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Coin, Money & Stamp Categories

United States Nickels

Coin, Money & Stamp Categories


Nickels, as five-cent coins are commonly known in the United States, were first issued in 1866. Before then, this denomination was filled by the half dime. Half dimes were the first coins produced under federal legislation by the U.S. Mint and were made out of silver. With the introduction of the shield design in 1866, the five-cent coin was redesigned to use a copper-nickel alloy instead of silver, which gave rise to the term nickel for the denomination.

Shield nickels were very unpopular due their design, which many considered ugly, as well as their low quality. The next nickel to be issued was the Liberty head, colloquially known as the V nickel due to the prominent Roman numeral on the reverse of the coin. The Liberty head was designed by Charles Barber, a notable chief engraver who was responsible for several other public issue coin designs and commemorative issues. The Liberty head run features perhaps the rarest of all nickels: the 1913 nickel. Only five 1913 Liberty heads were ever made, and it remains unknown today how they came to exist since the run was canceled in 1912. Two of the five are displayed in the Smithsonian's national collection, while the other three are owned privately.

The next nickel was the buffalo design, which ran from 1913 to 1938. While it was nominally well received, the buffalo design proved to age poorly, with the date on the coin often wearing off completely. Today's Jefferson nickel was introduced in 1938. The Jefferson nickel was unchanged until 2004 to 2005, at which point two commemorative circulating reverse designs were issued: one for the Lewis and Clark expedition, and the other for the Louisiana Purchase. In 2006, the obverse of the coin was changed. Although it still features Thomas Jefferson, his head is now facing forward instead of to the side.


Quick Facts

  • According to legend, the silver used to create the first half dimes came from George Washington's home silverware
  • A 1913 Liberty head nickel sold at auction for $3.7 million in 2010. A different specimen was also the first ever coin to break the $1 million sale barrier in 1996
  • War nickels issued from 1942 to 1945 did not have any nickel content. Rather, they were an alloy of silver and copper, as nickel was a valuable war resource for armor plating on tanks and other vehicles

Recommended Items at Auction

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1879 PROOF Shield Nickel w/ Cents - PCGS PR66+ CAC
Feb 15, 7:00 PM EST
1879 PROOF Shield Nickel w/ Cents - PCGS PR66+ CAC
by Big Dog Auctions
Est: $0- $0
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1924-p Buffalo Nickel TOP POP! 5c ms67+ SEGS
Feb 15, 1:30 PM EST
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Est: $14,937- $29,875
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IO 1915-s Buffalo Nickel Rainbow Toned 5c ms65+ SEGS
Feb 15, 1:30 PM EST
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Est: $2,937- $5,875
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1884 PROOF Three Cent Nickel - PCGS PR64
Feb 15, 7:00 PM EST
1884 PROOF Three Cent Nickel - PCGS PR64
by Big Dog Auctions
Est: $0- $0
$15514 Bids
1914 Proof Buffalo Nickel Near Top Pop! 5c pr68 SEGS
Feb 15, 1:30 PM EST
1914 Proof Buffalo Nickel Near Top Pop! 5c pr68 SEGS
by Key Date Coins
Est: $7,000- $14,000
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YC 1886 Liberty Nickel Toned TOP POP! 5c ms66 SEGS
Feb 15, 1:30 PM EST
YC 1886 Liberty Nickel Toned TOP POP! 5c ms66 SEGS
by Key Date Coins
Est: $6,000- $12,000
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1905 Liberty Head V-Nickel - PCGS MS64 CAC
Feb 15, 7:00 PM EST
1905 Liberty Head V-Nickel - PCGS MS64 CAC
by Big Dog Auctions
Est: $0- $0
$7811 Bids
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1871 Nickel Three Cent Piece
Feb 20, 10:00 AM EST
1871 Nickel Three Cent Piece
by Berner's Auction Gallery
Est: $10- $10,000
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IO 1931-s Buffalo Nickel Colorfully Toned TOP POP! 5c ms67+ SEGS
Feb 15, 1:30 PM EST
IO 1931-s Buffalo Nickel Colorfully Toned TOP POP! 5c ms67+ SEGS
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Est: $11,250- $22,500
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YO 1913-s Ty II Buffalo Nickel 5c ms65+ SEGS
Feb 14, 1:30 PM EST
YO 1913-s Ty II Buffalo Nickel 5c ms65+ SEGS
by Key Date Coins
Est: $2,025- $4,050
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IE 1918-d Buffalo Nickel Near Top Pop! 5c ms66+ SEGS
Feb 15, 1:30 PM EST
IE 1918-d Buffalo Nickel Near Top Pop! 5c ms66+ SEGS
by Key Date Coins
Est: $8,562- $17,125
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Book of Incomplete 35 Buffalo Nickels
Feb 22, 10:00 AM EST
Book of Incomplete 35 Buffalo Nickels
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Est: $0- $0
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1916-d Buffalo Nickel Near Top Pop! 5c ms66+ SEGS
Feb 15, 1:30 PM EST
1916-d Buffalo Nickel Near Top Pop! 5c ms66+ SEGS
by Key Date Coins
Est: $9,187- $18,375
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IE 1913-p Ty I Buffalo Nickel TOP POP! 5c ms68+ SEGS
Feb 15, 1:30 PM EST
IE 1913-p Ty I Buffalo Nickel TOP POP! 5c ms68+ SEGS
by Key Date Coins
Est: $13,562- $27,125
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IO 1938-d/s Buffalo Nickel TOP POP! 5c ms68+ SEGS
Feb 15, 1:30 PM EST
IO 1938-d/s Buffalo Nickel TOP POP! 5c ms68+ SEGS
by Key Date Coins
Est: $15,000- $30,000
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1929-s Buffalo Nickel TOP POP! 5c ms67+ SEGS
Feb 15, 1:30 PM EST
1929-s Buffalo Nickel TOP POP! 5c ms67+ SEGS
by Key Date Coins
Est: $9,875- $19,750
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IE 1938-d/s Buffalo Nickel TOP POP! 5c ms68 SEGS
Feb 15, 1:30 PM EST
IE 1938-d/s Buffalo Nickel TOP POP! 5c ms68 SEGS
by Key Date Coins
Est: $15,000- $30,000
$8006 Bids
1913-d Ty I Buffalo Nickel Near Top Pop! 5c ms67+ SEGS
Feb 15, 1:30 PM EST
1913-d Ty I Buffalo Nickel Near Top Pop! 5c ms67+ SEGS
by Key Date Coins
Est: $7,468- $14,937
$7006 Bids
IO 1929-s Buffalo Nickel TOP POP! 5c Grades ms67+ SEGS
Feb 15, 1:30 PM EST
IO 1929-s Buffalo Nickel TOP POP! 5c Grades ms67+ SEGS
by Key Date Coins
Est: $9,875- $19,750
$9505 Bids
IE 1915-p Buffalo Nickel Near Top Pop! 5c ms67+ SEGS
Feb 15, 1:30 PM EST
IE 1915-p Buffalo Nickel Near Top Pop! 5c ms67+ SEGS
by Key Date Coins
Est: $9,593- $19,187
$6505 Bids
1931-s Buffalo Nickel TOP POP! 5c ms67+ SEGS
Feb 15, 1:30 PM EST
1931-s Buffalo Nickel TOP POP! 5c ms67+ SEGS
by Key Date Coins
Est: $11,250- $22,500
$7505 Bids
1909 Proof Liberty Nickel Rainbow Toned Top Pop! 5c pr68 SEGS
Feb 15, 1:30 PM EST
1909 Proof Liberty Nickel Rainbow Toned Top Pop! 5c pr68 SEGS
by Key Date Coins
Est: $8,000- $16,000
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2 Rolls of 2005 Westward Journey Nickels in Original Mint Box - 4W8 Ocean View
Feb 15, 7:00 PM EST
2 Rolls of 2005 Westward Journey Nickels in Original Mint Box - 4W8 Ocean View
by Big Dog Auctions
Est: $0- $0
$115 Bids
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1931-S Buffalo Nickel. Depression year so small mintage. Original. 
Feb 17, 4:00 PM EST
1931-S Buffalo Nickel. Depression year so small mintage. Original. 
by Richard L. Edwards Auctioneer
Est: $1- $5,000
$115 Bids

Sellers Who Sell United States Nickels


Gold Standard Auctions

Gold Standard Auctions

Key Date Coins

Key Date Coins

Richard L. Edwards Auctioneer

Richard L. Edwards Auctioneer