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5 Cents '1866 Nickel Without Rays' Pattern, brass
| Issuer | United States Mint |
|---|---|
| Year | 1866 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 5 Cents (0.05 USD) |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Diameter | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
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| Reverse description | A large numeral 5 dominates the central field, flanked on both sides by a ring of thirteen six-pointed stars representing the original states. The legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA arcs along the upper periphery, with the denomination CENTS inscribed along the lower rim. The overall design follows the standard Without Rays shield nickel reverse layout adapted for this pattern issue. |
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| Additional information |
The 1866 nickel five-cent piece represents one of the most consequential retooling moments in American coinage. Congress authorized the five-cent nickel that year specifically to displace the fractional paper currency that had flooded circulation during the Civil War. The Mint experimented aggressively with compositions before settling on the 75% copper, 25% nickel standard — brass being among the candidates tested and rejected. Judd-519 survives as physical evidence of that elimination process.
The "Without Rays" reverse was itself a mid-year production change in 1866, adopted because the rays caused excessive die wear.