united-states-1913-item-9
Denomination5 Cents (Nickel)
Country / EmpireUnited States
Diameter (mm)21.2
Obverse DesignLiberty head facing left, wearing a coronet inscribed 'LIBERTY', surrounded by 13 stars. Designer's initial 'B' on the neck.
Reverse DesignLarge Roman numeral 'V' (for five cents) surrounded by a wreath of corn, cotton, and wheat. Inscriptions 'UNITED STATES OF AMERICA' above, 'E PLURIBUS UNUM' below 'UNITED STATES OF AMERICA', and 'CENTS' below the 'V'.
Historical Context
The 1913 Liberty Head Nickel is one of the most famous and valuable coins in numismatic history. It was not officially authorized for production in 1913, as the Buffalo Nickel was introduced that year. Only five specimens are known to exist, believed to have been struck illicitly at the Philadelphia Mint. Their existence was not publicly known until 1920, and they have since become legendary rarities, often fetching millions of dollars at auction.
