Liberty Head ‘V’ Nickels
(1883 - 1913)
The Liberty Head Nickel—commonly called the “V” Nickel—was produced from 1883 to 1913 and takes its nickname from the large Roman numeral “V” on the reverse. Designed by Charles E. Barber, the obverse features a classical portrait of Liberty wearing a coronet inscribed with “LIBERTY,” while the reverse displays the denomination within a wreath.
The first 1883 issues were struck without the word “CENTS” on the reverse, leading to confusion (and even gold-plating fraud) since the coin’s size resembled a $5 gold piece. Later that same year, “CENTS” was added below the wreath, creating two distinct 1883 types collectors recognize today.
Composed of 75% copper and 25% nickel, the series includes one of the most famous rarities in U.S. coinage: the 1913 Liberty Head Nickel, with only five known examples. The design was officially replaced in 1913 by the Buffalo Nickel, but the mystique of the “V” Nickel continues to make it a popular and widely collected series.
Check out dates & mintages for Liberty Head ‘V’ Nickels, below.Business Strikes
Type 1, No ‘CENTS’
1883 No CENTS | 5,474,300
Type 2, With ‘CENTS’
1883 With CENTS | 16,026,200
1884 | 11,270,000
1885 | 1,473,300
1886 | 3,326,000
1887 | 15,260,692
1888 | 10,715,901
1889 | 15,878,025
1890 | 16,256,532
1891 | 16,832,000
1892 | 11,696,897
1893 | 13,368,000
1894 | 5,410,500
1895 | 9,977,822
1896 | 8,841,048
1897 | 20,426,797
1898 | 12,530,292
1899 | 26,027,000
1901 | 26,478,228
1902 | 31,487,581
1903 | 28,004,930
1904 | 21,403,167
1905 | 29,825,124
1906 | 38,612,000
1907 | 39,213,325
1908 | 22,684,557
1909 | 11,585,763
1910 | 30,166,948
1911 | 39,557,639
1912 | 26,234,569
1912-D | 8,474,000
1912-S | 238,000
Proof Strikes
Type 1, No ‘Cents’
1883 Proof Without CENTS | 5,219
Type 2, With ‘Cents’
1883 Proof With CENTS | 6,783
1884 Proof | 3,942
1885 Proof | 3,790
1886 Proof | 4,290
1887 Proof | 2,960
1888 Proof | 4,582
1889 Proof | 3,336
1890 Proof | 2,740
1891 Proof | 2,350
1892 Proof | 2,745
1893 Proof | 2,195
1894 Proof | 2,632
1895 Proof | 2,062
1896 Proof | 1,862
1897 Proof | 1,938
1898 Proof | 1,795
1899 Proof | 2,031
1900 Proof | 2,262
1901 Proof | 1,985
1902 Proof | 2,018
1903 Proof | 1,790
1904 Proof | 1,817
1905 Proof | 2,152
1906 Proof | 1,725
1907 Proof | 1,475
1908 Proof | 1,620
1909 Proof | 4,763
1910 Proof | 2,405
1911 Proof | 1,733
1912 Proof | 2,145
If You Collect Five-Cent Nickels, Check Out The ‘Silver Alloy War Nickels’ Type Set!
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