Click to enlargeP5340

The information below is primarily excerpted from Pollock and from the August 30, 1993 and September 6, 1993 issues of Coin World by Kenn Henderson.

This metallurgical trial, the second of three varieties, was produced by the International Nickel Company in 1964. They were one of several companies the U.S. Mint commissioned to find a suitable alloy replacement for silver. The other two are P5195 and P5380.

The obverse features a bust of Dr. Paul D. Merica and the reverse features his laboratory where the pieces were struck. The design was created by Gilroy Roberts and the hubs were created by the Medallic Art Company in 1964 per Heritage 1/15 FUN sale.

The coins are struck in 95% nickel, 5% silicon on a permalloy core of 79% nickel, 16% iron and 5% molybdenum and were issued in sets with a dime sized coin P5335 and a half dollar sized coin P5375.

The quarter sized coins were struck in the following alloys.

Pollock #

Composition                                                                        

Comment

P5339A

reeded edge, 95% nickel, 5% silicon

often with NiSi engraved in right obverse field

P5339

plain edge, 95% nickel, 5% silicon

often with NiSi engraved in right obverse field

P5340A

reeded edge, 95% nickel, 5% silicon on permalloy core

often with NiSip, NiSi or 11-14 engraved in right obverse field

P5340/P5370

plain edge, 95% nickel, 5% silicon on permalloy core

often with NiSip, NiSi or 11-14 engraved in right obverse field

P5344

reeded edge, 100% iron (magnetic)

often with Fe engraved in right obverse field

P5345

plain edge, 100% iron (magnetic)

often with Fe engraved in right obverse field

P5347

reeded edge, 100% nickel, brass plated

 

P5348

plain edge, 100% nickel, brass plated

see StacksBowers 8/16 ANA sale has 18 and 19 engraved in right obverse field

P5349

reeded edge, 100% nickel (magnetic)

often with Ni engraved in right obverse field

P5350

plain edge, 100% nickel (magnetic)

often with Ni engraved in right obverse field

P5351A

reeded edge, 55% nickel, 45% copper

often with 45 engraved in right obverse field

P5351

plain edge, 55% nickel, 45% copper

often with 45 engraved in right obverse field

P5352

reeded edge, 75% copper, 25% nickel

often with CuNi engraved in right obverse field

P5353

plain edge, 75% copper, 25% nickel

often with CuNi engraved in right obverse field

P5359

reeded edge, 75% nickel, 25% copper on copper core (core thickness may vary)

see Heritage 1/15 FUN sale, also seen with NiCuCu in right obverse field

P5360

plain edge, 75% nickel, 25% copper on copper core (core thickness may vary)

see Heritage 1/15 FUN sale, also seen with NiCuCu in right obverse field

P5361

reeded edge, 60% nickel, 40% copper

 

P5362

plain edge, 60% nickel, 40% copper

 

P5365

reeded edge, 70% copper, 30% nickel on copper core

see Heritage 1/15 FUN sale, also seen with CuNiCu engraved in right obverse field

P5355/P5366

plain edge, 70% copper, 30% nickel on copper core

see Heritage 1/15 FUN sale, also seen with CuNiCu engraved in right obverse field

P5367

reeded edge, German silver - 60% copper, 20% nickel and 20% zinc

 

P5368

plain edge, German silver - 60% copper, 20% nickel and 20% zinc

 


Image courtesy of Bowers and Merena.