Coin of The Week Archive
1913 Liberty Nickel - King of 20th Century Coins
Olsen Specimen
Olsen-Farouk-Hydeman-Buss-Hawn
Hawaii Five-O Star
Most Famous of Five Known
A 1913 Liberty Head nickel will be auctioned by Heritage Auction Galleries during the January 2010 Florida United Numismatist Convention. The following is an exerpt from Heritage's website. For a complete description of this coin, please visit 1913 Liberty Nickel Olsen Specimen.
While the 1804 silver dollar rightfully holds the title The King of Coins, there is no doubt that the 1913 Liberty Head nickel is the King of 20th Century Coins. The 1913 nickel holds the number one position in the third edition of 100 Greatest U.S. Coins. Garrett and Guth comment: "Twenty years ago, if you asked any collector or dealer to name the three most valuable American coins, the response would most likely have been the following: 1804 Silver Dollar, 1894-S Dime, and 1913 Liberty Head Nickel. Today the 1913 Liberty Head nickel has taken the lead, gaining the top position in the 100 greatest U.S. coins." The dynamics of the rare coin market have changed in recent years. According to Garrett and Guth, the 1913 Liberty head nickel's "recent surge in popularity may be due in part to the publicity that has attended its last few appearances.
Photos of the 1913 Liberty Nickel Olsen Specimen
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Video Description of the 1913 Liberty Nickel Olsen Specimen
Images Courtesy of: Heritage Auction Galleries, Ha.com, Copyright Heritage Auction Galleries. Used with permission.
Detailed Coin Specifications
| Description | 1883-1913 Liberty Head Five Cent, "Cents" on Reverse |
| KM# | 112 |
| Denomination | 5 Cents |
| Country | United States |
| Coinage Type | Circulation Coinage |
| Mint | U.S. Mint |
| Description Obverse | Liberty head left, within circle of stars, date below |
| Description Reverse | Roman numeral value within wreath, "Cents" below |
| Legend Reverse | UNITED STATES OF AMERICA |
| Designed by | Charles E. Barber |
| Issue dates | 1883-1913 |
| Composition | 75% copper, 25% nickel |
| Diameter | 21.2 mm. |
| Weight | 77.16 grains (5 grams) |
| Edge | Plain |
| Business strike mintage | 596,535,965 |
| Proof mintage | 79,923 |
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