1896 Liberty Head Nickel Value
The 1896 Liberty Head Nickel carries a current retail range of about $0.10 to $38.00 across circulated and Mint State grades. The figures below break the range down grade by grade.
Public domain image (struck or printed before 1926). Click to enlarge.
1896 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 2026-06-15. 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 1896 Liberty Head Nickel worth today?
In worn but collectible condition (Good-4), a 1896 Liberty Head Nickel starts around $0.10. From there, value climbs with every grade step: a gem Mint State example (MS-65) can reach $38.00. Most coins found in old collections fall somewhere between Very Fine and About Uncirculated, the middle rows of the table above.
1896 Liberty Head Nickel specifications
- Series
- Liberty Head Nickel
- Year
- 1896
- 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 1896 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 1896 Liberty Head Nickel is worth money
There is history in a 1896 Liberty Head Nickel as well. The series ran to 1912, the first year branch mints struck nickels; the 1912-S, with 238,000 pieces, is the legitimate key. That backdrop keeps the series among the most actively collected in American numismatics.
For the 1896 Liberty Head Nickel, surviving examples tell the story that mint records do not. Museum-documented specimens define the issue for collectors.
1896 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 1896 Liberty Head Nickel specimens
2 physically measured 1896 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1896 Liberty Head Nickel #1 | - | - | - | - |
| 1896 Liberty Head Nickel #2 | - | - | - | - |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1896 Liberty Head Nickel is valued between $0.10 and $38.00 as of 2026-06-15. Estimates combine mintage rarity, key-date status and metal content; they are editorial guidance, not an offer to buy.