By 1882, the Shield nickel had been retired and the Liberty Head design was being finalized for the following year's introduction. These Judd-1690 through 1692 patterns represent trial strikings produced as the Mint evaluated the final design before committing to production, with the three Judd numbers reflecting different metal compositions or die combinations struck from the same basic design concept. The "without cents" designation distinguishes this from earlier five-cent pieces that carried the word CENTS on the reverse — a feature dropped after complaints that the coin was being gold-plated and passed as a five-dollar gold piece.
By 1882, the Shield nickel had been retired and the Liberty Head design was being finalized for the following year's introduction. These Judd-1690 through 1692 patterns represent trial strikings produced as the Mint evaluated the final design before committing to production, with the three Judd numbers reflecting different metal compositions or die combinations struck from the same basic design concept. The "without cents" designation distinguishes this from earlier five-cent pieces that carried the word CENTS on the reverse — a feature dropped after complaints that the coin was being gold-plated and passed as a five-dollar gold piece.