1879 5C
1880 5C

1879/8 5C JD-1 (Proof)

Series: Shield Five Cents 1866-1883

PCGS PR65

PCGS PR65

PCGS PR64

PCGS PR64

PCGS #:
102795
Designer:
James Barton Longacre
Edge:
Plain
Diameter:
20.50 millimeters
Weight:
5.00 grams
Mintage:
3,200
Mint:
Philadelphia
Metal:
75% Copper, 25% Nickel
Auction Record:
$2,928 • PR67 • 03-28-2026 • Heritage Auctions

Condition Census What Is This?

Pos Grade Image Pedigree and History
1 PCGS PR69

Bowers & Merena, January 2000, Lot 58 - $23,000; "The Just Having Fun Collection," Stack's Bowers, October 2014, Lot 36 - Passed; Heritage Auctions, January 14, 2019, Lot 4375 - $84,000. JD-1. Old Green Holder (OGH). Features crescent rainbow toning on both the obverse and reverse. A dark toning spot touches the left side of the stem of the second "T" in STATES.
2 PCGS PR65

Wispy golden toning. Horizontal mark to the left of the 5. Two small ticks under the star positioned below ES.
#1 PCGS PR69

Bowers & Merena, January 2000, Lot 58 - $23,000; "The Just Having Fun Collection," Stack's Bowers, October 2014, Lot 36 - Passed; Heritage Auctions, January 14, 2019, Lot 4375 - $84,000. JD-1. Old Green Holder (OGH). Features crescent rainbow toning on both the obverse and reverse. A dark toning spot touches the left side of the stem of the second "T" in STATES.
#2 PCGS PR65

Wispy golden toning. Horizontal mark to the left of the 5. Two small ticks under the star positioned below ES.
Charles Morgan:

The 1879/8 Shield Nickel Proof

The 1879/8 Shield Nickel Proof (Base #3834) is a popular Guide Book overdate that actually encompasses two of the four 1879 Shield Nickel Proof die marriages, as identified by John W. Dannreuther in United States Proof Coins, Volume II: Nickel (2023). Of the two marriages, JD-1 (Obverse 1 with Reverse A) represents the overwhelming majority of all 1879 Proofs struck. The second overdate marriage, JD-4 (Obverse 1 with Reverse D), is rare, representing an estimated 5% of the total mintage.

While some have argued that the overdate is actually a repunched 9 or a result of a clogged die, the characteristics of an 8 punch are clearly visible under magnification.

Overdate Diagnostics: JD-1 (#102795)

Obverse:

  • The 1: The left edge of the bottom serif of the 1 is positioned just to the right of the center of a denticle.
  • Alignment: A vertical line extended upward from the left edge of this bottom serif aligns with the inside of the right diagonal stroke of the W in WE.
  • The Ball: The top-left serif of the 1 nearly touches the ball of the shield.
  • Rim: A denticle ridge is visible extending from the 6 o'clock toward the 7 o'clock position.

Reverse:

  • Doubling: "Longacre Doubling" is present on several stars, specifically the star above the T in CENTS and the stars below AMERICA.
  • The T: The letter T in CENTS features a thin, irregular top bar.

PCGS will attribute these varieties through our Variety Program.

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