1889 V Nickel

The 1889 V Nickel had a total mintage of just over 15.8 million coins struck at the Philadelphia Mint. The Philadelphia Mint was known for its excellent craftsmanship and the majority of the V Nickels struck here were beautiful examples, although some suffered from a weaker strike around the details of the stars on the obverse and the ear of corn on the reverse. The 1889 V Nickel is a popular coin among collectors and is relatively common in most grades up to about Mint State 65, and can be found with careful searching in Mint State 66 and higher. 

 

History of the 1889 Liberty Head Nickel

The 1889 Liberty Head Nickel is worth cherrypicking for a well-struck, spot-free coin with attractive surfaces. Charles E. Barber designed many popular coin series including the V Nickel designs. The obverse of the coin shows a left-facing liberty head with 13 stars surrounding it. The reverse showcases the Roman number “V” to represent the 5 cent coin with the word CENTS across the bottom. 

 

1889 V Nickel Value

The 1889 V Nickel value reaches upwards of around $36,000 for the highest grades of the coin documented, in around Mint State 67, although it isn’t a common coin in these grades. Collectors can build a more affordable V Nickel series by seeking out circulated or lower Mint State grade coins. With some careful searching for a solidly struck coin, the 1889 V Nickel would make a great addition to any Liberty Head Nickel coin series. 

 

Type of coin: Nickel

Year: 1889 V Nickel

V Nickel Mint Mark: Philadelphia

Total mintage: 15,878,025

Metal content: 75% Copper, 25% Nickel

Face value: Five Cents

Weight: 5.00 grams

Edge: Plain

Designer: Charles E. Barber

Diameter: 21.20 millimeters