9 Valuable American Nickels in Circulation
Written by
Vance Cariaga
Edited by
T. Woods
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The nickel has a long history in the U.S., though it wasn’t the country’s first 5-cent coin. That honor goes to a “half-dime” that first appeared in 1794. Early 5-cent pieces weren’t even made out of nickel — they were made from either gold, silver or copper, per to the U.S. Mint. The modern American nickel wasn’t created until 1866. If you’re lucky enough to come across an early or rare version, you could end up thousands (or even millions) of dollars richer.
These first nickels were known as “Shield nickels” and were produced from 1866 to 1883, according to the American Bullion website. Those were followed by the Liberty Head nickel (1883-1913), Buffalo or Indian Head nickel (1913-1938) and Jefferson nickel (1938-present).
In terms of rarity and value, you’re most likely to find the most valuable nickels in older, pre-World War I mintages. But as American Bullion noted, you can also find some pricey versions minted during World War II (1942-45) because these were made with additional silver and manganese to save nickel for the war effort. Beyond that, some error nickels might fetch a high price, including “overdate” nickels where the year is stamped over an older year.
The most valuable nickel by far is the 1913 Liberty Head Nickel, which American Bullion calls one of the “most legendary and mysterious” coins in U.S. history. Rumor has it that the coin was produced illegally because it happened during the transition from Liberty Head to Buffalo nickels. Only five 1913 Liberty Head nickels are known to exist, and they were never officially released. Their estimated value today is more than $3 million.
You aren’t likely to ever come across a 1913 Liberty Head Nickel. But there are others in circulation that carry high values (though nowhere near $3 million). Here are nine of them, with estimated values provided by American Bullion. Keep in mind that only coins in top condition will command the highest prices.
- 1926-S Buffalo Nickel: $4,200
- 1916 Double Die Buffalo Nickel: $3,800
- 1918/17-D Buffalo Nickel (overdated):$3,500
- 1879 Shield Nickel: $2,400
- 1937-D 3-Legged Buffalo Nickel: $2,000
- 1880 Shield Nickel: $2,000
- 1942-P Jefferson Nickel: $800
- 1950-D Jefferson Nickel: $600-$800
- 1939 “Doubled Monticello:” $500
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