United States | |
| Value | 5 cents (0.05US dollars) |
|---|---|
| Mass | 5.000 g (0.1615 troy oz) |
| Diameter | 20.50 mm (0.8077 in) |
| Edge | Plain |
| Composition | Various |
| Years of minting | 1866, 1909–1910 |
| Obverse | |
 | |
| Design | George Washington |
| Designer | James B. Longacre |
| Design date | 1866 |
| Reverse | |
 | |
| Design | Denomination surrounded by wreath (shown), stars, or stars with rays |
| Designer | James B. Longacre |
| Design date | 1866 |
| Design discontinued | 1866 |
TheWashington nickel is apattern coin that was struck by theUnited States Mint in 1866 and again in 1909 and 1910.[1][2]
The Washington nickel was one of several proposed designs for thefive-cent nickel coin, which was to replace thehalf dime as the five-cent coin of theUnited States. The obverse of the coin features a portrait ofGeorge Washington facing right.[3] This design was not chosen for production, and theShield nickel was produced instead, although some patterns of the Washington nickel utilized some of the reverse designs that were eventually adopted for the Shield nickel.
The 1866 Washington nickel is relatively common for a pattern coin, and is popular withcoin collectors.[4]
In 1909 the US Mint once again struck nickel patterns with Washington's portrait. The coin was produced in two major varieties, one with Washington facing right and one facing left.[5] Only seven pieces are known to exist, all of which are in theNational Numismatic Collection at theSmithsonian Institution.
Two coins with Washington facing left were struck in 1910. These, like the 1909 pieces, are at the Smithsonian.[6]
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