Vic's Picks
5c LIBERTY HEAD, NO CENTS 1883


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Coin Details

  

Set Details
Origin/Country:
Design Description:
Item Description:
Grade: NGC PF 65 CA
Owner: EZ_E
 
Winning Set: Vic's Picks
Date Added: 2/17/2008
Research: Currently not available

Owner's Description

A 2-17-08 $800 purchase from Dwaine on the Moneymarket place. He says that he had cracked it out of an NGC 66 holder for his Dansco.<br /><br />*********************************************************<br />1883 LIBERTY HEAD FIVE CENTS - NO "CENTS"<br />*********************************************************<br /><br />Mintage:<br />Circulation strikes: 5,474,300<br />Proofs: 5,219<br /><br />Designer: Charles E. Barber<br /><br />Diameter: 21.2 millimeters<br /><br />Metal content:<br />Copper - 75%<br />Nickel - 25%<br /><br />Weight: 5 grams<br /><br />Edge: Plain<br /><br />Mintmark: None (for Philadelphia)<br />---------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br />Notes:<br />When the new Liberty Head Nickel was introduced in 1883, no one at the Mint noticed (or cared) that the word "CENTS" was missing from the reverse. The omission was noticed by certain enterprising individuals who, quick to seize an opportunity to make a quick buck, gold-plated the coins and passed them off as Five Dollar gold pieces. These became known as "Racketeer" Nickels. True "Racketeer" Nickels should be in very high grade and the edge should be reeded (this was done by hand to mimic the edge reeds on a gold piece). Modern versions are usually low grade and their edges are smooth; they have been produced by the tens of thousands and are, in effect, rip-offs of a rip-off!<br /><br />Later in 1883, the Mint corrected the reverse by moving "E PLURIBUS UNUM" to top center and replacing it with a bold "CENTS".<br /><br />The finest Uncirculated examples graded by PCGS are 10 MS-67's.<br /><br />The finest Proof examples graded by PCGS are 7 PR-67's.<br /><br />The finest Proof Cameo examples graded by PCGS are 5 PRCA-67's.<br /><br />The finest Proof Deep Cameo examples graded by PCGS are 2 PRDC-66's.

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