1883 Liberty Head Nickel. No CENTS. MS-67 (PCGS). This gorgeous coin is target toned in iridescent champagne-gold, powder blue and pale pink. Frosty surfaces are fully struck overall with no design elements less than sharp.In 1881, plans to change the design of the lowest base metal coins were undertaken. For the nickel five-cent piece, the design was rendered in low relief, the diameter of the nickel was widened from 20.5 mm to 21.2 mm, and the weight was increased to 5 grams. In 1883, the new coin was ready and featured a large Roman numeral V on the reverse but without the word CENTS. Once the new coin was introduced, the missing word was immediately seized upon by less than honorable individuals who cut reeds on the edge and gold plated the coin, with the goal of passing them off as half eagles. The Mint redesigned the reverse to include the word CENTS, but only after 5,474,300 of the No CENTS type had been coined. While there was no concerted effort to recall the original coins, many in the public thought the opposite and assumed that they would become quite rare. Many thousands were saved, with a good number in high grade. This issue is quite available in Choice Mint State and even in MS-65 and MS-66, at the Superb Gem level examples are prohibitively rare with none found above MS-67+.
