1886 Liberty Head Nickel Value
A 1886 Liberty Head Nickel is worth roughly $44.00 to $7,425 depending on its condition. Certified examples in top grades can run far higher.
Public domain image (struck or printed before 1926). Click to enlarge.
1886 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 1886 Liberty Head Nickel worth today?
A 1886 Liberty Head Nickel that spent decades in circulation is worth about $44.00 today. One that never circulated at all can bring up to $7,425. The honest answer for most inherited or pocket-found examples sits in the lower half of the table.
1886 Liberty Head Nickel specifications
- Series
- Liberty Head Nickel
- Year
- 1886
- Mint mark
- None (Philadelphia)
- Mintage
- 3,326,000
- Composition
- 75% copper, 25% nickel
- Weight
- 5 g
- Diameter
- 21.2 mm
- Edge
- Plain
- Designer
- Charles E. Barber
Mintage figure: US Mint reports (approximate).
No mint mark? Here is why
The 1886 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 1886 Liberty Head Nickel valuable
With a mintage of just 3,326,000, the 1886 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.
Few series carry the following that supports the 1886 Liberty Head Nickel. For collectors, the 1885, 1886, and 1912-S form the backbone of a challenging but completable set, minus, of course, the 1913. A coin that thousands of collectors are actively assembling into sets never lacks for a market.
1886 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 1886 Liberty Head Nickel specimens
1 physically measured 1886 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1886 Liberty Head Nickel #1 | - | - | - | - |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1886 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.