Five Cents 1909 Liberty Head Nickel, Coin from United States - detailed information

The Liberty Head Nickel (or simply Liberty Nickel), sometimes referred to as the V Nickel because of its reverse design, is an American five-cent piece (abbreviated as 5¢). It was struck for circulation from 1883 until 1912, with at least five pieces being surreptitiously struck dated 1913. The obverse features a left-facing image of the goddess of Liberty. The alloy is the same as modern nickels, 75% copper and 25% nickel.

The original copper-nickel five-cent piece, the Shield Nickel, had long-standing production problems, and in the early 1880s the United States Mint was looking to replace it. Mint Chief Engraver Charles E. Barber was instructed to prepare designs for proposed one-, three-, and five-cent pieces, which were to bear similar designs. Only the new five-cent piece was approved, and went into production in 1883. For almost thirty years large quantities of coin of this design were produced to meet commercial demand, especially as coin-operated machines became increasingly popular.

Beginning in 1911, the Mint began work to replace the Liberty Head design, and a new design, which became known as the Buffalo Nickel, went into production in February 1913.

These coins have not been recalled and are still current, although they do not circulate any more - most having been worn out, lost or hoarded by collectors.