1913 Liberty Head Nickel

ddink · May 30, 2005 4:40AM

Can someone fill me in on the story of these (mainly how they were produced)? Thanks!

Coinosaurus · May 30, 2005 5:38AM

They are presumed to have produced by one Samuel Brown, a one-time mint employee who "announced" them to the world by putting a buy ad in the Numismatist in 1920. His examples appeared on the market shortly thereafter and traded as a group well into the 1940s.

ddink · May 30, 2005 5:41AM

Where did the die come from?

dbldie55 · May 30, 2005 5:43AM

<< They are presumed to have produced by one Samuel Brown, a one-time mint employee who "announced" them to the world by putting a buy ad in the Numismatist in 1920. His examples appeared on the market shortly thereafter and traded as a group well into the 1940s. >>

The first buy ad was in December 1919. He showed up with one at the 1920 ANA (even though they keep saying he had 5). They showed up for sale in an ad in the January 1924 Numismatist by August Wagner.

He would have needed help to produce these as he did not have access to the right areas of the mint. Some people think they were minted in 1918 or 1919 after Barber died. I think Barber may have been responsible for them.

dbldie55 · May 30, 2005 5:44AM

<< Where did the die come from? >>

The mint made dies for the 1913 Liberty Nickel in late 1912, although all are reported to have been destroyed.

291fifth · May 30, 2005 6:38AM

All five were once in a custom made holder. Does anyone know if the holder still exists?

dbldie55 · May 30, 2005 6:48AM

<< All five were once in a custom made holder. Does anyone know if the holder still exists? >>

Yes. Eric Newman still has it.

Coinosaurus · May 30, 2005 6:57AM

I believe there are six openings in the holder, leading to a rumor at one time that there were six and not five such nickels. What the sixth opening was used for I do not recall.

TommyType · May 30, 2005 7:17AM

<< I believe there are six openings in the holder, leading to a rumor at one time that there were six and not five such nickels. What the sixth opening was used for I do not recall. >>

I read that the sixth hole contained a 1913 Buffalo. Showing off the TWO designs for the date??

dbldie55 · May 30, 2005 7:19AM

It had 8 holes. It had regular and pattern 1913 Buffalo nickels in it. It still has the buffalo nickels in it, one of which is unique. There is a picture of it in Peters & Mohon.

BillJones · May 30, 2005 7:23AM

The 6th coin, for which there was a space in the holder, was said to be a Buffalo nickel pattern that did not have the "F" by the date. It was definitely not a 6th 1913 Liberty Nickel. Rumors on this coin have ranged from comments that it had to odd composition (95% copper, 5% to nickel and zinc) to that it was an electrotype.

dbldie55 · May 30, 2005 7:30AM

As I said, Eric Newman has the holder. I forgot I wrote to him regarding this. Here is his response from February 25, 2002 about the contents of the holder.

The five 1913 Liberty Nickels.
The 1913 copper composition Type 2 J-1790 (and is still there)
The 1913 Nickel Pattern without the F, J-1789, was there, but sold in the '40s.
The 1913 Type 1 regular issue and is still in the holder.

AlaBill · May 30, 2005 9:19AM

Great information dbldie55 and BillJones.

When you read threads like this does anyone doubt the value of the internet to coin collection?

I sure don't and learn much here each day.

TommyType · May 30, 2005 9:27AM

<< The 1913 Type 1 regular issue and is still in the holder. >>

Here's a question for the group:

If the above coin, which is most likely a run of the mill MS coin, were certified and pedigreed as "Part of the 1913 Liberty Nickel display set", would it be worth any premium? If so, how much?

Coinosaurus · May 30, 2005 10:17AM

5K or 10K maybe? Hopefully Newman will donate it to the Washington U numismatic library and we'll never find out.

Shamika · May 30, 2005 10:18AM

Premium? Yes!

RiotAct · May 30, 2005 10:22AM

<< 

<< The 1913 Type 1 regular issue and is still in the holder. >>

Here's a question for the group:

If the above coin, which is most likely a run of the mill MS coin, were certified and pedigreed as "Part of the 1913 Liberty Nickel display set", would it be worth any premium? If so, how much? >>

I'd have to think that it would be worth a substantial premium. People would freak out and say, "wow this nickel was 1 cm away from the 1913 Liberty Nickels!!!" or something like that. It would drive up the price by quite a large amount.

ddink · May 30, 2005 10:37AM

Yes, it would be worth a great deal.

solid · May 30, 2005 11:27AM

That is a pedigree I'd definately pay a premium for!

Ken

mrpaseo · May 30, 2005 11:57AM

If all the 1913 Liberty Head Nickel's were destroyed... how is it that these five are legal to own?

Ray

morgannut2 · May 30, 2005 12:08PM

The coinage act of 1965, among other laws, where theft has not been previously alleged by the United States Government or it's Agencys.

Conder101 · May 31, 2005 12:45PM

<< If all the 1913 Liberty Head Nickel's were destroyed... how is it that these five are legal to own? >>

There were no other 1913 V nickels, and technically they are illegal but the Treasury has never made any attempt to recover them and has said (I believe) that they do not have any plans to do so.

The dies were made up in 1912 because there were dificulties in getting the final approval for the Buffalo design and it looked like they would not be approved before the end of the year. So the mint made the dies so that they would be ready to continue production of nickels in 1913 even if the new designs were not ready. On Dec 12th though the mint received orders to do nothing about nickel production until the new designs were ready. The 1913 Philadelphia dies were destroyed on Dec 17th. The 1913-S V Nickel dies were returned to the mint on Dec 25th and were destroyed Dec 27th.

1913 Liberty Head Nickel

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