Liberty Head “V” Nickels: Key Dates and the Famous No CENTS Nickel

The Liberty Head nickel, often called the “V” nickel because of the big Roman numeral V on the back, was made from 1883 to 1912. It has one of the best stories in American coin history, and it’s common enough that many families have a few.

The Basics

• Made from 1883 to 1912
• Designed by Charles E. Barber
• Made of 75% copper and 25% nickel, with no silver
• Almost all were struck at Philadelphia. Only in 1912 were they also made at Denver (D) and San Francisco (S), with the mint mark on the back to the left of CENTS.

The 1883 “No CENTS” Nickel

When the V nickel first came out in 1883, the back showed a large V but not the word CENTS. The coin was about the same size as the $5 gold piece, and some crooks gold-plated the new nickels and passed them off as five dollars. These became known as “racketeer nickels.”

The Mint quickly changed the design to add the word CENTS at the bottom. As a result, there are two 1883 nickels: No CENTS and With CENTS. The No CENTS version was widely saved and is common. Gold-plated racketeer nickels are a fun collectible today.

Key Dates

• 1885: The key date of the series.
• 1886: Another scarce date.
• 1912-S: The only San Francisco V nickel, and the lowest mintage of the regular issues.
• 1912-D: Also scarcer than the Philadelphia coins.

The Legendary 1913 Liberty Nickel

Officially, the Liberty Head nickel ended in 1912. But five 1913-dated Liberty nickels were made without authorization and appeared years later. They’re among the most famous rarities in American coinage. Any 1913 Liberty nickel you see for sale outside a major auction is almost certainly altered or fake.

The Shield Nickel (1866 to 1883)

Before the V nickel, there was the Shield nickel, the first U.S. five-cent coin made of nickel instead of silver. It shows a shield on the front and the numeral 5 on the back. Shield nickels are less common than V nickels and are worth a premium even when worn.

What Common V Nickels Are Worth

Worn common dates from the 1890s and 1900s are affordable and worth a modest premium. Coins with full rims, a clear LIBERTY on Liberty’s coronet, and good detail bring more. Don’t clean them; it lowers the value.

More guides: Buffalo nickels, wartime silver nickels, Barber coins.

The Bottom Line

V nickels were made from 1883 to 1912, and the 1883 No CENTS version has a great story but isn’t rare. The dates to look for are the 1885, 1886, and 1912-S. And if you ever see a 1913, be very skeptical.

Have old nickels? JoCo Coin Shop offers honest, no-obligation appraisals across the Kansas City area. Contact me by phone, text, or email to get started.