I've had this coin for years and have always been curious as to why someone would stamp "German Silver" on the reverse. I vaguely remember reading somewhere that in the 20s or 30s, jewelers may have done this to distinguish it from a other metals. Anyone have any ideas or comments?
I had never heard the term before but I found this searching the web: German Silver is an alloy of copper, zinc and nickel, sometimes also containing lead and tin. It was originally named for its silver white color, but the term "silver" is now prohibited for alloys not containing that metal. Read the whole article here: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Why-is-German-Silver-called-so/articleshow/1152317.cms
German silver alloy was considered and tested by the mint as the composition of the Flying Eagle Cent. A variation was used as the final mixture to make the cents.
Granted it is quite a worn nickel. But the reverse is flat. Almost as though it is intended. I wonder if this nickel may have adorned an item in its lifetime and the German Silver stamp is in relation to the item the nickel may have adorned? Just wild speculation.
In doing further research, I wonder if this is a damaged 1883, not 87 and had at one time been gold plated to pass as a $5 piece, and someone stamped it so it wouldn't be confused and the gold was worn off? Just a thought.
Here are two close ups of the date. I don't have the ability to do overlays, but just doing a side by side comparison with similarly worn nickels from 1883 and 1887, I'm probably wrong, but I'd like to know what others think Could this be a damaged '3'?
No it is a 7. Two possible thought as to why it might be stamped. The back is gone, no country or denomination, someone might have thought it was silver and took it to a jeweler who determined it was copper nickel and stamped it german silver because that was the closest stamp he had to the actual composition. Second and more likely, a manufacturer of articles made of german silver had a new stamp and wanted to test it out. Rather than use it on a finished product he grabbed a coin. After all after the test he could still spend it. Same reason a lot of coins get random counterstamps.
