The 10 Most Expensive Nickels – Is Your Piggy Bank Hiding Treasure?

Money, as we all know, has value. It is what enables us to exchange our labor for necessities. to spend money on the things we do, the things we live in, and the things we consume. On practically every level, money is what maintains the world in operation.

But there are circumstances in which cash is more valuable. when the face value is only a small portion of the true value. And during such unique moments, commonplace commodities like nickels can become the most expensive nickels in the world, possibly worth millions of dollars.

We’re going to highlight the important rare nickels that collectors are looking for in our list of unusual nickels.

You’ll be able to wow any numismatist by the time this article is finished. The ability to verify your change to ensure that no valuable nickels are stowed away without your notice is possibly the most crucial benefit.

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The top ten most valuable nickels

10. 1920-D Buffalo Nickel: $185,300

When it comes to collectibles of all kinds, rarity is important, and Buffalo nickels are difficult to find. However, the 1920-D, created by the Denver Mint, is one of those unique instances with only a small number of perfect nickels remaining out of the 9.5 million made.

Even in the midst of the 2008 financial crisis, an MS-67 grade example sold for a staggering $138,000, or over $185,300 in 2022 dollars.

9. 1917-S Buffalo Nickel: $185,300

The 1917 Buffalo nickels, which were minted at the outset of World War I, are extremely scarce and of high quality, coming from the San Francisco mint. It could have been because the dies were too wide apart or because they had eroded and weren’t replaced.

The 1917-S Buffalo nickel will sell for a high price today and is in excellent condition. One was sold in 2008 for $138,00, which would be almost $185,300 in 2022 currency.

8. 1913-D Buffalo Nickel Type 2: $193,000

Nickel collectors should take note of 1913. Not only was it the time when the Buffalo design replaced the Liberty Head V design on the nickel, but it also featured two separate Buffalo designs. The initial one had five cents on it; this was eventually changed to a type 2 out of concern for degradation.

Today, there are very few of these in top collector quality. One went for $193,750 in 2008, which is equal to $143,750 in 2022.

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7. 1867 Shield Nickel With Rays: $202,400

From 1866 until 1883, Shield nickels were created in place of the earlier fractional currency notes. While there are many distributed and proof copies from previous years, this is not the case for 1867.

This was the year that the rays were taken out of the die, although some still managed to pass through. There are believed to be ten or fewer instances left today, and one sold for $132,250 in 2004, which is equivalent to $202,400 in 2022 currency.

6. 1880 Shield Nickel: $208,100

The 1880 Shield Nickel is one of the rare nickels that collectors seek out because it combines the historical importance of the 19th century with a low output. There were just 16,000 created for circulation.

One example cost $175,000, making it one of the most expensive nickels ever sold on eBay. However, a different exceptional example went for $170,375 at auction in 2014, which is equivalent to $208,100 in 2022 dollars.

5. 1916 Buffalo Nickel Doubled Die Obverse: $431,200

If you can get your hands on one of these rare nickels to keep an eye out for, the year and Indian Chief’s chin have been doubled. There are only 200 examples in total known, and fewer than 15 are in immaculate condition.

One went for $281,750 back in 2004; today, the same amount would be almost $431,200 after inflation.

4. 1926-S Buffalo Nickel: $432,400

The San Francisco mint is once more to thank for this collection of priceless nickels, which will please nickel collectors. Only 970,000 Buffalo nickels were produced in 1926 at the San Francisco mint, compared to millions at other mints and in subsequent years.

A 1926-S Buffalo nickel, which sold for $322,000 in 2008, or nearly $432,400 in 2022 dollars, stands out among the rare nickels on this list.

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3. 1918/7-D Buffalo Nickel Doubled Die Obverse: $503,000

This is one to add to your collection of precious nickels to keep an eye out for. Some Buffalo nickels appear to have been struck at the beginning of 2018 using a 1917 die before being struck again using the correct 1918 die. This led to an overdate that was still discernible, with the 7 appearing beneath the 8.

Some of the most expensive nickels available are good examples. One went for $350,750 in 2006, which would be almost $503,000 in 2022 currency.

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2. 1964 Jefferson Nickel Mirror Brockage: $1,150,000

One of the most expensive nickels ever sold on eBay is a mysterious 1964 Jefferson coin, while other 1964 Jefferson coins are nickels worth money that many people can buy. A mirror blockage was used in the production of one 1964 Jefferson nickel, which had a head on each side, one of which was reversed.

One of the most valuable nickels ever produced came from a mint error that cost millions of dollars. It reportedly went for $1,150,000 when it was auctioned on eBay.

1. 1913 Liberty Head V Nickel: $5,250,000

The Buffalo nickel was introduced as the new design for the nickel in 1913. But this tale is not entirely straightforward. Five 1913 nickel specimens with the old Liberty Head V design are known to exist. The remainder is spent accumulating historical artifacts that are comparable to even some of the most expensive paintings or stamps in existence.

There are only three privately owned examples out of the five. One went for $4,560,000 in 2018, which is equivalent to $5,250,100 in 2022 dollars. It is a rare occurrence for nickels to sell for millions of dollars at auction, but if it does, you can bet that a lot of money will be exchanged for something that was once only worth five cents.

A buyer’s guide to the priciest nickels

Nickels have been produced in the United States in the millions and millions throughout its history. Finding a precious nickel isn’t as difficult to discover as you may think, but sorting through them all is an impossible chore.

Collectors are looking for costly, unusual nickels, and finding them requires a few essential components. Examples are hard to come by, but you’re looking for them. Nickel increases in value with increasing rarity. You’ll find that war-era nickels are often slightly more valued because any interesting history also plays a part.

You’ll also need to know a lot about the state of the nickels you want to acquire, which is possibly the most crucial in the world of the most precious coins. You will be able to master this hobby if you can determine the rarity, history, and condition of any nickel.

Take a look at the list we already covered to keep an eye out for uncommon nickels. The valued years and the mints from which they are minted show some tendencies. If you practice recalling this list of years, you might be able to spot some value nickels with ease.

A mistake printed on the nickel is another factor that nearly always results in rarity. The three-leg nickels from 1936 and 1937 are excellent illustrations of how a minor mint blunder may result in significant financial gain. Having said that, erosion can result in some of these same issues, so it’s important to identify what is and isn’t original.

Finding nickels with a fascinating past isn’t always simple though. Only a small portion of the most expensive nickels are presumably in this location. However, if the nickels date from a noteworthy period, such as one of the world wars or a year when nickel design altered, say 1913, you might be onto something.

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Finally, you should familiarize yourself with the world of coin grading. The three types of coins with the highest value are circulated, uncirculated, and proof.

The coins with the lowest value are those that have been used frequently in everyday transactions. Uncirculated coins are more likely to be in good condition because they were sold only to collectors. Proofs are produced with extraordinary quality, frequently having the die struck twice for perfect clarity. These nickels are typically the priciest ones you can find.

Coins are graded on a scale from 1 to 70, with 1 denoting the lowest grade and 70 the highest. This scale was developed in 1948 by Dr. William Herbert Sheldon on the theory that a coin with a rating of 70 is worth 70 times more than a coin with a rating of 1. The contemporary rating systems used by the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) and Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) include this scale.

Conclusion

Finding out who struck the Liberty Head V nickels in 1913 and asking them to create some more for you may be worthwhile if we had a time machine that could transport us back to that year. Or perhaps it would be best to stick with nickels from 1918 and 1919 as they aren’t quite as uncommon.

Million-dollar nickels have been sold on eBay for record prices, and some of the rarest and most expensive nickels have been sought after by collectors. Despite the variety of nickels in this list, one thing is obvious. Face value no longer always tells the truth.

Take a second look at your change the next time you get some after paying for a coffee; you never know what you could find. The auction websites are definitely preferable for exploring and treating as investments.

Whatever the situation, you now know which nickels are the most valuable and may begin your quest to acquire these priceless coins.

FAQs

What denominations of nickels are valuable?

The 1913 Liberty Head V is the most valuable nickel, while several other years’ worth of nickels is also valued. Numerous years, including 1880, 1885, 1919, 1920, 1926, 1927, 1936, 1937, 1942, and 1964, include nickels that are worth something.

Is a cent from 1964 still valuable?

A 1964 SMS special strike nickel could be worth a lot of money if you can find one. But it’s hard to find these. In a singular instance, the owner of a 1964 nickel with a mirror blockage was successful in selling it for $1.15 million on eBay.

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Which year’s Jefferson nickels are the most valuable?

The Jefferson nickels from 1964 have the highest value. To receive top dollar, you’ll need to make sure they are in exceptional condition; aim for grade 65 or higher. Outside of 1964, other Jefferson nickels can also be desirable.

What nickels are the most valuable?

The 1913 Liberty Head V nickel, worth $5.25 million, the 1964 Jefferson nickel with mirror breakage, purportedly sold for $1.15 million, and the 1918/7-D Buffalo nickel doubled die obverse, valued at $503,000, are the most expensive nickels.