1882 Proof Nickel Pattern - J-1689
Strike Type
Coin Details
Auction Record
$16,100 PR65 01-05-2011 Heritage Auctions
Description
Fifteenth variety in the 1882 nickel pattern series, moving into the advanced stages of the Liberty Head design competition. This pattern may incorporate one of the configurations that Barber submitted to Mint Superintendent Snowden for review before forwarding to Washington for Treasury Secretary approval. Snowden served as an important intermediary in the design process, providing feedback on Barber's proposals and advocating for designs he believed would satisfy Treasury Secretary Folger's known preferences. The interplay between Barber's artistic judgment, Snowden's administrative guidance, and Folger's legal concerns produced a more complex design development process than typical Mint pattern programs, and the twenty-three 1882 nickel patterns reflect this multi-stakeholder dynamic. Struck in copper-nickel with a plain edge, this variety documents another step in the negotiation between art and law that defined the Liberty Nickel's creation.
Rarity Notes
R-6 to R-7 (Very Rare to Extremely Rare). Estimated 8-12 specimens surviving.
Cross References
Judd J-1689, Pollock P-1891
External References
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