1885 Liberty Head Nickel Value
In the current market, a 1885 Liberty Head Nickel changes hands for roughly $44.00 at the low end and $7,425 at the top. Certified examples in top grades can run far higher.
Public domain image (struck or printed before 1926). Click to enlarge.
1885 Liberty Head Nickel value by grade
| Grade | Estimated value |
|---|---|
| Good (G-4) | $44.00 to $74.50 |
| Very Good (VG-8) | $64.00 to $108 |
| Fine (F-12) | $96.00 to $162 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | $160 to $270 |
| Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $272 to $459 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50) | $448 to $756 |
| Mint State (MS-60) | $720 to $1,215 |
| Choice Unc (MS-63) | $1,360 to $2,295 |
| Gem Unc (MS-65) | $4,400 to $7,425 |
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 1885 Liberty Head Nickel worth today?
In worn but collectible condition (Good-4), a 1885 Liberty Head Nickel starts around $44.00. From there, value climbs with every grade step: a gem Mint State example (MS-65) can reach $7,425. Most coins found in old collections fall somewhere between Very Fine and About Uncirculated, the middle rows of the table above.
1885 Liberty Head Nickel specifications
- Series
- Liberty Head Nickel
- Year
- 1885
- Mint mark
- None (Philadelphia)
- Mintage
- 1,472,700
- Composition
- 75% copper, 25% nickel
- Weight
- 5 g
- Diameter
- 21.2 mm
- Edge
- Plain
- Designer
- Charles E. Barber
Mintage figure: US Mint reports (approximate).
Why there is no letter on this coin
The 1885 Liberty Head Nickel was struck at the Philadelphia Mint, which used no mint mark in this era. If you find no letter where branch-mint coins carry one (On the reverse, left of CENTS at the bottom (1912-D and 1912-S only)), you are holding a Philadelphia issue.
What makes the 1885 Liberty Head Nickel valuable
With a mintage of just 1,472,700, the 1885 Liberty Head Nickel is one of the celebrated key dates of the Liberty Head Nickel series. Survivors are scarce in every grade, and demand from series collectors keeps prices firm year after year.
Context adds the final layer to the 1885 Liberty Head Nickel. Swindlers promptly gold-plated the new coins and passed them as five-dollar pieces, forcing the Mint to add CENTS mid-year and creating the affordable, famous 'racketeer nickel' subtype. 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.
1885 Liberty Head Nickel inscriptions & design
Obverse
LIBERTY [on coronet] / (date)
Liberty bust left
Reverse
• UNITED STATES OF AMERICA • / E PLURIBUS UNUM / V / CENTS
Wreath
Measured 1885 Liberty Head Nickel specimens
1 physically measured 1885 Liberty Head Nickel example 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1885 Liberty Head Nickel #1 | - | - | - | - |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1885 Liberty Head Nickel is valued between $44.00 and $7,425 as of 2026-06-13. Estimates combine mintage rarity, key-date status and metal content; they are editorial guidance, not an offer to buy.