Certified Cameo Percentage: 26%
Certified Deep Cameo Percentage: 1.2%

In 1881, plans to change the design of the lowest base metal coins were undertaken. For the nickel five-cent piece, the design was rendered in low relief, the diameter of the nickel was widened from 20.5 mm to 21.2 mm, and the weight was increased to 5 grams. In 1883, the new coin was ready and featured a large Roman numeral V on the reverse but without the word CENTS. Once the new coin was introduced, the missing word was immediately seized upon by less than honorable individuals who cut reeds on the edge and gold plated the coin, with the goal of passing them off as half eagles. The Mint redesigned the reverse to include the word CENTS, but only after 5,219 Proofs and 5,474,300 circulation strike of the No CENTS type had been coined.

Although Proof examples of the issue are available with some frequency, the vast majority of specimens offered range in grade from Proof-63 to Proof-66. Examples grading Proof-67 are scarce, and all but unavailable finer. Cameos and Deep/Ultra Cameos are found with above average frequency for the type. Today, the finest survivors in both formats are eagerly sought by advanced type collectors seeking an example of this curious one-year design type.

The example to the left was sold by Stack's Bowers Galleries in the August 2011 Chicago ANA Auction, where it realized $1,265.