1883 Liberty Nickel With Funny Back. Is It An Error? Value?

My hypothesis.....Coin was gold plated as a "Racketeer Nickel". The 1883 "V" Nickel did not say its value on the coin, so, some unscrupulous people plated them and passed them off as $5 Gold pieces. Your coin looks like someone soldered the back to a pin and wore it as a $5 Gold piece. The gold plating has worn off after many years of use. Someone removed the pin and the reverse solder remains. JMO

PS: Welcome to the forum and your coin is a very interesting and historical coin.....No Joshing!:
http://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/2...883_coin.php

I think your coins real value is more as an historical conversation piece. You might be able to do as well as old Josh did and get $5 with the story....... Numismatically, the coin is probably only worth a $1 or $2.

IMHO, the previous posters are on target here. Note that the obverse side appears to be more plated. Also, the solder position on the reverse is such that the jewelry item would prominently display the obverse. My guess is that the coin was likely mounted on a then fashionable stick-pin. This was often done with gold coins back then, late 1800's. The gold-plated nickel, which somewhat replicated the appearance of a $5 gold piece, served as a poor man's substitute, boasting the illusion of wealth. While not worth much, it's a neat conversation piece. A jeweler could likely solder another pin to the reverse or make a tie-tack out of it.