1897 Liberty Head Nickel Value
A 1897 Liberty Head Nickel is worth roughly $0.10 to $38.00 depending on its condition. Exceptional, certified pieces regularly exceed the top of that range.
Public domain image (struck or printed before 1926). Click to enlarge.
1897 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.
What is the 1897 Liberty Head Nickel selling for today?
In worn but collectible condition (Good-4), a 1897 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.
1897 Liberty Head Nickel specifications
- Series
- Liberty Head Nickel
- Year
- 1897
- 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
Reading a coin with no mint mark
No mint mark is the mark here: the 1897 Liberty Head Nickel comes from the main Philadelphia Mint, which left its coins unlettered in this era. The position where branch mints placed their letter (On the reverse, left of CENTS at the bottom (1912-D and 1912-S only)) is simply blank.
What makes the 1897 Liberty Head Nickel valuable
For the 1897 Liberty Head Nickel, surviving examples tell the story that mint records do not. Museum-documented specimens define the issue for collectors.
Context adds the final layer to the 1897 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. 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.
1897 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 1897 Liberty Head Nickel specimens
2 physically measured 1897 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1897 Liberty Head Nickel #1 | - | - | - | - |
| 1897 Liberty Head Nickel #2 | - | - | - | - |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1897 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.