Washington nickel

• Country — United States • Denomination — Washington nickel • Value — 5 cents (0.05 • Unit — US dollars) • Mass Troy Oz — 0.1615 • Mass — 5.000 • Diameter Inch — 0.8077 • Diameter — 20.50 • Edge — Plain • Composition — Various • Years Of Minting — 1866, 1909–1910 • Obverse Design — George Washington • Obverse Designer — James B. Longacre • Obverse Design Date — 1866 • Reverse Design — Denomination surrounded by wreath (shown), stars, or stars with rays • Reverse Designer — James B. Longacre • Reverse Design Date — 1866 • Reverse Discontinued — 1866

The Washington nickel was one of several proposed designs for the five-cent nickel coin, which was to replace the half dime as the five-cent coin of the United States. The obverse of the coin features a portrait of George Washington facing right. This design was not chosen for production, and the Shield nickel 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.

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

• Illustration — 1866 obverse, Washington surrounded by "United States of America" • Illustration — 1866 obverse, Washington with motto "In God We Trust" • Illustration — 1866 obverse, Washington with motto "God and Our Country" • Illustration — 1909 obverse, large date with Washington facing right and "Liberty" surrounded by 7 stars to the left and 6 stars to the right • Illustration — 1909 obverse, small date with Washington facing right and "Liberty" surrounded by 7 stars to the left and 6 stars to the right • Illustration — 1909 obverse, with Washington facing right and "Liberty" following 13 stars • Illustration — 1909 obverse, with Washington facing right and two stars between each letter in "Liberty" • Illustration — 1909 obverse, with Washington facing left and small "9"s in the date • Illustration — 1909 obverse, with a slightly enlarged portrait Washington facing left and large "9"s in the date • Illustration — 1910 obverse, Washington facing left

• Illustration — 1866 reverse, "5 Cents" surrounded by wreath • Illustration — 1866 reverse, "Short 5" surrounded by wreath • Illustration — 1866 reverse, "Large 5" surrounded by wreath • Illustration — 1866 reverse, "Dutch 5" surrounded by wreath • Illustration — 1866 reverse, Shield nickel reverse with rays • Illustration — 1866 reverse, Shield nickel reverse without rays • Illustration — 1909 reverse, CENTS under small 5 • Illustration — 1909–1910 reverse, CENTS running across a large 5

Washington nickel is recorded as made of cupronickel. Associated with United States. Classified as a nickel.