1912 Liberty Head Nickel Value: Complete Collector’s Guide

The 1912 Liberty nickel is the last officially produced coin in the Liberty Head series that holds a special place in any collection or museum. Although it is one of many issues that were released under the same emblem, 1912 was nevertheless different.  

In this quick guide, we cover the most essential characteristics of the 1912 nickel, check coin value, and define if this instance is worth keeping.  

The Story Behind Liberty Head Nickel 1912

The 1912 Liberty Head 5C was the last piece officially released as a part of the Liberty Head series, which was developed by Charles E. Barber. The design of the coin was not one-of-a-kind – most collectors and critics considered it outdated, which inevitably led to the appearance of Indian nickels in 1913.

While 1912 was the last official year, the 1913 Liberty Nickels, though unofficial, are often regarded as the true final issue of the series.

Related articles: How Much Is a Liberty Head Nickel Worth? Value & Key Dates

Varieties of the 1912 Liberty Nickels

What is unique about this particular issue? In fact, it was one and only year when a coin of this type was produced by three major mints simultaneously: in Philadelphia (bearing no mintmark), Denver (bearing "D"), and San Francisco (bearing "S"). Because of the distribution of mint forces, some instances (i.e., the San Francisco iteration in particular) are declared the rarest with only 238,000 pieces manufactured.

1. 1912 Liberty Nickel (Philadelphia Mint): The most common of the three with 26,236,714 pieces released.

2. 1912 D Liberty Nickel (Denver Mint): The 1912 D variety is rarer than the Philadelphia version with 8,474,000 pieces produced. 

3. 1912 S Liberty Nickel (San Francisco Mint): The rarest and most valuable of the three with 238,000 pieces manufactured.

How Much Is a 1912 Liberty Head V Nickel Worth?

Just like with other numismatic creations, the 1912 Liberty nickel value depends on various factors, including the grade, mintmarks, designations (i.e., indicators of color or strike quality), and more. However, auction records cannot be explained and justified – they display extraordinarily overwhelming results.

• A 1912 S 5C graded MS65+ by PCGS was sold for $37,375 at Heritage Auctions in 2012. 

• A 1912 5C (Philadelphia) in Proof 67+ Cameo brought $18,800 at Heritage Auctions in 2018. 

• A 1912 D 5C got the highest price – $41,125 graded MS67 in 2018 (Legend Rare Coin Auctions)

What If My Coin Is Valuable… 

If you suspect that you own the most valuable quarter or any other piece but do not know how much it might cost, you are not alone. Many valuable coins go unrecognized simply because their owners are not sure what to look for, but Coin ID Scanner is.

Coin ID Scanner means a fast, easy, and accurate way to identify and evaluate your collections. Snap a photo and wait for the app to instantly provide details such as the type, year, mint mark, and an estimated market value based on current pricing data.

Identify, evaluate, track, and preserve. This is all you need.