Proof Liberty Nickels. A buffalo (a/k/a Indian Head) nickel dated 1913 is far more common than a Liberty Head nickel with the same date. Here is where the story gets even more interesting, though. The Liberty head was replaced with the Buffalo nickel in 1913, so no Liberty nickels were officially struck after 1912. No one knows exactly why the 1913 Liberty Head Nickels that exist today were made. V Nickels (1883-1913) The Liberty Head Nickel, also called the V Nickel, takes its nickname from the coin’s reverse design showing a large Roman numeral indicating its face value. No Liberty nickels were made of that date officially, but some years later collectors were stunned to learn that five 1913 examples had surfaced—all of them apparently made on the sly by someone at the Philadelphia Mint. Coins for sale for Liberty type Nickels items. In time, such Buffalo nickels were made by the millions, and were produced for many years thereafter, indeed until 1938. However, the mint had a die for a 1913 Liberty Head, before it was replaced, and a handful of test proofs were made from it before it was destroyed. Each of them is owned either by a museum or a private collector. The paths of the coins then went their separate ways. The 1913 Liberty Head Nickel is not a coin, but something cooked up at the Mint under dubious circumstances. No Liberty nickels were made that year officially, but years later collectors were stunned to learn that five 1913 examples had surfaced, all of them apparently made on the sly by someone at the Philadelphia Mint. These five-cent pieces were minted for circulation by the U.S. Mint from 1883 to 1913. Today, these nickels are worth millions of dollars whenever one of them comes to auction. Liberty Head (V) nickels were officially minted from 1883 to 1912. Nothing about the 1883 Liberty nickel is rare. Liberty Nickels were officially minted between 1883 and 1912. Minting the 1913 Liberty Head Nickel. 2. The thing to remember about these is, if you find one, it's fake! The coins were sold to Eric P. Newman and B.G. Liberty Head nickels are also sometimes referred to as V nickels (for the big Roman numeral V — which means “five” — on the back of the coin) and Barber nickels (for the coin’s designer, Charles E. Barber).. In 1962, he was killed in a ar crash while on the way to a coin show. Here are some fascinating facts about Liberty nickels and tips for collecting them…. Buy & Sell. Type: Liberty Head V Nickel Year: 1885 Mint Mark: No mint mark Face Value: 0.05 USD Total Produced: 1,472,000 [ Silver Content: 0% Numismatic Value: $607 to $2328.00 Value: As a rough estimate of this coins value you can assume this coin in average condition will be valued at somewhere around $607, while one in certified mint state (MS+) condition could bring as much as $2,328 at auction. For many years, four of the five 1913 liberty head nickels were accounted for. The 1913 nickel was recovered from the site, but when his heirs tried to auction the coin, it ws deemed a fake. V-Nickels dated pre-1897 can command significant premiums and many are worth $4 to $5 a piece. In 1913, the Liberty Head design gave way to the Buffalo type. … V-Nickels dated pre-1897 can command significant premiums and many are worth $4 to $5 a piece. The coin resides in a black plastic case made by George Walton himself. When the set of 1913 Liberty Head nickels was finally shown to the public after the owners death, people were shocked to see the special leather and velvet case was made with 6 nickel sized holes -- and one of the holes had been filled by a bronze cast 1913 Buffalo Nickel. Some of these coins were produced by the tens of millions, while one had a production run of only five. No Liberty nickels were made that year officially, but years later collectors were stunned to learn that five 1913 examples had surfaced, all of them apparently made on the sly by someone at the Philadelphia Mint. There Are Only 2 Liberty Nickels With Mintmarks. These five-cent pieces were minted from 1883 to 1913. Alternatively, the 1913 Liberty Head nickels could have been struck as test pieces in autumn 1912 when dies for the next year's coinage were being made, and before it was decided not to use the design. The 1913 Liberty Head is a very rare coin, with only five of them known to exist. There were only five of these stricken, and as of the year 2003 all five have been found and accounted for. In 1913, the Liberty Head design gave way to the Buffalo type. The fifth had not been seen for decades. How much Liberty Nickels are worth. I had to use a little magnification to see how this was accomplished. With a "V" in the center of the reverse, some of these coins were gold plated and passed as $5 gold pieces. As a result, all Proof Liberty Nickels (Buy on eBay) remain relatively available for present day collectors. It’s an altered 1910 Liberty V Nickel made to look like a 1913 Fake Liberty V Nickel. The 1913 Liberty Head Nickel. It is rumored that if one of these coins were discovered today, and was in flawless condition, it could be valued at around $20 million. Key Dates, Rarities, and Varieties . However, they are also highly counterfeited. The Philadelphia Mint struck proof versions of the Liberty Nickel for each year of the series from 1883 to 1912. Coin Value Price Chart for Liberty Nickels 5C. In the latter part of 1883, the word "Cents" was placed on the reverse. Unscrupulous individuals made the most of the opportunity, and the story begins… No-CENTS V Nickels. Most ‘V’ Nickels were circulated extensively and are worn The Liberty Nickel series is literally surrounded by controversy on both ends. It is believed that he used coin dies created in case the dies for the Buffalo nickel were not ready for production in time. In fact, with a value of less than $10 in moderately worn grades, it’s among the cheapest dates from the first decade of the Liberty nickel series. Dies for 1913 Liberty nickels were made in the last two months of 1912. They featured a bust if "Liberty" on the front and the Roman Numeral "V" on the reverse. OFCC Coin ID:47.100 - US - 1897 1883-1913 - Liberty Head Nickel - V Nickels - Obverse Design: Liberty, wearing a coronet and wreath - Reverse Design: Roman numeral V, for 5, indicating the denomination, surrounded by a wreath Johnson in 1942. US Liberty Nickels (1883-1913): Hidden Gems Among Common Coins. In 1913, the Liberty Head design gave way to the Buffalo type. We know this as records show 10 sets of 1913 Liberty nickel dies were shipped to San Francisco on November 25, 1912. Only 5 Liberty Head V Nickels were minted in 1913 and production was unauthorized by the mint. V nickels were minted only at Philadelphia until 1912, when Denver and San Francisco each minted a small quantity. It’s true. So, although they are commonly known as Liberty Head Nickels, they are also sometimes referred to as V Nickels. 1913 Liberty Head nickel, one of only five known to exist, was secretly made, found after fatal car wreck, left in closet for decades Lookup Coin values for Good, Very Good, Fine, Very Fine, Brilliant Uncirculated & Proof conditions and MS grade. All five 1913 examples were minted in Philadelphia. The above image is a fake 1913 Liberty V Nickel. The creator actually pushed and carefully molded the 0 so it looks like a three even with the “bulb” serifs. A man named Samuel Brown worked at the mint in 1913 and also introduced all five coins at the American Numismatic Association in 1920. It was never authorized, but the coins were in private hands and there was no great reason to recall them (unlike the recall of gold in 1933). They were made of 75% copper and 25% nickel. Like other coin types, V Nickel values can vary significantly based on year of mintage and condition. In 1913 the Liberty Head design gave way to the Indian Head/Buffalo type. Philadelphia Mint proof dies would have been made about the same time. The US Liberty Nickel was produced from 1883 to 1913. No Liberty nickels were made that year officially, but years later collectors were stunned to learn that five 1913 examples had surfaced, all of them apparently made on the sly by someone at the Philadelphia Mint. The Value of V-Nickels-What Dealers Pay The Eliasberg 1913 Liberty Head Nickel, one of only five ever produced, will be auctioned by Stack’s Bowers Galleries in August. It was owned by George Walton, who purchased the coin in the 1940's for $3750. A rare 1885 V-Nickel, however, may garner a premium of nearly $400. The Walton specimen might not be the finest known of the five 1913 Liberty Nickels that have survived the past century, but it surely is the most storied and the most colorful, almost as famous as the Olsen specimen that starred in a Hawaii Five-O episode. The 1913 Liberty Head nickels are some of the most valuable and rarest US coins in existence with each one worth many millions of dollars. No Liberty nickels were made of that date officially, but some years later collectors were stunned to learn that five 1913 examples had surfaced—all of them apparently made on the sly by someone at the Philadelphia Mint. Like other coin types, V-Nickel values can vary significantly based on condition and date. In 1913, the Liberty Head design gave way to the Buffalo type. Liberty Head Nickels 1883-1913: HISTORY The Liberty Head Nickel was minted from 1883 to 1913 and there are two Types, I & II. However, an unknown mint official illegally produced an unknown quantity of V Nickels with the date 1913, with only five known genuine examples. However, very early in the year 1913, or late in 1912, when dies had been prepared for a 1913-dated Liberty Head nickel, perhaps anticipating a large coinage that never materialized, a handful of pieces, believed to be just five, were struck. In 1913 the Liberty Head design gave way to the Indian Head/Buffalo type. The first Liberty Nickels of 1883 (the 1883 No Cents Nickel) did not feature the word ‘Cents’ on the reverse. 1883-1913 Liberty Nickel Coin Guide. The V-Nickel, sometimes referred to as the Liberty Head Nickel, gets its V-Nickel name from the coins reverse design. No Liberty nickels were made that year officially, but years later collectors were stunned to learn that five 1913 examples had surfaced, all of them apparently made on the sly by someone at the Philadelphia Mint. Most issues were struck by the thousands, representing high mintages for proof coins of this era. Despite their clouded origins, these came to be accepted as legitimate collectibles, and they now rank among the … Here is a recount as listed by Q. David Bowers in the 1996 Auction Catalog of the Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection The pedigrees of the five known 1913 Liberty Nickels: The Norweb Specimen. You will find it a fascinating coin to collect since there is a considerable variation in collectibility across the series. 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