The Fascinating World of One Sided Nickel Coins

The Intriguing World of One Sided Nickels

Numismatics, the study and collection of currency, is a hobby that has fascinated people for centuries. And one of the most intriguing areas of numismatics centers around collectible coins that have unique defects or oddities - items that were created incorrectly during the minting process that now make them valuable rarities.

In the world of United States coinage, one of the most famous examples is the one sided nickel. These peculiar coins have no design on one side, lacking the iconic profile portrait of Thomas Jefferson that defines America's five cent piece. Instead, one side is completely blank, giving rise to their evocative "one sided" moniker.

How Do One Sided Nickels Occur?

During the process of minting coins at facilities in Philadelphia and Denver, nickel blanks are fed into powerful coin presses. Under extreme pressure, the blanks are squeezed between an upper and lower die - engraved steel tools that impart the coin's front and back designs onto the blank.

On very rare occasions, a nickel blank will fail to be perfectly sandwiched between the two dies. If the blank slides significantly off center, only one die will make full contact, leaving a large unstruck section without any design on that side of the coin. This phenomenon most commonly occurs on nickels, though other denominations can be affected as well.

Key Date One Sided Nickels

For collectors, one sided coins dated prior to 1960 command huge premiums due to their scarcity. These early nickels lacked the word "cents" beneath Jefferson's portrait, so an incomplete obverse could potentially be mistaken for a five dollar gold half eagle. Counterfeiters soon took advantage by gold plating the blank side of normal nickels in an attempt to pass them off as five dollar coins.

The Secret Service was brought in to combat this fraud, stopping the minting of nickels without the denomination in the early '60s. As a result, pre-1960 one sided nickels are extraordinarily rare and valuable due to melting, spending, and confiscation over the decades.

Famous One Sided Nickel Auctions & Sales

Few one sided coins have captured public fascination like the nickel struck in 1999 missing its back design. Minted in Philadelphia without any reverse design motif, it was discovered by 14 year old Tad Reese II during a tour of the Denver Mint in 1999.

With tremendous curiosity surrounding its origins, the Reese one sided nickel sold at auction in 2013 for over $10,000!

Another famous off center nickel garnering auction prices exceeding $20,000 was a coin dated 1937 lacking any reverse imagery. Believed to have circulated before being plucked from change in the 1960s, it displays heavy wear from its years of commercial use - only amplifying its mystique.

The Allure Behind Imperfect Coins

In the vast landscape of numismatic rarities, off center struck coins stand out for their unique appeal. Essentially birth defects of the minting process, their asymmetric designs and incomplete motifs are unlike anything typically encountered in pocket change.

Reminders of the Minting Process

While we often consider the coins in our wallets ordinary, they are actually the products of tremendous industrial processes involving immense mechanical pressure and precise quality control.

However in the case of dramatic off center coins, the tremendous pressures and violence of the minting process is laid visually bare. The incomplete designs remind us of the great forces underlying the routine coins we mindlessly spend.

Their Brief Circulation Adds Mystery

Coins with irregular designs typically have very short stints in active circulation before being noticed and removed. Some inherently dramatic one sided coins manage to circulate just long enough to show light evidence of commercial use.

The brevity of their circulation paired with marks of time spent as money imbues the most storied off center coins with an irresistible aura of mystery and excitement.

Flukes Destined for Collectors

While rough handling or damage can produce some irregular coins, true unstruck off center pieces are generally accepted to be random aberrations of the minting process itself. Essentially industrial flukes, their rarity and unusual appearance make them natural collector's items.

Though initially unwanted defects, these misfit coins find great appreciation among specialist collectors who recognize their place in numismatic history.

Grading and Valuing One Sided Coins

Due to the novelty, rarity, and interest surrounding dramatically off center U.S. coins, authenticated one sided nickels and other denominations are ardently sought by advanced collectors. But accurately evaluating these peculiar numismatic items can pose challenges.

Degree of "Off Centeredness"

The single most significant factor impacting an off center coin's desirability and value is the visual severity of its error. The more extremely displaced and incomplete its design, the more dramatic and exciting the piece.

One sided coins with virtually no design on one face represent the pinnacle of the off center experience, their curious appearance utterly unique among masses of normal coins.

Wear and Marks

Evidence of brief active circulation adds richness to the story of individual off center coins. Yet coins grading below Extremely Fine with excessive wear or damage typically trade at significant discounts.

One sided coins displaying light even wear or minimal marks consistent with brief circulation represent the ideal for showcasing these classic mint errors in all their imperfect glory.

Rarity of the Denomination and Date

As with regular coins, the perceived rarity of the underlying piece also impacts off center coin prices. While a dramatically off center modern common-date penny would certainly be unusual, it would trade for a just a nominal premium above face value.

Meanwhile a one sided Liberty Head nickel or Indian Head cent would likely fetch a small fortune at auction due to the popularity and inherent scarcity of those classic designs.

Owning a Piece of History

Off center errors have enthralled coin collectors and historians for generations, from the earliest Colonial pieces through modern issues. And stunning one sided coins stand as the epitome of these dramatic yet organically imperfect minting anomalies.

For the collector, owning one of these coins is like possessing a painting with half its canvas blank, or a book with random chapters missing. The appeal lies not just in their monetary value, but the tantalizing glimpse their irregularity offers into the complex machinations underlying even simple, mundane things.

One sided nickels and other partial off center U.S. coins remain enduring symbols of the random flaws and human touches inherent even in mass production. They remind us that perfection should not be expected, but rather that single unique differences can be sources of artistry in their own right.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.