Owner Comments:
1866 5C Washington
Judd-470, Pollock-562
Rarity: R.6 PF64
Struck in nickel with a plain edge.
Obverse; A bust of George Washington faces right on the obverse, the legend IN GOD WE TRUST above and the date below.
Reverse: A wreath of laurel on the reverse encloses a large (but short) broad numeral 5 with the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA around.
Comment: 76.8 Grains: .812 Inches: 180 Deg Die alignment
Heritage noted that collecting Washingtonia was extremely popular in the 1850s and 1860s. Mint Director James Ross Snowden was particularly anxious to obtain needed specimens for the Mint Cabinet. The large number of Washington five cent patterns created in 1866 may have originated with this trend in mind. USPatterns.com estimates a population of fewer than 12 survivors.
Provenance/Appearances:
Private sale ATG Feb 2014; From From Bowers and Merena 11/14/96, Rogers M. Fred, Jr collection as PR63 /Lot 2217 ($770) . prior Stack's, June 1987, /Lot 841