I remember hearing about the 1913 Liberty Nickel when I visited a coin shop one time The owner told me a wild story about how only five of these nickels exist and how they were worth millions That instantly grabbed my attention.

I used to collect coins casually but this made me want to know more It’s crazy to think that a small nickel could be valued over 5 million So I started researching and the more I learned the more I understood why this nickel is the Holy Grail of coin collecting

Overview Table

Feature	Details
Year of Issue	1913
Known Specimens	5
Material	75% copper 25% nickel
Current Value	Over 5 million
Significant Owners	Private collectors museums

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History of the 1913 Liberty Nickel

The 1913 Liberty Nickel wasn’t supposed to exist By that year the US Mint had switched to the Buffalo Nickel But for some reason five Liberty Nickels were secretly minted by a Mint employee without any record That’s what makes them so rare Their history stayed hidden until 1920 when coin dealer Samuel Brown revealed them to the public

There are rumors that Brown himself might’ve been involved in the minting of these coins but no one can prove it That mystery is part of what makes these coins so valuable today It’s like holding a secret piece of history in your hand

Why Is the 1913 Liberty Nickel Worth Over $5 Million

The main reason for the huge value of the 1913 Liberty Nickel is its rarity There are only five known in the whole world Add to that the mystery behind how they were made and you have a coin that everyone wants

Plus these coins have passed through the hands of famous collectors making them even more desirable When something is this rare and the demand is sky-high it’s no surprise the value goes into the millions

The Five Known 1913 Liberty Nickels

Out of all the Liberty Nickels made only five from 1913 are known to exist

1. The Eliasberg Specimen – This is considered the best quality of the five It was owned by Louis Eliasberg the only person to collect every US coin
2. The Olsen Specimen – This one became famous after being shown on the TV show Hawaii Five-O
3. The Walton Specimen – Lost for 40 years it was rediscovered by the Walton family in 2003
4. The Norweb Specimen – Owned by the Norweb family a well-known name in coin collecting
5. The McDermott Specimen – This is the most worn of the five and is currently at the American Numismatic Association’s Money Museum

Value of the 1913 Liberty Nickel

The value of each 1913 Liberty Nickel is incredible In 2007 the Eliasberg Specimen was sold for over 5 million Other specimens have fetched between 3 and 4 million in recent sales

The reason these coins keep rising in value is that collectors aren’t willing to sell them often That scarcity pushes the price up every time one becomes available for auction It’s like a treasure that people are competing for and every sale sets a new record

How to Spot a 1913 Liberty Nickel

If you think you might have found a Liberty Nickel here’s how to tell if it’s from 1913

1. Date – The first thing you need to check is the date It should clearly say 1913 Most Liberty Nickels were minted between 1883 and 1912 so 1913 is extremely rare
2. Liberty Head – The front of the coin shows Lady Liberty facing left with “Liberty” written above her
3. Roman Numeral V – The back of the coin has a big “V” which stands for 5 along with “E Pluribus Unum”

If you suspect your nickel is a 1913 you should get it checked by an expert

Estimated Values of the 1913 Liberty Nickel

Specimen	Estimated Value
Eliasberg Specimen	5 million+
Olsen Specimen	4 million+
Walton Specimen	3 million+
Norweb Specimen	3 million+
McDermott Specimen	2 million+

Conclusion

The 1913 Liberty Nickel is one of the rarest and most fascinating coins in the world With only five of them known to exist their value is through the roof Its history mystery and limited availability have made it a must-have for serious collectors Whether you are a coin enthusiast or just interested in rare treasures the 1913 Liberty Nickel represents a unique part of history that’s worth every penny

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