1883 Pattern Liberty Head Nickel. Judd-1717, Pollock-1922. Rarity-6+. Nickel. Plain Edge. Proof-66 Cameo (PCGS). CAC. <strong>Obv:</strong> The same design that the Mint used to strike regular issue 1883 Liberty Head nickels. <strong>Rev:</strong> The denomination expressed as a Roman numeral V is in the center surrounded by a wreath of corn, wheat and cotton. The legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is above, and the Latin motto E PLURIBUS UNUM is below. This design is similar to that used to strike regular issue 1883 Liberty Head nickels of the No CENTS design type, but on this pattern a scroll with the word CENTS has been added to the center atop the Roman numeral V. Minimally toned in pale silver and iridescent gold, this fully struck beauty displays a bold cameo finish. Although the Mint produced several pattern Liberty Head nickels in 1882 and 1883, this is by far the most popular with collectors. Judd-1717 (and its counterparts Judd-1718 and 1719 in copper and aluminum, respectively) is thought to have been produced to correct for the omission of the word CENTS on the original regular issue Liberty Head nickel design. The Mint had received reports that unscrupulous individuals were reeding the edges of and adding gold plating to No CENTS examples, then passing them off as gold five-dollar half eagles. This is the first example of Judd-1717 in nickel that we have offered in quite some time, and it is certainly among the finest of the 12 or so examples believed extant (per <em>uspatterns.com</em>).
