1888 Liberty Head Nickel Value
Today a 1888 Liberty Head Nickel typically sells for $1.75 to $567, with condition doing most of the work. Where your coin lands depends on wear, strike and surface quality.
Public domain image (struck or printed before 1926). Click to enlarge.
1888 Liberty Head Nickel value by grade
| Grade | Estimated value |
|---|---|
| Good (G-4) | $1.75 to $2.95 |
| Very Good (VG-8) | $2.55 to $4.30 |
| Fine (F-12) | $4.40 to $7.45 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | $8.00 to $13.50 |
| Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $14.50 to $24.50 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50) | $28.00 to $47.50 |
| Mint State (MS-60) | $56.00 to $94.50 |
| Choice Unc (MS-63) | $112 to $189 |
| Gem Unc (MS-65) | $336 to $567 |
Estimated retail range, updated 2026-06-15. Estimates are modeled from mintage rarity and metal content, not auction records. Actual sale prices vary with certification, eye appeal and market timing.
What is a 1888 Liberty Head Nickel worth right now?
In worn but collectible condition (Good-4), a 1888 Liberty Head Nickel starts around $1.75. From there, value climbs with every grade step: a gem Mint State example (MS-65) can reach $567. Most coins found in old collections fall somewhere between Very Fine and About Uncirculated, the middle rows of the table above.
1888 Liberty Head Nickel specifications
- Series
- Liberty Head Nickel
- Year
- 1888
- 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
Why this coin has no mint mark
Philadelphia struck the 1888 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.
What makes the 1888 Liberty Head Nickel valuable
Without a firm mintage figure, the 1888 Liberty Head Nickel trades on what actually turns up. Documented museum specimens give collectors a benchmark for authenticity and typical preservation.
Context adds the final layer to the 1888 Liberty Head Nickel. The series ran to 1912, the first year branch mints struck nickels; the 1912-S, with 238,000 pieces, is the legitimate key. 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.
1888 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 1888 Liberty Head Nickel specimens
1 physically measured 1888 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1888 Liberty Head Nickel #1 | - | - | - | - |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1888 Liberty Head Nickel is valued between $1.75 and $567 as of 2026-06-15. Estimates combine mintage rarity, key-date status and metal content; they are editorial guidance, not an offer to buy.