The 1913 Liberty Head Nickel is not just a coin; it is a legend. Known as one of the rarest and most mysterious pieces of currency in the world, only five are known to exist.1 Because it was never officially authorized by the U.S. Mint, its very existence is a scandal that has fascinated collectors for over a century.2
In today’s market, one of these five-cent pieces can be worth anywhere from $3 million to over $6 million.3
The Mystery: Why Does It Exist?
In 1912, the U.S. Mint stopped making the “Liberty Head” (or “V”) nickel to switch to the new Buffalo Nickelfor 1913.4 Officially, no Liberty Head nickels were supposed to be made with a 1913 date.5
However, in 1920, a former Mint employee named Samuel Brown shocked the collecting world by displaying five of them.6 It is widely believed that Brown secretly struck these coins himself before leaving the Philadelphia Mint, then waited years for the “statute of limitations” on his actions to run out before showing them off.7
The “Fab Five”: Where Are They Now?
Each of the five nickels has its own nickname and a unique story. They are some of the most traveled and famous objects in history.
| Specimen Name | Current Location / Status | Notable History |
| Eliasberg | Private Collection | The finest known specimen; sold for $4.5 million in 2018. |
| Olsen | Private Collection | Once owned by King Farouk of Egypt; appeared in an episode of Hawaii Five-O. |
| Walton | GreatCollections (Private) | Thought to be a fake and hidden in a closet for 40 years before being authenticated in 2003. |
| McDermott | ANA Money Museum | The only specimen that shows actual wear from being carried in a pocket. |
| Norweb | Smithsonian Institution | Donated to the National Numismatic Collection in Washington, D.C. |
The Walton Specimen: A $4.2 Million Miracle
The most famous story belongs to the Walton Specimen. In 1962, collector George Walton was killed in a car crash while driving to a coin show with the nickel in his pocket.8
- The Mistake: When his family took the coin to experts after the crash, they were told it was a counterfeit.9
- The Closet: For the next 40 years, the multi-million dollar coin sat in a custom-made box in a dark closet.
- The Discovery: In 2003, a nationwide hunt offered $1 million just to see the missing fifth nickel.10 The Walton family brought theirs in, and a panel of experts confirmed it was real.11 It sold in 2022 for $4.2 million.12
How to Spot a Fake (The Reality Check)
Because the 1913 Liberty Head Nickel is so valuable, thousands of fakes exist. If you find a “1913 Liberty Nickel” in an old jar, it is almost certainly one of the following:
- Altered Date: A common 1903 or 1910 nickel where someone scratched off the original number and engraved a “3.”
- Modern Copies: “Replica” coins sold in gift shops that are not made of the correct metal.
Identifying an Authentic Specimen
- Provenance: All five real nickels have a documented “paper trail” (list of owners) going back to 1920.
- Professional Grading: A real 1913 nickel would be encased in a plastic slab from PCGS or NGC.13
- Weight: It should weigh exactly 5 grams.14
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I find a 1913 Liberty Nickel in my pocket change?
A: Realistically, no. All five are accounted for—two are in museums and three are held by elite private collectors. However, people still hunt for a “sixth” specimen that may have been lost to history.
Q: Is there a 1913 Buffalo Nickel worth millions?
A: No. The Buffalo Nickel was the official coin of 1913.15 While some rare “doubled die” Buffalo nickels are worth thousands, they are not nearly as rare as the Liberty Head version.
Q: What is the highest price ever paid for one?
A: While private sales are often secret, the Eliasberg specimen is currently valued at over $6.7 million according to price guides.
Conclusion
The 1913 Liberty Head Nickel is the ultimate symbol of rarity. It represents a moment where a “rogue” mint employee created a treasure that would eventually be worth more than its weight in gold.16 While you likely won’t find one at the grocery store, the story of the Walton nickel proves that sometimes, the world’s greatest treasures are just waiting to be rediscovered in a family closet.