Description

The obverse features Liberty wearing a crown decorated with the word "Liberty", thirteen stars and the date of issue. The reverse has a large letter "V", the words "United States of America", and wreath with leaves, corn ears and ribbon. The motto "E Pluribus Unum" was originally displayed below the wreath. The word "cents" was not added until later in the first year of production in 1883.

General Information

Liberty nickels, also known as "V" nickels, were minted for circulation from 1883 to 1912. The coin was designed by Charles E. Barber and is just a little over 21 mm in diameter. The nickel composition is made of 75% copper and 25% nickel.

There are two types of first year issue 1883 Liberty nickels. The first type does not have the word "cents" and only displayed the the letter "V" representing the denomination of five. This opened the way for a few unscrupulous people to plate the new nickels with gold and pass them for $5.00 gold pieces. U.S. officials later caught on to this and the word "cents" was then added to the design later in 1883.

Liberty nickels were produced at the Philadelphia Mint and in 1912 were also minted at the Denver and San Francisco Mints. The mint mark is located on the reverse side near the bottom under the dot to the left of the word "cents". Only the 1912-D and 1912-S coins have mint marks.

There are also five known Liberty nickels dated 1913.

Author's Notes & Comments

The key date to the series is the 1885 Liberty nickel. Semi-key dates are the 1886 and 1912-S. Better date coins include the 1883 with CENTS variety, 1884, 1887, 1888, 1889, 1890 and 1894. Other only slightly better date coins are the 1883 without CENTS, 1891, 1892, 1893, 1895 and 1896. The most common coins in this series are the 1898 through 1912 Liberty nickels minted at the Philadelphia Mint.