United States of America 1881 Philadelphia Patterns & Trial Coins 5¢

Coin / United States of America / 1881 / Philadelphia / Patterns & Trial Coins / 5¢ (Five Cents, Nickel, Half Dime)

This coin is an intriguing piece from the Patterns & Trial Coins series, minted in 1881 by the Philadelphia Mint. It is a 5-cent denomination piece, often referred to as a nickel. This particular coin is notable as it is marked as a Proof, which indicates a special method of production intended for presentation or sale to collectors, resulting in a high quality finish. The coin bears no mint mark, suggesting it was produced without any additional identification typical of some other mints during the period. Its designer is listed as "N/A," which could be due to its status as a pattern coin, whereby designs and features may not correspond directly to those of standard production coins. Despite being a 5¢ coin, mentioned properties such as width, height, diameter, and weight are all recorded as zero, which might suggest that either the physical dimensions of the coin are not available or that the data was lost or not documented properly. Additionally, the reported mintage is zero, indicating that this coin either was not produced for circulation or is extremely rare, potentially making it highly collectible among numismatists. As a trial or pattern coin of the United States, its significance goes beyond just its monetary value of 5 cents. Instead, it offers a glimpse into the historical development of American coinage, specifically from the late 19th century. Collectors interested in numismatic history or unique minting processes may find this coin particularly appealing due to its rarity and historical context.