U.S. COIN REFERENCE · Liberty Head nickel
Liberty Head nickels: find CENTS before naming the type
The missing word on the first reverse became part of the coin’s history.
By SalarsNet · Reviewed October 5, 2026
Two 1883 reverse types
The first 1883 Liberty nickels omit CENTS beneath the large V. Later 1883 coins add the word, creating two collectible types. Gold-plated No CENTS pieces were used to imitate a five-dollar coin. A plated example now needs a factual surface description; plating does not change its denomination or authenticate a period fraud.
Type references: PCGS Liberty Head Nickel ↗
Read the portrait and wreath
Inspect the hair, coronet letters, cheek, wreath leaves, and rims. Preserve any mintmark view rather than identifying a mint from the front alone. Scratches crossing LIBERTY can make letter completeness misleading, while weak striking can soften the wreath. Assess those observations separately before choosing a photo grade.
Type references: PCGS Liberty Head Nickel ↗
The regular set and the five 1913 coins
The 1885, 1886, and 1912-S are recognized keys. The famous 1913 coins are exceptional pieces with a five-coin recorded group, not an ordinary extra year for a pocket-change album. A claimed 1913 needs specialist authentication and provenance before valuation. Use current sales for the exact regular issue when that is what the specimen supports.
Type references: PCGS Liberty Head Nickel ↗
Selected reviewed issue records
These catalog standards describe the named issue, not a measured specimen. The selected records below do not cover every date, mint, strike, or die variety. Reported production is labeled separately from established mintage. Unknown standards and mintage remain visible; survival estimates and certified populations are separate research questions.
No issue-level specification or mintage records are published for this category yet. Verify the exact date, mint, strike, metal, and subtype in its reference before using a numerical standard.
References and review
Reference reviewed October 5, 2026. Historical facts and catalog standards need to match the exact issue; price comparisons should be researched at the time of valuation.