Numismatic

1883 Liberty Head V Nickel No Cents AU-58 PCGS

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The year 1883 marked the debut of a newly designed five-cent coin in the United States, a piece that would quickly become one of the most talked-about issues in American numismatic history. Created by Charles Barber, this initial version of the Liberty Head nickel featured a classic portrait of Liberty on the obverse, adorned with a coronet. The reverse displayed a prominent Roman numeral 'V' surrounded by a wreath, with the country name and the motto 'E Pluribus Unum' framing the design. However, one crucial element was missing: the word 'Cents'. This design omission created an unexpected opportunity for deceptive individuals. Because the new nickel was similar in size to the five-dollar gold coin, some people gold-plated the nickels and passed them off to unsuspecting merchants as the much higher-value gold piece. This clever fraud is widely believed to have inspired the popular American slang phrase, 'Are you Joshing me?' because of a specific individual named Josh who reportedly excelled at this trick. Due to the immediate confusion and fraud, the design was quickly modified, making this specific 'No Cents' variety a fascinating one-year type. This particular specimen is certified in About Uncirculated 58 (AU-58) condition, preserving the fine details of Barber's original, short-lived design before the government rushed to add the word 'Cents' to the reverse later in 1883.