The Washington nickel is a

pattern coin A pattern coin is a coin which has not been approved for release, but produced to evaluate a proposed coin design. They are often off-metal strike (using metals of lower value to test out the dies), to proof standard or piedforts. Many coin col ...

that was struck by the

United States Mint The United States Mint is a bureau of the Department of the Treasury responsible for producing coinage for the United States to conduct its trade and commerce, as well as controlling the movement of bullion. It does not produce paper money; tha ...

in 1866 and again in 1909 and 1910.

1866 pieces

The Washington nickel was one of several proposed designs for the five-cent nickel coin, which was to replace the

half dime The half dime, or half disme, was a silver coin, valued at five cents, formerly minted in the United States. Some numismatists consider the denomination to be the first business strike coin minted by the United States Mint under the Coinage Ac ...

as the five-cent coin of the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

. The obverse of the coin features a portrait of

George Washington George Washington (February 22, 1732, 1799) was an American military officer, statesman, and Founding Father who served as the first president of the United States from 1789 to 1797. Appointed by the Continental Congress as commander of ...

facing right. This design was not chosen for production, and the

Shield nickel The Shield nickel was the first United States five-cent piece to be made out of copper-nickel, the same alloy of which American nickels are struck today. Designed by James B. Longacre, the coin was issued from 1866 until 1883, when it was repl ...

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 with

coin collectors Coin collecting is the collecting of coins or other forms of minted legal tender. Coins of interest to collectors often include those that were in circulation for only a brief time, coins with mint errors, and especially beautiful or historic ...

1909–10 pieces

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. Only seven pieces are known to exist, all of which are in the

National Numismatic Collection The National Numismatic Collection is the national coin cabinet of the United States. The collection is part of the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History. Overview The National Numismatic Collection comprises approxima ...

at the

Smithsonian Institution The Smithsonian Institution ( ), or simply the Smithsonian, is a group of museums and education and research centers, the largest such complex in the world, created by the U.S. government "for the increase and diffusion of knowledge". Founded ...

. Two coins with Washington facing left were struck in 1910. These, like the 1909 pieces, are at the Smithsonian.

Obverse designs

File:1866 5C Five Cents, Judd-461, Pollock-535, R.5.jpg, 1866 obverse, Washington surrounded by "United States of America" File:1866 5C Five Cents, Judd-470, Pollock-562, Low R.6.jpg, 1866 obverse, Washington with motto "In God We Trust" File:1866 5C Five Cents, Judd-481, Pollock-571, Low R.7.jpg, 1866 obverse, Washington with motto "God and Our Country" File:1909 Pattern Washington Nickel, obverse.png, 1909 obverse, large date with Washington facing right and "Liberty" surrounded by 7 stars to the left and 6 stars to the right File:1909 obverse, Washington facing right with small date.png, 1909 obverse, small date with Washington facing right and "Liberty" surrounded by 7 stars to the left and 6 stars to the right File:1909 Pattern Washington Nickel, obverse, Liberty following 13 stars.png, 1909 obverse, with Washington facing right and "Liberty" following 13 stars File:1909 Pattern Washington Nickel, obverse, Liberty with two stars between each word.png, 1909 obverse, with Washington facing right and two stars between each letter in "Liberty" File:1909 Pattern Washington Nickel, obverse, Washington facing left with small date.png, 1909 obverse, with Washington facing left and small "9"s in the date File:1909 Pattern Washington Nickel, obverse, Washington facing left with large date.png, 1909 obverse, with a slightly enlarged portrait Washington facing left and large "9"s in the date File:1910 Pattern Washington Nickel, obverse.png, 1910 obverse, Washington facing left

Reverse designs

File:1866 5C Five Cents, Judd-461, Pollock-535, R.5 rev.jpg, 1866 reverse, "5 Cents" surrounded by wreath File:1866 5C Five Cents, Judd-470, Pollock-562, Low R.6 rev.jpg, 1866 reverse, "Short 5" surrounded by wreath File:1866 5C Five Cents, Judd-481, Pollock-571, Low R.7 rev.jpg, 1866 reverse, "Large 5" surrounded by wreath File:1866 5C Five Cents, Judd-465, Pollock-559, R.8 rev.jpg, 1866 reverse, "Dutch 5" surrounded by wreath File:1866 5C Five Cents, Judd-473, Pollock-564, Low R.6 rev.jpg, 1866 reverse,

reverse with rays File:1866 5C Five Cents, Judd-519, Pollock-546, R.8 rev.jpg, 1866 reverse,

reverse without rays File:1909 Pattern Washington Nickel, reverse.png, 1909 reverse, CENTS under small 5 File:1910 Pattern Washington Nickel, reverse.png, 1909–1910 reverse, CENTS running across a large 5

References

{{Coin-stub 1866 introductions Five-cent coins of the United States George Washington on United States currency Sculptures of presidents of the United States