1911 Liberty Head Nickel Value Guide

The 1911 Liberty Head Nickel is a quintessential piece of American numismatic history, representing the penultimate year of the series designed by Charles E. Barber. Known colloquially as the 'V Nickel' due to the prominent Roman numeral on its reverse, this coin is highly collectible for its connection to the infamous 'Racketeer Nickel' era of the late 19th century.

What Is 1911 Liberty Head Nickel Worth?

The typical price range for 1911 Liberty Head Nickel is $3 - $3 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

• The level of preservation, particularly the visibility of the letters in 'LIBERTY' on the headband.
• The presence of original mint luster versus signs of heavy circulation or cleaning.
• Current market demand for the 1911 mintage, which typically commands a value between $2.50 and $2.75.
• Surface quality, including the absence of deep scratches, corrosion, or significant rim dings.

How to Identify 1911 Liberty Head Nickel?

• Identify the obverse by the left-facing profile of Lady Liberty wearing a coronet inscribed with 'LIBERTY'.
• Confirm the reverse features a large Roman numeral 'V' centered within a wreath of corn, wheat, and cotton.
• Verify the date '1911' is clearly struck at the bottom of the obverse below Liberty's bust.
• Check for the word 'CENTS' at the bottom of the reverse, which distinguishes it from the early 1883 'No Cents' variety.

History of 1911 Liberty Head Nickel

Designed by Charles E. Barber, the Liberty Head Nickel was minted from 1883 to 1912. It is famously known as the V Nickel due to the Roman numeral five on the back. This series gained notoriety in 1883 when the first coins were released without the word CENTS, leading fraudsters to gold-plate them and pass them off as five-dollar gold pieces.