1894 Liberty Head Nickel Value
The 1894 Liberty Head Nickel carries a current retail range of about $1.75 to $567 across circulated and Mint State grades. Exceptional, certified pieces regularly exceed the top of that range.
Public domain image (struck or printed before 1926). Click to enlarge.
1894 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 2026-06-13. 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 1894 Liberty Head Nickel worth right now?
At the entry level, well-worn examples bring about $1.75. The same coin in gem uncirculated condition is a $567 coin. Grade is everything: two examples of the 1894 Liberty Head Nickel can differ in price by an order of magnitude based purely on preservation.
1894 Liberty Head Nickel specifications
- Series
- Liberty Head Nickel
- Year
- 1894
- 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 1894 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 1894 Liberty Head Nickel is worth money
Without a firm mintage figure, the 1894 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 1894 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.
1894 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 1894 Liberty Head Nickel specimens
3 physically measured 1894 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1894 Liberty Head Nickel #1 | - | - | - | - |
| 1894 Liberty Head Nickel #2 | - | - | - | - |
| 1894 Liberty Head Nickel #3 | - | - | - | - |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1894 Liberty Head Nickel is valued between $1.75 and $567 as of 2026-06-13. Estimates combine mintage rarity, key-date status and metal content; they are editorial guidance, not an offer to buy.