1883 Liberty Head Nickel Value
A 1883 Liberty Head Nickel is worth roughly $0.10 to $38.00 depending on its condition. Certified examples in top grades can run far higher.
Public domain image (struck or printed before 1926). Click to enlarge.
1883 Liberty Head Nickel value by grade
| Grade | Estimated value |
|---|---|
| Good (G-4) | $0.10 to $0.15 |
| Very Good (VG-8) | $0.10 to $0.20 |
| Fine (F-12) | $0.20 to $0.35 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | $0.40 to $0.70 |
| Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $0.80 to $1.35 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50) | $1.60 to $2.70 |
| Mint State (MS-60) | $3.20 to $5.40 |
| Choice Unc (MS-63) | $7.20 to $12.00 |
| Gem Unc (MS-65) | $22.50 to $38.00 |
Estimated retail range, updated 2026-06-13. Estimates are modeled from mintage rarity and metal content, not auction records. Actual sale prices vary with certification, eye appeal and market timing.
How much is a 1883 Liberty Head Nickel worth today?
Start with $0.10 for a heavily circulated 1883 Liberty Head Nickel and work upward. Lightly circulated 1883 examples occupy the middle of the range, while true gems approach $38.00. If your coin has no wear on the high points, it deserves a closer look or a professional opinion.
1883 Liberty Head Nickel specifications
- Series
- Liberty Head Nickel
- Year
- 1883
- Mint mark
- None (Philadelphia)
- Mintage
- Not recorded
- Composition
- 75% copper, 25% nickel
- Weight
- 5 g
- Diameter
- 21.2 mm
- Edge
- Plain
- Designer
- Charles E. Barber
No mint mark? Here is why
Philadelphia struck the 1883 Liberty Head Nickel, and Philadelphia coins of this period carry no mint mark at all. An empty space at the usual mint mark position (On the reverse, left of CENTS at the bottom (1912-D and 1912-S only)) confirms a Philadelphia strike, not a flaw.
Why the 1883 Liberty Head Nickel is worth money
Documented examples of the 1883 Liberty Head Nickel in our reference database anchor what we know about this issue. Mintage records are incomplete, so collector demand and surviving population drive its market.
Context adds the final layer to the 1883 Liberty Head Nickel. Then comes the legend: five 1913 Liberty nickels, struck under circumstances never explained, each now worth millions. Owning this date means owning a piece of that story, and demand for the series as a whole sustains liquidity for every issue in it.
1883 Liberty Head Nickel inscriptions & design
Obverse
LIBERTY [on coronet] / (date)
Liberty bust left
Reverse
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / E PLURIBUS UNUM / V
Wreath
Measured 1883 Liberty Head Nickel specimens
9 physically measured 1883 Liberty Head Nickel examples in our reference database. Real measured weights and die axes let you authenticate a coin against the 5 g, 21.2 mm minting standard.
| Specimen | Weight | Diameter | Die axis | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1883 Liberty Head Nickel #1 | 4.91 g | 20 mm | - | - |
| 1883 Liberty Head Nickel #2 | - | - | - | - |
| 1883 Liberty Head Nickel #3 | - | - | - | - |
| 1883 Liberty Head Nickel #4 | - | - | - | - |
| 1883 Liberty Head Nickel #5 | - | - | - | - |
| 1883 Liberty Head Nickel #6 | - | - | - | - |
| 1883 Liberty Head Nickel #7 | - | - | - | - |
| 1883 Liberty Head Nickel #8 | - | - | - | - |
| 1883 Liberty Head Nickel #9 | - | - | - | - |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1883 Liberty Head Nickel is valued between $0.10 and $38.00 as of 2026-06-13. Estimates combine mintage rarity, key-date status and metal content; they are editorial guidance, not an offer to buy.