that is standardized in weight, is produced in large quantities in order to facilitate trade, and primarily can be used as a legal tender token for commerce in the designated country, region, or territory....
, representing a unit of currency
Currency
In economics, currency refers to a generally accepted medium of exchange. These are usually the coins and banknotes of a particular government, which comprise the physical aspects of a nation's money supply...
equaling five hundredths of one United States dollar
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
. A later-produced Canadian nickel
Nickel (Canadian coin)
The Canadian five-cent coin, commonly called a nickel, is a coin worth five cents or one-twentieth of a Canadian dollar. It was patterned on the corresponding coin in the neighbouring United States...
five-cent coin was also called by the same name.
The nickel's design since 1938 has featured a portrait
Portrait
thumb|250px|right|Portrait of [[Thomas Jefferson]] by [[Rembrandt Peale]], 1805. [[New-York Historical Society]].A portrait is a painting, photograph, sculpture, or other artistic representation of a person, in which the face and its expression is predominant. The intent is to display the likeness,...
of Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
on the obverse
Obverse and reverse
Obverse and its opposite, reverse, refer to the two flat faces of coins and some other two-sided objects, including paper money, flags , seals, medals, drawings, old master prints and other works of art, and printed fabrics. In this usage, obverse means the front face of the object and reverse...
. From 1938 to 2003, Monticello
Monticello
Monticello is a National Historic Landmark just outside Charlottesville, Virginia, United States. It was the estate of Thomas Jefferson, the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence, third President of the United States, and founder of the University of Virginia; it is...
was featured on the reverse
Obverse and reverse
Obverse and its opposite, reverse, refer to the two flat faces of coins and some other two-sided objects, including paper money, flags , seals, medals, drawings, old master prints and other works of art, and printed fabrics. In this usage, obverse means the front face of the object and reverse...
. For 2004 and 2005, nickels featured new designs to commemorate the bicentennials of the Louisiana Purchase
Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase was the acquisition by the United States of America of of France's claim to the territory of Louisiana in 1803. The U.S...
and the Lewis and Clark Expedition
Lewis and Clark Expedition
The Lewis and Clark Expedition, or ″Corps of Discovery Expedition" was the first transcontinental expedition to the Pacific Coast by the United States. Commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson and led by two Virginia-born veterans of Indian wars in the Ohio Valley, Meriwether Lewis and William...
; these new designs were called the Westward Journey nickel series. In 2006, Monticello returned to the reverse, while a new image of Jefferson facing forward was featured on the obverse.
Background
Prior to introduction of the nickel, five-cent pieces were very small silverSilver
Silver is a metallic chemical element with the chemical symbol Ag and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal...
coins called half dime
Half dime
The half dime, or half disme, was a silver coin, valued at five cents, formerly minted in the United States.Some numismatists consider the denomination to be the first coin minted by the United States Mint under the Coinage Act of 1792, with production beginning on or about July 1792...
s. Due to shortages of silver during and after the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, an alternative metal was needed for five-cent coinage, and the copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
–nickel
Nickel
Nickel is a chemical element with the chemical symbol Ni and atomic number 28. It is a silvery-white lustrous metal with a slight golden tinge. Nickel belongs to the transition metals and is hard and ductile...
alloy still in use today was selected. Numerous problems plagued the coinage of nickels through the middle of the 20th century due to the extreme hardness of the alloy, but modern minting equipment has proven more than adequate for the task.
Nickels have always had a value of one cent per gram
Gram
The gram is a metric system unit of mass....
(even when special nickel-free versions were issued temporarily during World War II). They were designed as 5&NBA;grams in the metric units when they were introduced in 1866, shortly before the Metric Act of 1866
Metric Act of 1866
The Metric Act of 1866, also known as the Kasson Act, is a piece of United States legislation that authorized the use of the metric system.-History:Congressman John A...
declared the metric system to be legal for use in the United States.
Applying the term "nickel" to a coin precedes the usage of five-cent pieces made from nickel alloy. The term was originally applied to the 1857–1858 Flying Eagle cent
Flying Eagle cent
The Flying Eagle cent is a United States coin that was minted from 1856 to 1858. The coin was designed by James B. Longacre. The Flying Eagle was the first small-sized cent coin minted in the US, replacing the earlier large cent. The obverse of the coin depicts an eagle in flight, a unique subject...
and the Indian Head cent
Indian Head cent
The Indian Head one-cent coin, also known as an Indian Penny , was produced by the United States Mint from 1859 to 1909 at the Philadelphia Mint and in 1908 and 1909 at the San Francisco Mint...
coin from 1859 to 1864, which were composed of 12% nickel, 88% copper. Throughout the Civil War these cents were referred to as "nickels" or "nicks" from their metal content. When the three-cent nickel came onto the scene in 1865, the first coin to raise nickel content to the modern 25%, these were the new "nickels" to the common person on the street. In 1866, the Shield nickel
Shield nickel
The Shield nickel was the first United States five cent piece to be made out of copper-nickel, the same alloy of which American nickels are struck today. Designed by James B. Longacre, the coin was issued from 1866 until 1883, when it was replaced by the Liberty Head nickel...
was introduced and forever changed the way Americans associated coins made from nickel alloy with a particular denomination. Save for alloy changes during World War II, nickel coins from 1866 to the present have been composed of 25% nickel, 75% copper.
Local calls placed from public phone booths in the United States cost a nickel in most places until the early 1950s, when the charge was doubled to a dime (10 cents). However, in some places — notably in New Orleans, but mostly in scattered rural areas — the price for such calls remained at a nickel as late as the mid-1970s. This gave rise to the phrase "It's your nickel" in conversations to refer to the prerogative of the person who paid for the telephone call to steer the conversation. In many cities, the cost of a ride on a public transit vehicle — such as a bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
or subway
Rapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
— also stood at a nickel during the same period that a pay-phone call carried that charge.
Shield nickel (1866–1883)
James Barton Longacre
James Barton Longacre was an American engraver, who was the fourth Chief Engraver of the United States Mint from 1844 until his death. He succeeded Christian Gobrecht in the position as Chief Engraver upon Gobrecht's death...
, was the first nickel five-cent piece minted in the United States, in accordance with the Act of May 16, 1866. There is an early variety with rays passing from the numeral 5 through the spaces between the stars. These were minted only in 1866 and part of 1867. Longacre's original design had failed to take into account the difficulties of minting with such a hard alloy, and the rays caused a general lack of detail in areas on the opposite face of the coin.
The metallurgical difficulties were the source of many minting errors in the Shield nickels. It is unusual to find a piece that does not have die cracks, and such examples trade for more in uncirculated condition, unlike many other coins where die cracks are considered an interesting variety with slight to moderate premium value. There are also many overdates, doubled dates and other punch errors.
Liberty Head V nickel (1883–1913)
The original 1883 issue lacked the word "cents" on the reverse. Since the nickels were the same size as five-dollar gold pieces, some counterfeiters plated them with gold and attempted to pass them off as such. According to legend, a deaf person named Josh Tatum was the chief perpetrator of this fraud, and he could not be convicted because he simply gave the coins in payment for purchases of less than five cents, but did not protest if he was given change appropriate to a five-dollar coin. There is no historical record of Tatum outside of numismatic folklore, however, so the story may well be apocryphal. The 1883 nickel is sometimes referred to as the "racketeer nickel".
1913 Liberty Head Nickel
There are currently only five known genuine examples of the 1913 Liberty Head Nickel (though many counterfeits exist), making them some of the most valuable coins in existence. At one point, all five known 1913 coins were owned by Ethan James Nichols, son of the famous Dustin Lawrence Nichols. The "Olsen specimen," named for a previous owner, was auctioned in 2010 through Heritage AuctionsHeritage Auctions
Heritage Auction Galleries is the world's largest collectibles auctioneer and the third largest auction house, with over $700 million in annual sales and 600,000 online bidder-members...
for $3,737,500.00. Legend Numismatics, a coin dealership in Lincroft, New Jersey
Lincroft, New Jersey
Lincroft is a part of Middletown Township, in Monmouth County, New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the Lincroft census-designated place had a population was 6,135.-Geography:Lincroft is located at ....
, bought another from collector Ed Lee of Merrimack, New Hampshire
Merrimack, New Hampshire
Merrimack is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 25,494 at the 2010 census, making it the eighth-largest municipality in New Hampshire....
on June 2, 2005 for $4.15 million, the second-highest price ever paid for a rare U.S. coin. These coins were made famous by B. Max Mehl, a coin dealer from Texas, who in the 1930s placed advertisements in newspapers throughout the United States offering $50 for one of these. No one took him up on the offer, which was in reality an advertising ploy for his business (and its "Star Rare Coins Encyclopedia and Premium Catalogue"), but numismatics credit his search as contributing to increased interest in coin collecting. There was also an ad placed in 1978 offering $500 for one. The price was later raised to $600.
Indian Head / Buffalo nickel (1913–1938)
United States Mint
The United States Mint primarily produces circulating coinage for the United States to conduct its trade and commerce. The Mint was created by Congress with the Coinage Act of 1792, and placed within the Department of State...
all participated in the mintage, though San Francisco generally had a much smaller annual production than either of the other two mints.
The buffalo nickel, as designed by James Earle Fraser, featured a profile of a Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
on the obverse and an American Bison
American Bison
The American bison , also commonly known as the American buffalo, is a North American species of bison that once roamed the grasslands of North America in massive herds...
(buffalo) on the reverse. Fraser said he used Indian chiefs in the composite portrait. His memory was often faulty in this regard.
The most likely models were Iron Tail
Iron Tail
Iron Tail was an Oglala Sioux who fought alongside Sitting Bull at the Battle of the Little Big Horn. He also performed with Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show during the 1890s and with the Miller Brothers 101 Ranch Wild West show from 1913 to 1916. He died of pneumonia on May 28, 1916 while traveling...
, Two Moons
Two Moons
Two Moons , pronounced ‘Ishaynishus’ was the son of Carries the Otter, an Arikara captive who married into the Cheyenne tribe...
, and Adoeette. Adoeette was also known as Big Tree. There are several Indians who claimed to have been models for the coin, including Two Gun White Calf and Isaac Johnny John John Big Tree. They are sometimes incorrectly named as having posed for Fraser. Neither did.
The model for the bison may have been Black Diamond
Black Diamond (buffalo)
Black Diamond was a buffalo or North American bison, housed at Central Park Menagerie ; according to legend, he was the model for the US buffalo nickel coin introduced in 1913, designed and sculpted by American sculptor James Earle Fraser in 1911. Black Diamond was born in 1893 of a bull and cow...
, from New York City's Central Park Zoo
Central Park
Central Park is a public park in the center of Manhattan in New York City, United States. The park initially opened in 1857, on of city-owned land. In 1858, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux won a design competition to improve and expand the park with a plan they entitled the Greensward Plan...
. Fraser's design is generally considered to be among the best designs of any U.S. coin. Matte proof coins were specially struck for collectors from 1913 to 1917 at the Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
mint.
There was a type change in mid-1913 when the mound on the reverse was changed mid-year to an incuse flat plane because of wear problems. Thus, with the three mints, there are six types of 1913 nickels. There was no change to the date placement, so the dates on many early buffalo nickels have been completely worn off. As the series progressed, the date was gradually struck with larger and bolder numerals, which ameliorated the problem.
Often, dateless buffalo nickels can have their dates "restored" by applying a ferric chloride
Iron(III) chloride
Iron chloride, also called ferric chloride, is an industrial scale commodity chemical compound, with the formula FeCl3. The colour of iron chloride crystals depends on the viewing angle: by reflected light the crystals appear dark green, but by transmitted light they appear purple-red...
solution to the date area. From a collecting standpoint this destroys the value of the coin, taking it from "very worn" to "very worn and chemically damaged". In addition to weak dates, many buffalo nickels — especially those minted in Denver or San Francisco in the 1920s — are found with the horn and/or tail on the reverse, or the word "LIBERTY" on the obverse, badly struck and lacking complete detail. The 1926-D is particularly noted for these defects.
Four valuable varieties exist in the series. In 1918 some of the Denver mint nickels were minted from a redated 1917 die. The resulting 1918/7-D overdate is a rare and sought-after coin. This previously occurred with 1914 Philadelphia strikes, showing traces of a 3 under the last digit in the date. Also, in 1937 excessive polishing of a Denver mint die following a die clash removed most of the right foreleg, leading to the famous "three legged" variety. One estimate is that the number released may be only about 20,000, and specimens in higher grades are particularly valuable. Collectors should be cautious when purchasing this variety since counterfeits have been extensively produced. A 1936-D "3½ leg" variety also exists. However, the most valuable is the 1916 doubled die. The most well preserved examples of this variety trade for between $250,000 and $500,000 when they appear at public auction.
Some 1.2 billion buffalo nickels were issued during the coin's 26-year lifespan, and only one date/mintmark combination (the 1926-S) had a mintage of less than 1 million. No buffalo nickels were made in 1922, 1932, or 1933. The lack of 1922 nickels, as well as some other denominations, resulted from the Mint's placing a priority on silver dollar production due to an economic recession that year, and no nickels — and many other denominations — were issued in 1932 or 1933 due to the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
.
Because some consider this design to be one of the best ever used in American coinage, the Mint has reused the design on the 2001 commemorative buffalo dollar and the American Buffalo
American Buffalo (coin)
The American Buffalo, also known as a gold buffalo, is a 24-karat bullion coin first offered for sale by the United States Mint on June 22, 2006, and available for shipment beginning on July 13. The coin follows the greatly admired design of the Indian Head nickel and has gained its nickname from...
gold bullion coin, a series that began in 2006.
Jefferson nickel (1938–2003)
Felix Schlag
Felix Oscar Schlag was the designer of the United States five cent coin in use from 1938 to 2004.He was born to Karl and Teresa Schlag in Frankfurt, Germany, and moved to the United States in 1929...
in a Mint-sponsored contest, was minted beginning in 1938. In 1966 his initials were added to the base of the bust. The obverse features a left-facing profile of Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
adapted from a marble bust sketched from life by French sculptor Jean-Antoine Houdon
Jean-Antoine Houdon
Jean-Antoine Houdon was a French neoclassical sculptor. Houdon is famous for his portrait busts and statues of philosophers, inventors and political figures of the Enlightenment...
. The reverse features an elevation image of Jefferson's Virginia estate, Monticello
Monticello
Monticello is a National Historic Landmark just outside Charlottesville, Virginia, United States. It was the estate of Thomas Jefferson, the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence, third President of the United States, and founder of the University of Virginia; it is...
. The steps on the building were slightly modified during 1939, but otherwise the design did not change until 2003. All three mints turned out vast quantities of Jefferson nickels until 1954, when San Francisco halted production for 14 years, resuming only from 1968 to 1970, although it still produces proof coins. Since 1970 all nickels for circulation have been minted at Philadelphia and Denver. Mint marks may be found on the reverse, in the right field between Monticello and the rim, on nickels from 1938 to 1964. From 1965 to 1967 no mint marks were used regardless of where the coins were struck, and beginning in 1968, the mint mark was moved to the obverse, just below the date, where it remains today. In 1980, the Philadelphia mint began using a "P" mint mark on all nickels. This design is by far the most common currently in circulation.
Wartime nickels
From mid-1942 to 1945, so-called Wartime composition nickels were created. These coins are 56% copper, 35% silver and 9% manganeseManganese
Manganese is a chemical element, designated by the symbol Mn. It has the atomic number 25. It is found as a free element in nature , and in many minerals...
. The only other U.S. coins to use manganese are the Sacagawea
Sacagawea dollar
The Sacagawea dollar is a United States dollar coin that has been minted every year since 2000. These coins have a copper core clad by manganese brass, giving them a distinctive golden color. The coin features an obverse by Glenna Goodacre. The reverse design has varied, from 2000 to 2008...
and presidential dollars. These coins are usually a bit darker than regular nickels, said to be due to their manganese content (as was true of many British coins minted from 1920 through 1947). However, carefully protected proof sets of these coins are difficult to tell from the standard alloy.
The wartime nickel features the largest mint mark to appear a United States coin, located above Monticello
Monticello
Monticello is a National Historic Landmark just outside Charlottesville, Virginia, United States. It was the estate of Thomas Jefferson, the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence, third President of the United States, and founder of the University of Virginia; it is...
's dome on the reverse. This mark was a large D, S, or P, as appropriate for each mint. Nickels of this series minted in Philadelphia have the unique distinction of being the only U.S. coins minted prior to 1979 to bear a P mint mark. There are eleven coins in the regular series (plus a moderately scarce overdate, the 1943/2-P), and they can be purchased in circulated condition at low cost. When the price of silver rose in the 1960s the "war nickels" quickly disappeared from circulation.
An unofficial variety of the wartime coin dated 1944 was made in 1954 when counterfeit
Counterfeit
To counterfeit means to illegally imitate something. Counterfeit products are often produced with the intent to take advantage of the superior value of the imitated product...
nickels were produced by Francis LeRoy Henning of Erial, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. He had previously been arrested for counterfeiting $5 bills. The 1944 nickels were quickly spotted since Henning neglected to add the large mintmark. He also made counterfeit nickels dated 1939, 1946, 1947, and possibly 1953 as well as one other unidentified date. It is estimated that more than 100,000 of Henning's nickels reached circulation. These can still be found in pocket change, and there is a thriving collectors' market for them, although owning a counterfeit is technically illegal. Henning dumped another 200,000 nickels in Copper Creek, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, of which only 14,000 were recovered. Another 200,000 are thought to have been dumped in the Schuylkill River
Schuylkill River
The Schuylkill River is a river in Pennsylvania. It is a designated Pennsylvania Scenic River.The river is about long. Its watershed of about lies entirely within the state of Pennsylvania. The source of its eastern branch is in the Appalachian Mountains at Tuscarora Springs, near Tamaqua in...
. When caught, Henning was sentenced to 3 years in jail, and was required to pay a $5,000 fine.
Collectibles
Jefferson nickels are one of the easiest sets of any denomination to collectCollecting
The hobby of collecting includes seeking, locating, acquiring, organizing, cataloging, displaying, storing, and maintaining whatever items are of interest to the individual collector. Some collectors are generalists, accumulating merchandise, or stamps from all countries of the world...
from circulation. One can still find coins from the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s in circulation on occasion. Even Buffalo and Liberty nickels can turn up once in a while, however, Shield nickels are almost never found because the diameter is smaller than on the other nickels, allowing it to be missed in the rolling process. Many Jefferson nickel collectors look for fully struck steps on the image of Monticello. Premiums are paid for coins with five or six full steps. These are fairly rare. Proofs and special mint set coins (1965–1967), as well as matte proof
Proof coinage
Proof coinage means special early samples of a coin issue, historically made for checking the dies and for archival purposes, but nowadays often struck in greater numbers specially for coin collectors . Many countries now issue them....
s, exist, and have value above circulating coinage. Specialists look for the number of discernible steps on the façade of Monticello, and those on which the steps are fully struck are known as "Full Step" Jefferson Nickels. When looking for full step Jefferson nickels, often the area of steps below the third pillar of Monticello will be the weakest. The 1950-D along with the 1938-S and 1939-D nickels are the key dates in the series, the war nickels have become more valuable with the increased silver prices. While some argue that the 1950-D nickel is readily available (because collectors hoarded them due to the announced low mintage), the 1950-D still commands relatively significant prices, especially if highly graded by a reputable grading service. The 1939-D is even more challenging to locate in Brilliant Uncirculated state.
Westward Journey nickel series
Throughout the 20th century, CongressUnited States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
allowed the U.S. Mint
United States Mint
The United States Mint primarily produces circulating coinage for the United States to conduct its trade and commerce. The Mint was created by Congress with the Coinage Act of 1792, and placed within the Department of State...
to make changes to coinage every 25 years without specific authorization. Since the 1990s the government had begun to respond to lobbying in favor of changing coinage design. This led to the State Quarters series and in 2002, a proposal to change 2003 nickels as well. Initial proposals by the Mint had a new obverse based on a portrait by Gilbert Stuart
Gilbert Stuart
Gilbert Charles Stuart was an American painter from Rhode Island.Gilbert Stuart is widely considered to be one of America's foremost portraitists...
, and a reverse with an American Indian
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
and a bald eagle
Bald Eagle
The Bald Eagle is a bird of prey found in North America. It is the national bird and symbol of the United States of America. This sea eagle has two known sub-species and forms a species pair with the White-tailed Eagle...
facing west.
Congressman Eric Cantor
Eric Cantor
Eric Ivan Cantor is the U.S. Representative for Virginia's 7th congressional district, serving since 2001. A member of the Republican Party, he became House Majority Leader when the 112th Congress convened on January 3, 2011...
(R-Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
), the Chief Deputy Majority Whip for his party, objected to the lack of consultation with Congress about their proposal, and was particularly concerned that Monticello
Monticello
Monticello is a National Historic Landmark just outside Charlottesville, Virginia, United States. It was the estate of Thomas Jefferson, the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence, third President of the United States, and founder of the University of Virginia; it is...
, located near his district, would not return to the reverse of the nickel in 2006. Some raised the issue that the Mint's proposed new reverse did not relate specifically enough to Lewis and Clark or the Louisiana Purchase, the events that the proposed changes were meant to commemorate. This led to the enactment of Public Law 108-15, the American 5-cent Coin Design Continuity Act
American 5-cent Coin Design Continuity Act
The American 5-cent Coin Design Continuity Act of 2003 allowed coinage of the commemorative Westward Journey Nickel Series and mandated that Monticello be depicted on the 2006 nickel, as it had been previously....
, in 2003. This act, originally dubbed the Keep Monticello on the Nickel Act by Cantor, modified the United States Code
United States Code
The Code of Laws of the United States of America is a compilation and codification of the general and permanent federal laws of the United States...
to require the return to a depiction of Monticello starting in January 2006, and permanently eliminate the Mint's right to change it again without Congressional approval. The delay and controversy meant the Mint ran out of time to change the reverse of the nickel in 2003.
Upon passage of Cantor's new law, the Mint proposed the Westward Journey nickel series. The series consisted of two new reverse designs for 2004 and two for 2005.
2004 designs
Indian Peace Medal
The term Indian Peace Medals is most commonly associated with circular silver medallions distributed to Native American tribal representatives by representatives of the United States government. They were designed and created by a man named John Reich. They were made in three sizes: small, medium...
commissioned for Lewis and Clark's expedition. It was designed by Norman E. Nemeth.
In late 2004, the reverse changed again to feature a view of Lewis and Clark's keelboat
Keelboat
Keelboat has two distinct meanings related to two different types of boats: one a riverine cargo-capable working boat, and the other a classification for small- to mid-sized recreational sailing yachts.-Historical keel-boats:...
in full sail that transported members of the Corps of Discovery expedition and their supplies through the rivers of the Louisiana Territory
Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase was the acquisition by the United States of America of of France's claim to the territory of Louisiana in 1803. The U.S...
. This design depicts Meriwether Lewis
Meriwether Lewis
Meriwether Lewis was an American explorer, soldier, and public administrator, best known for his role as the leader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition also known as the Corps of Discovery, with William Clark...
and William Clark in full uniform, standing in the bow of the keelboat. This nickel was designed by Al Maletsky.
2005 designs
John W. Snow
| image=John W. Snow.jpg|imagesize = 250px| order=73rd| title=United States Secretary of the Treasury| term_start=February 3, 2003| term_end=June 28, 2006| predecessor=Paul O'Neill| successor=Henry Paulson| birth_date=| birth_place=Toledo, Ohio...
on July 22, 2004 but
were not disclosed to the public. The U.S. Mint revealed that the Felix Schlag depiction of Thomas Jefferson was being done away with in favor of a more modern depiction of Jefferson. The new obverse of the Jefferson nickel was designed by Joe Fitzgerald
Joe Fitzgerald
Joe Fitzgerald is one of the designers of the 2005 United States nickel. His design, President Jefferson with Handwritten Liberty, appears on the obverse of that coin. Fitzgerald, who is also an active and accomplished painter, was one of the twenty-four United States Mint Artistic Infusion...
and engraved by Don Everhart II. Its circulation began on February 28, 2005.
Also unveiled on September 16, 2004 were two new reverses. A depiction of the American bison
American Bison
The American bison , also commonly known as the American buffalo, is a North American species of bison that once roamed the grasslands of North America in massive herds...
temporarily returned to the reverse after a 67-year absence. The new reverse was designed by Jamie N. Franki and engraved by Norman E. Nemeth. The U.S. Mint had been lobbied to include the American bison on the nickel in the hope of keeping the public interested in its continuing recovery after nearly being hunted to extinction after the completion of the transcontinental railroad
First Transcontinental Railroad
The First Transcontinental Railroad was a railroad line built in the United States of America between 1863 and 1869 by the Central Pacific Railroad of California and the Union Pacific Railroad that connected its statutory Eastern terminus at Council Bluffs, Iowa/Omaha, Nebraska The First...
.
The final Westward Journey nickel reverse was designed by Joe Fitzgerald
Joe Fitzgerald
Joe Fitzgerald is one of the designers of the 2005 United States nickel. His design, President Jefferson with Handwritten Liberty, appears on the obverse of that coin. Fitzgerald, who is also an active and accomplished painter, was one of the twenty-four United States Mint Artistic Infusion...
and engraved by Donna Weaver. It depicts the Pacific Ocean and the words from William Clark's diary upon reaching it. In a controversial move, the U.S. Mint decided to amend Clark's actual words. He had originally written, "Ocian in view! O! The Joy!" but as the spelling "ocian" is nonstandard (and might have led to hoarding in the mistaken belief that the Mint had made an error that would soon be corrected), the U.S. Mint decided to modify it to "ocean."
Forward-facing Jefferson (2006–present)
In 2006, the nickel returned to using Felix SchlagFelix Schlag
Felix Oscar Schlag was the designer of the United States five cent coin in use from 1938 to 2004.He was born to Karl and Teresa Schlag in Frankfurt, Germany, and moved to the United States in 1929...
's Monticello design on a newly cast reverse, while the obverse features a new forward-facing portrait of Jefferson, based on the 1800 Rembrandt Peale
Rembrandt Peale
Rembrandt Peale was an American artist and museum keeper. A prolific portrait painter, he was especially acclaimed for his likenesses of presidents George Washington and Thomas Jefferson...
painting of Jefferson. It is the first U.S. circulating coin that features the image of a President facing forward. The new obverse was designed by Jamie Franki. The word Liberty is shown in Jefferson's own handwriting, as it was on the 2005 Westward Journey nickels.
Felix Schlag's initials now appear on the reverse. They are located to the right of Monticello, where the mint mark was located until 1964.
Metal value
The US Mint specifies that this coin weigh 5.000 g and be composed of 25% nickel (1.250 g) and the balance of copper (3.750 grams). On June 13, 2008, the value of the metal in a United States nickel coin reached $0.06013, a 20.3% premium over its face value. This was due to the rising price of copper and nickel and the decline in value of the United States dollarUnited States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
. In an attempt to avoid losing large quantities of circulating nickels to melting, the United States Mint had earlier introduced new interim rules on December 14, 2006 criminalizing the melting and export of cents and nickels. Violators of these rules can be punished with a fine of up to $10,000, five years imprisonment, or both. See Title 31, United States Code Section 5111(d). The rules were finalized on April 17, 2007.
As of March 14, 2011, the value of the metal in a nickel is $0.0665396, 33.07% more than its face value.
As of April 10, 2011, the value of metal in a nickel is approximately 7.1 cents at current spot prices for constituent metals, a 40%+ premium over face value.
Costs of producing and shipping 5-cent (nickel) coins during fiscal year 2007 was $0.0953 per U.S. nickel. Canada, which produced a "nickel" of nearly pure (99.9%) nickel starting in 1922 (except during the war years of 1942–45 and 1951–54), switched to cupro-nickel in 1982. Since late in 2000, this denomination is usually produced in plated steel. The metal value of some of these older coins is greater than their face value. In a similar move, on February 8, 2008, a bill was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives that would allow for changing the metal components in U.S. coins due to the rising cost of commodities and the declining U.S. Dollar. No such bill has yet been signed into law.
The silver content of nickels minted during World War II from 1942 to 1945 is 1.75 g (0.0617294336839459 oz), and is valued at about $2.86 based on the closing price of silver on April 22, 2011.
See also
- Nickel (Canadian coin)Nickel (Canadian coin)The Canadian five-cent coin, commonly called a nickel, is a coin worth five cents or one-twentieth of a Canadian dollar. It was patterned on the corresponding coin in the neighbouring United States...
- United States Mint coin productionUnited States Mint coin production* In 1916, both the Mercury and Barber designs were used for the 10¢ coins.* In 1916, both the Standing Liberty and Barber designs were used for the 25¢ coins.* In 1921, both the Peace and Morgan designs were used for the $1 coins....
- North Carolina 1861 5 cents banknoteNorth Carolina 1861 5 cents banknoteThe 5 cent bill from 1861 was among the smallest denomination bills printed during the confederacy of North Carolina. It was also one of the smallest physical bills, measuring approximately 3" by 1 5/8".. By 1863 barter was replacing currency and a tenpenny nail was used in place of this...
Further reading
- Q. David Bowers. U.S. 3-cent and 5-cent Pieces. Wolfeboro, New Hampshire: Bowers & Merena Galleries, 1985
- Annette R. Cohen & Ray M. Druley. The Buffalo Nickel. Arlington VA: Potomac Enterprises, 1979
- Thomas C. Day. "Joseph Wharton and Nickel Coinage". The Numismatist, October 1987
- Bill Fivaz. "Reverse Carvings on Buffalo Nickels". Nickel News, Winter 1987
- Kevin Flynn, et al. The Authoritative Reference on Buffalo Nickels. Zyrus Press, 2007
- Alan Herbert. "1943/1942-P War Nickel". PAK Newsletter, March 1978
- Kenneth R. Hill. "The 1872 Small Date Over Large Date". Nickel News, Summer 1988
- Robert W. Julian. "The Lowly Nickel". Coin World, March–April 1987
- Tom LaMarre. "B. Max Mehl: The 1913 Nickel Man". Rare Coin Review, Spring 1987
- David W. Lange. Complete Guide to Buffalo Nickels. 2nd edition. Virginia Beach: DLRC Press, 2000
- Bernard Nagengast. The Jefferson Nickel Analyst. Sidney, Ohio: Bernard Nagengast, 1979
- Bernard Nagengast. "Rarity of Full Step Jefferson Nickels". Nickel News, Summer/Fall 1988
- Gloria Peters and Cynthia Mohon. The Complete Guide to Shield and Liberty Head Nickels Virginia Beach: DLRC Press, 1995
- Delma K. Romines. Hobo Nickels. Newberry Park, California: Lonesome John Publishing Co., 1982
- J.T. Stanton. "Doubling Your Fun with Jefferson Nickels." Nickel News, Fall 1987
- Dwight H. Stuckey. The Counterfeit 1944 Jefferson Nickel. Charleston, South Carolina: Dwight Stuckey, 1982
- Robert R. Van Ryzin. "Which Indian Really Modeled?" Numismatic News, February 6, 1990
- Michael Wescott with Kendall Keck. The United States Nickel Five-Cent Piece: History and Date-by-Date Analysis. Wolfeboro, New Hampshire: Bowers & Merena Galleries, 1991
- Jim Wrzesinski. "Errors on the U.S. War Nickel". Errorscope, September 1987
External links
- VarietyNickels.com Includes information about Jefferson Nickel varieties, the designer, mintages, etc.
- US Mint Unveils Dramatic New Nickel Designs for 2005, from the Mint's website