1913 Liberty Nickel

The 1913 Liberty Nickel is one of the most famous and valuable coins in American numismatics. It holds a special place in the history of U.S. coinage due to its unique and mysterious origin.

The Liberty Nickel series officially ended in 1912, but five examples dated 1913 were clandestinely struck.

Design: The obverse features a left-facing portrait of Liberty with the word "LIBERTY" inscribed on a headband.

The reverse depicts a Roman numeral "V" (5) surrounded by a wreath and the words "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and "E PLURIBUS UNUM."

Composition: The coin is made of 75% copper and 25% nickel.

Mintage: While the official mintage for Liberty Nickels ended in 1912, in 1913, a few examples were struck, likely by a mint employee named Samuel W. Brown. Only five specimens are known to exist.

Provenance: The 1913 Liberty Nickel examples are named after their various owners, including the Olsen specimen, the Eliasberg specimen, the Walton specimen, the McDermott specimen, and the Norweb specimen.

Due to their scarcity and the clandestine nature of their production, the 1913 Liberty Nickels are highly sought after by collectors and investors.

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