1913 Liberty Head nickel

1913 Liberty Head nickel
US Mint (coin), National Numismatic Collection · Public domain · source
Country	United States
Denomination	Nickel
Value	5 cents
Unit	U.S. dollar
Mass	5.000
Diameter	21.2
Thickness	1.95
Edge	Plain
Composition	75% copper, 25% nickel
Years of minting	1913
Obverse design	Liberty Head
Obverse designer	Charles E. Barber
Reverse design	Roman numeral V within wreath
Reverse designer	Charles E. Barber

1913 Liberty Head nickel. This five-cent piece is one of the most legendary and valuable coins in American numismatics, as it was struck under mysterious circumstances without official United States Mint authorization. Only five specimens are confirmed to exist, making it a pinnacle of rarity that has captivated collectors for over a century. Its storied provenance involves prominent figures like King Farouk of Egypt and has been featured in exhibitions at the Smithsonian Institution.

History and background

The Liberty Head nickel, designed by Mint Engraver Charles E. Barber, was officially produced from 1883 to 1912. In 1913, the Mint had already begun production of the new Buffalo nickel designed by James Earle Fraser, making the striking of Liberty Head design coins that year highly irregular. The creation of the 1913-dated pieces is widely attributed to Mint employee Samuel W. Brown, who served as the Superintendent of the Philadelphia Mint. Brown reportedly had the coins struck, possibly as trial pieces or pattern coins, though the exact motives remain a subject of speculation among historians. The coins did not enter circulation through normal channels and first surfaced publicly when Brown advertised them for sale in The Numismatist in 1920.

Design and specifications

The obverse features the classic Liberty Head design by Charles E. Barber, depicting a left-facing profile of Liberty wearing a coronet inscribed with the word "LIBERTY". The reverse is dominated by a large Roman numeral "V" encircled by a wreath, with the inscriptions "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and "E PLURIBUS UNUM". The coin's specifications align with the standard for the series, with a composition of 75% copper and 25% nickel, a mass of 5.000 grams, and a diameter of 21.2 millimeters. The edge is plain, and all five known examples were struck at the Philadelphia Mint and consequently bear no mint mark.

Rarity and known specimens

Only five authentic specimens of the 1913 Liberty Head nickel are known to exist, cementing its status as one of the Great Rarities of United States coinage. The coins are often distinguished by their provenance and nicknames: the Olson specimen, the Norweb specimen, the McDermott specimen, the Eliasberg specimen, and the Hawn specimen. Each has a unique history; for instance, the McDermott specimen was famously carried as a pocket piece by its namesake owner, B. Max Mehl. The set was once nearly complete in the collection of Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr., the only person to assemble a complete collection of every date and mint mark of U.S. coins.

Notable sales and ownership

Ownership of these nickels has included some of the most famous names in numismatics and beyond. One specimen was part of the renowned collection of King Farouk of Egypt, sold after his abdication in the 1954 palace auctions. In 1996, the Eliasberg specimen was sold at a public auction conducted by Bowers and Merena for over $1.4 million. A record was set in 2018 when the Olson specimen was sold privately for approximately $4.5 million. Other notable transactions have involved firms like Stack's Bowers Galleries and collectors such as Edmond C. R. Jewett.

Authentication and controversies

The authenticity of the coins has been rigorously examined by major grading services like the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) and the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC). Controversy has long surrounded their origin, with debates centering on whether they were clandestinely struck by Mint officials like Samuel W. Brown or were later counterfeits—a theory largely dismissed by modern experts. The coins' provenance was meticulously documented in the book "The Fantastic 1913 Liberty Head Nickel" by John W. Dannreuther. One of the most famous incidents involving the coin was its feature on the television show Hawaii Five-O, which further propelled it into popular culture and occasionally sparked public rumors of additional specimens.

Category:Coins of the United States Category:Rare coins Category:1913 works