The Liberty Head nickel, commonly called the "V" nickel, is a U.S. five-cent coin minted from 1883 to 1912, with an unauthorized small run in 1913. Designed by Charles E. Barber, it features a left-facing profile of Lady Liberty wearing a tiara on the front and a large Roman numeral "V" on the back. [1, 2]
Design Details
Front (Obverse): Shows the head of Lady Liberty facing left. She wears a crown inscribed with "LIBERTY". Thirteen stars and the year of minting ring the border. [1]
Back (Reverse): Features a large Roman numeral "V" (for five cents) framed by a wreath of corn, wheat, and cotton. Words reading "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and the motto "E PLURIBUS UNUM" complete the back. [1, 2, 3]
Composition: Made of 75% copper and 25% nickel. [1]
The 1883 "No Cents" Scandal
When the coin first came out in 1883, the back did not have the word "CENTS". Swindlers gold-plated the new coins and tricked people into taking them as five-dollar gold pieces. The U.S. Mint quickly stopped making them and added the word "CENTS" to the bottom of the back design. [1]
The Liberty Head nickel, commonly called the "V" nickel, is a U.S. five-cent coin minted from 1883 to 1912, with an unauthorized small run in 1913. Designed by Charles E. Barber, it features a left-facing profile of Lady Liberty wearing a tiara on the front and a large Roman numeral "V" on the back. [1, 2]
Design Details
Front (Obverse): Shows the head of Lady Liberty facing left. She wears a crown inscribed with "LIBERTY". Thirteen stars and the year of minting ring the border. [1]
Back (Reverse): Features a large Roman numeral "V" (for five cents) framed by a wreath of corn, wheat, and cotton. Words reading "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and the motto "E PLURIBUS UNUM" complete the back. [1, 2, 3]
Composition: Made of 75% copper and 25% nickel. [1]
The 1883 "No Cents" Scandal
When the coin first came out in 1883, the back did not have the word "CENTS". Swindlers gold-plated the new coins and tricked people into taking them as five-dollar gold pieces. The U.S. Mint quickly stopped making them and added the word "CENTS" to the bottom of the back design. [1]
