Liberty Head V Nickel

Coin specifications and design

Years made: 1883-1913

Country: United States

Denomination: Five cents

Category: Circulating coin

Composition: 75% copper, 25% nickel

Silver fineness: None

Silver weight: 0.00 oz ASW

Weight: 5.00 g

Diameter: 21.2 mm

Thickness: 1.95 mm

Edge: Plain

Designer: Charles E. Barber

Design identification

The obverse shows a left-facing portrait of Liberty wearing a coronet inscribed LIBERTY, with stars around the portrait and the date below. The reverse centers a large Roman numeral V inside a wreath. On the first 1883 variety, the denomination word CENTS is absent; later 1883 coins and all regular subsequent issues add CENTS below the wreath. That No CENTS versus With CENTS distinction is the quickest way to identify the two major 1883 types.

Liberty V Nickel history

The Liberty Head nickel, often called the V nickel, was introduced in 1883 with a design by Charles E. Barber. The first version showed a large Roman numeral V on the reverse but omitted the word CENTS, allowing some coins to be gold-plated and passed deceptively as five-dollar pieces. The Mint quickly added CENTS later in 1883. The type remained in production through 1912, although five mysterious 1913-dated examples later surfaced and became famous rarities.