FS5c-013.3 S1-5004
On this page we will examine
the FS5c-013.3 shield nickel. This
variety is a relatively recent discovery. Since it is fairly similar to FS5c-013,
it is possible that coins previously identified as FS5c-013 are really FS5c-013.3.
Here is a photo of the
date area of a nice example of FS5c-013.3.
Mouse over the image to highlight the overdate
The variety is particularly difficult to capture in a photograph, because the relief of the overdate is lower than the other varieties. If you look hard, you can see nearly the entire underlying 2 in the photo above. The left base of the 2 is slightly left of the middle of the space between the second 8 and the 3.
Because of the similarities between FS5c-013.3 and FS5c-013, the two varieties will be compared on this page to assist the reader in properly attributing them.
Here are pictures of an FS5c-013.3 on the left and an FS5c-013 on the right.
Key points to look at when comparing FS5c-013.3 to FS5c-013:
Die stages for FS5c-013.3 show some minor increases in light cracks on the obverse. However the reverse has a very good die stage marker - a crack progressing to a retained cud over AMER of AMERICA. Die stages for FS5c-013.3 are not covered in any reference books.
Die stages for the reverse are as follows:
| Early | No die break to a light die crack. (example: see first photo below) |
| Middle | Die crack progressed to a die break. (example: see second photo below) |
| Late | Die break progressed to a retained cud. (example photo coming soon) |
Early Die Stage Reverse
Middle Die Stage Reverse
When the reverse die break is present it is a good diagnostic for FS5c-013.3, but early die stages without the strong die break exist.
For reference, here are pictures of the full obverse and reverse of FS5c-013.3.
The full reverse picture shows a middle die stage coin.
All text and images for the 1883/2 Shield Nickel website are copyright (C) 2002, 2003, 2004,2005 by Howard Spindel