Designed by: Charles E. Barber
Issue Date: 1883
Composition: 75% copper, 25% nickel
Diameter: 21.2 mm
Weight: 5.00 grams (77.16 grains)
Edge: Plain
Business Strike Mintage: 5,474,000
Proof Mintage: 5,219

In 1883 a new design appeared, the Liberty Head motif by Charles E. Barber. The obverse depicts the head of Miss Liberty, perhaps modeled after the goddess Diana, wearing a coronet inscribed LIBERTY and surrounded by 13 stars, with the date below. The reverse shows an agricultural wreath, open at the top, enclosing the Roman letter V as the only mark of value. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM surround. The word CENTS does not appear on the coin.

Unscrupulous persons gold-plated the pieces and passed them off as $5 gold coins to unsuspecting merchants and citizens. The mint realized that a design error had been created, and soon the word CENTS was added to the reverse. In the meantime, the variety captured the fancy of the public, and rumors quickly spread that the mint was calling them in (not true) and that the value would soon rise sharply. As a result, vast quantities were hoarded. Collectors joined the game, and many Proofs were ordered, resulting in a nearly record mintage of 5,219 Proof examples.

In grades from Good through Uncirculated, particularly in higher grades from Extremely Fine through AU, examples are easily available. Superb Uncirculated coins are also available, but some searching may be required to locate a nice one. Proofs are often seen, as the generous mintage would indicate.