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HBCC #6061 – 1866 Five Cents – Obverse HBCC #6061 – 1866 Five Cents – Reverse
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1866 Five Cents

HBCC#:
6061
Breen#:
n/a
BD#:
n/a
Judd#:
461
Pollock#:
535

As the Mint prepared to begin a nickel-based coinage of five cent pieces, it experimented with a number of different designs during 1865 and 1866. Most patterns have either this Washington head obverse or an obverse with the shield design finally adapted. Reverse designs include various wreath concepts, or the adapted circle of stars, with or without rays. The various possible combinations with minor obverse or reverse modifications led to a multitude of varieties. Andrew W. Pollock illustrated 27 different combinations with various compositions.

Provenance:
Purchased from Sidney W. Smith, September 23, 1971.
Obverse:
Bust of George Washington to right, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA around, date below.
Reverse:
Laurel wreath at center, tied at bottom, IN GOD WE TRUST above wreath, 5 CENTS in two lines within wreath.
Commentary: