Liberty Head Nickel

About This Series

Charles Barber designed the Liberty Head nickel, and it had a famously rocky start: the 1883 issue omitted "CENTS" on the reverse, and con artists quickly gold-plated them to pass as five-dollar gold pieces. "CENTS" was added midway through 1883, making the two varieties one of the earliest collectible mid-year changes in US numismatics. The 1885 and 1886 are key dates; the 1912-S is the last branch-mint issue. Then there are the five 1913 specimens - struck secretly, apparently without authorization - that now rank among the most valuable US coins ever sold at auction.