1909 Liberty Head Nickel Value
Depending on how well it survived, a 1909 Liberty Head Nickel brings anywhere from $0.10 to $38.00. Certified examples in top grades can run far higher.
Public domain image (struck or printed before 1926). Click to enlarge.
1909 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 2026-06-13. 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 1909 Liberty Head Nickel worth today?
In worn but collectible condition (Good-4), a 1909 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.
1909 Liberty Head Nickel specifications
- Series
- Liberty Head Nickel
- Year
- 1909
- 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 1909 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 1909 Liberty Head Nickel valuable
Documented examples of the 1909 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 1909 Liberty Head Nickel. Swindlers promptly gold-plated the new coins and passed them as five-dollar pieces, forcing the Mint to add CENTS mid-year and creating the affordable, famous 'racketeer nickel' subtype. 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.
1909 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 1909 Liberty Head Nickel specimens
2 physically measured 1909 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1909 Liberty Head Nickel #1 | - | - | - | - |
| 1909 Liberty Head Nickel #2 | - | - | - | - |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1909 Liberty Head Nickel is valued between $0.10 and $38.00 as of 2026-06-13. Estimates combine mintage rarity, key-date status and metal content; they are editorial guidance, not an offer to buy.