The Ten Most Valuable Nickels

Many collectors probably tend not to think nickels as being especially valuable, but in fact there are some very rare nickels – some even worth several hundred thousand dollars and more!

The following ten coins are those nickels that have sold for the highest amounts apart from the uber-rare 1913 Liberty nickels that are each worth several million and beyond the reach of virtually every collector.

This list includes coins from each of the four types of nickels issued since 1866 when the denomination debuted after the Civil War ended to fill the need for circulating coins: Shield, Liberty, Buffalo and Jefferson.

Because there are more rare Buffalo nickels than rare issues of the other types of nickels, the list has been limited to the three most valuable nickels of that series in order to also cover top-selling coins of the other series.

Learning about these valuable coins, the stories behind them and why they are special helps the collector become more knowledgeable about the history of the nickel and of the U.S Mint.

Shield Nickels

1867 with Rays NGC PF66 sold for $132,250 in January 2004

Until the late 1880s, the United States Mint only made proof coins on demand for collectors. Typical proof mintages for the Shield series were around 1,000 per issue, but only 25 were made of the 1867 issue, and at most 10 of them still exist, including this high-grade specimen.

1879/8 PCGS PF69 sold for $84,000 in January 2019

This is the finest known example of this rare overdate nickel, and the only proof coin in the Shield series graded this high. Walter Breen believed only a small portion of 1879 Proof nickels were those with this overdate, but current population reports at PCGS show that to be incorrect with about 1,000 each surviving examples of the regular 1879 Proof and the 1879/8 Proof nickel.

1880 PCGS MS65 CAC sold for $91,062,50 in September 2015

This coin is one of the finest known examples (with only two graded higher) of the series key with just 16,000 pieces struck, and a mere 100 to 150 specimens are believed to still exist today! During the Civil War circulation coins were hoarded, and to help fund the war the Lincoln administration issued paper currency that was known as greenbacks while silver and gold coins also circulated. In the late 1870s the amount of paper currency was eventually drawn down to make it on par with the precious metal currency, which led to a flood of redemptions of all that hoarded coinage and little demand for coins like nickels in the 1870s and 1880s.

Liberty Nickels

1885 PCGS MS67 sold for $74,500 in March 2006

Of almost 1.5 million originally struck, which made it the second-lowest mintage of the series after 1912-S, PCGS estimates no more than 5,000 have survived with only 150 still in mint state. This is a condition rarity example of a scarce Liberty nickel that is rarer than the 1912-S because fewer were saved, and the finest-known example of this issue and only one that grades MS68.

1886 PCGS MS67 sold for $64,625 in September 2018

This date is the third key date of the Shield series with 8,000 coins estimates to have survived a mintage of 3,326,000 with no more than 750 mint state coins. Considered less scarce than the 1885 or 1912-S, this date often comes poorly struck especially along the radial lines on some or many of the stars of the obverse. This example is the only one that has been graded MS67.

Buffalo Nickels

1918/17-D PCGS MS65 sold for $350,750 in August 2006

PCGS estimates there are only 7,000 specimens today in all grades out of a total of about 100,000 minted according to Dave Bowers. Of those, only 100 mint states coins are believed to exist, and just 6 in MS65 or higher and just one graded PCGS MS66 that is valued at $475,000! It was unknown within the numismatic world until 1931 even to researchers by which time mint state coins were almost impossible to find.

1916 Double Die Obverse PCGS MS64 sold for $281,750 in August 2004

This is a popular variety nickel that is even scarcer than the 1918/17-D. PCGS estimates no more than 400 exist with at most 10 mint state coins, while Bowers puts it at no more than 250. The doubling is very dramatic on this issue mostly to the southeast of the date and also on the Indian’s lips and chin.

1926-S NGC MS66 sold for $322,600 in April 2005

Of an original mintage of 970,000, PCGS places the examples that still exist at 11,000 with only 500 of them mint state. It is the rarest and most elusive non-variety Buffalo nickel and has never been found grading higher than MS65.

Jefferson Nickels

1940 Reverse of 1938 PCGS PF68 sold for $28,750 in January 2011

A rare variety discovered by Bill Fivaz, this coin was made using the 1938 reverse that was taken from a Mint vault and used to strike a small number of proof coins. It comes with a wavy look on the steps and has never been found with full details, i.e., six steps.

1964 Special Mint Set SP68 sold for $32,900 in January 2016

This rare nickel was part of the famous and elusive 1964 Special Mint Sets produced prior to the regular 1965-1967 Special Mint Sets possibly to test the new type of finish (smooth and satin-like). Only 20 to 50 sets are estimated to have been produced, though some others may still be out there. They are believed to have been made at the request of then Mint Director Eva Adams, whose estate interestingly included most of the known 1964 Special Mint Sets. Of the 40 sets PCGS believes still exist, only half included nickels that graded SP65 or higher with the highest being this SP68.