1905 Liberty Head Nickel Value

Depending on how well it survived, a 1905 Liberty Head Nickel brings anywhere from $0.10 to $38.00. See the grade table below for exactly where your coin falls.

Public domain image (struck or printed before 1926). Click to enlarge.

1905 Liberty Head Nickel value by grade

1905 Liberty Head Nickel value by grade
GradeEstimated 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 a 1905 Liberty Head Nickel worth right now?

In worn but collectible condition (Good-4), a 1905 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.

1905 Liberty Head Nickel specifications

Series
Liberty Head Nickel
Year
1905
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

The 1905 Liberty Head Nickel comes from Philadelphia, which struck coins without a mint mark. If the spot where branch-mint coins show a letter is empty on your 1905, that is exactly as it should be.

What makes the 1905 Liberty Head Nickel valuable

Documented examples of the 1905 Liberty Head Nickel in our reference database anchor what we know about this issue. Mintage records are incomplete, so collector demand and surviving population drive its market.

Context adds the final layer to the 1905 Liberty Head Nickel. Charles Barber's Liberty nickel debuted in 1883 without the word CENTS, just a large Roman numeral V. 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.

1905 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 1905 Liberty Head Nickel specimens

1 physically measured 1905 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.

Measured 1905 Liberty Head Nickel specimens
SpecimenWeightDiameterDie axisReferences
1905 Liberty Head Nickel #1----

Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.

Summary: the 1905 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.