No pieces are known in the actual alloy mentioned on the coin, although Pollock reprints part of the annual report of Mint director James Pollock. In this report, James Pollock confirms that actual experiments were taken with the silver-nickel alloy, but that the production of the pieces brought up many problems, calling it a “vain and fruitless trail”. Another composition, adding copper to the mix was tested as well, but these pieces had the same striking problems. As a result, the idea was soon abandoned, and the composition of choice remained the regular silver-copper composition.

The dies used for the coinage of these pieces are very simplistic, and were apparently produced in haste. The so-called obverse is that of a regular Liberty seated dime of the year, but without date. This obverse die had previously been used a few years earlier for some other patterns. The reverse has the composition that was tested, listed as SIL. 9 / NIC. 1 and the date is underneath below a horizontal line.

The present piece is a coin that lends itself perfectly for metallurgical analysis. If it was found to be in the actual alloy of Silver and Nickel, a new Judd number would be awarded to it and it could be unique. It is also a very nice pattern as well, with just a few blemishes keeping it out of a gem holder. Mirrored fields are seen under the toned fields, giving the coin an exceptional nice look.