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Another key issue behind the 1885 and 1912-S, as number 3 in the rankings of rare V Nickels. Scarce as a circulated coin and gradually even more tough in Mint State. Gems then become truly rare. This date is known to have a weak strike; so, super high-quality examples are not easy to find.
Obverse Description
Lady Liberty with the word LIBERTY on her crown faces left with 13 stars around the periphery and the date positioned at the bottom center.
Reverse Description
Large V (roman numeral 5) is centered in the design surrounded by an ornate wreath with UNITED STATES OF AMERICA * CENTS * around the periphery. The motto E PLURIBUS UNUM appears near the top between the wreath and letters STATES OF AME.
Book Reference
Key to Collecting: The 1886 nickel is generally ranked as the second-rarest Liberty Head nickel in the early series, with 1885 first. However, in Mint State, particularly at the gem level, the 1886 nickel eclipses the 1885 in rarity. High-grade (Very Fine to Mint State) examples are elusive across the board, as little numismatic notice was paid to the date until the 1930’s, by which time most had become well worn. Finding a sharply struck gem would be an accomplishment indeed! Mark Hooten adds this comment:
As with its 1885 “key companion,” many collectors who typically seek out Mint State pieces will settle for a choice AU (About Uncirculated) piece. Often times, the AU grades house coins that possess better detail than many or most of their “Uncirculated” counterparts, making those grades a true bargain.5
Paralleling the situation for 1885, most of the demand for high-grade nickels with the 1886 date is supplied by Proofs, which were made in a fair quantity.
CIRCULATION STRIKES:
Characteristics and Appearance: The striking is usually quite good. Some nickels are prooflike, but not mirrorlike enough to be mistaken for Proofs. The date logotype used on all dies (circulation strikes and Proofs) has the 1 too high in relation to the curved baseline of the following three digits, this being characteristic of other years in the 1886 to 1889 era. There were 101 obverse dies made. If all of them were used, each die would have made 33,000 impressions—a low figure that probably indicates many of the dies were never used (since dies were sometimes retired before they were overly worn, the number isn’t impossible).
PROOF STRIKES:
Characteristics and Appearance: Most are well struck with Full Details, but a few have lightness on the highest parts of the hair. On the reverse, the ear of corn to the left of the ribbon bow also shows lightness.
Mintage and Distribution Notes: At least three obverse dies were used, one with the second 8 repunched, another with the last two digits slightly repunched. The making of multiple Proof dies for short production runs is unexplained, but is perhaps best exemplified by the use of at least five obverse dies in 1895 to coin just 880 examples.
VARIETIES:
Repunched Date—FS-301. Slightly repunched, date most noticeable at the top of the 6.
Catalog Information
GSID:
2951
Designer:
Charles E. Barber
Obverse Designer:
Charles Barber
Obverse Lettering:
LIBERTY, 1886
Reverse Designer:
Charles Barber
Reverse Lettering:
V, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, E PLURIBUS UNUM, CENTS
Weight (gr):
5 gr
Weight (oz):
0.1608 oz
Strike Type:
Business
Diameter:
21.2
Coin Shape:
Round
Edge:
Plain
Coin Date:
1886
Denomination:
5c
Designation:
MS
Mint Location:
Philadelphia
Mintage:
3,326,000
Coinage Type:
Liberty head nickel
Coinage Years:
1883-1912
Composition:
75% copper; 25% nickel
PCGS #:
3847
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Body: Referring page: http://dev.greysheet.com/prices/item/1886-five-cents-liberty-v-nickel/gsid/2951 GSID: 2951 Title: 1886 5c MS
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Coin Value History
1886 5c MS
Value By Grade
1886 5c MS
CPG (retail) values
Currency
Grade Range
Grading Authority
Sort by
Pricing
Values
Greysheet & CPG® Values
| Grade | CAC | CPG Value (Retail) | Greysheet Price (Wholesale) |
|---|---|---|---|
| MS67 |
|
$42,000 | $1,234 |
| MS67 | - | $33,000 | $1,234 |
| MS66 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS66 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS65 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS65 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS64 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS64 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS63 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS63 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS62 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS62 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS61 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS61 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS60 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS60 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU58 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU58 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU55 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU55 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU53 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU53 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU50 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU50 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| XF45 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| XF45 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| XF40 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| XF40 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF35 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF35 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF30 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF30 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF25 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF25 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF20 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF20 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| F15 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| F15 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| F12 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| F12 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VG10 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VG10 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VG8 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VG8 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| G6 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| G6 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| G4 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| G4 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AG3 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AG3 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AG2 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AG2 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
Liberty (V) Nickel 5c No Cents, 1883 MS [Type]
![Liberty (V) Nickel 5c No Cents, 1883 MS [Type]](https://images.greysheet.com/Ctc/CatalogEntry/ha_com_1314_3218-0.20200626064157466.jpg?MaxWidth=200&Mode=Pad&Scale=UpscaleCanvas&format=webp)
Worth: $3 – $2,600
1883 5c No Cents MS
Worth: $3 – $2,500
Liberty (V) Nickel 5c With Cents, 1883-1912 MS [Type]
![Liberty (V) Nickel 5c With Cents, 1883-1912 MS [Type]](https://images.greysheet.com/ctc/catalog/Vobv.jpg?MaxWidth=200&Mode=Pad&Scale=UpscaleCanvas&format=webp)
Worth: $1 – $3,600
1883 5c Cents MS
Worth: $8 – $3,600
1884 5c MS
Worth: $8 – $12,000
1885 5c MS
Worth: $125 – $26,000
1887 5c MS
Worth: $5 – $10,000
1888 5c MS
Worth: $10 – $9,000
1889 5c MS
Worth: $5 – $12,000
1890 5c MS
Worth: $3 – $12,000
1891 5c MS
Worth: $2 – $12,500
1892 5c MS
Worth: $2 – $26,400
1893 5c MS
Worth: $2 – $16,000
1894 5c MS
Worth: $5 – $12,000
1895 5c MS
Worth: $2 – $21,500
1886 5C MS63 PCGS. CDN: $1,750 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS MS63. Mintage 3,330,290. ...
$2,135
1886 5C MS66 PCGS. ...
$7,930
1886 5C MS65 NGC. ...
$3,294
1886 5C AU58 PCGS. CDN: $750 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS AU58. Mintage 3,330,290....
$915
1886 5C Fine 12 PCGS. PCGS Population: 78 in 12, 1057 finer (12/25). CDN: $280 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS Fine 12. Mintage 3,3...
$312
1886 5C XF40 PCGS. PCGS Population: 63 in 40, 723 finer (12/25). CDN: $500 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS XF40. Mintage 3,330,290....
$516
1886 5C Good 6 PCGS. Mintage 3,330,290. ...
$149
1886 5C MS62 NGC. NGC Census: (47/144). Mintage 3,330,290. ...
$1,260
1886 5C AU55 PCGS. CAC. CAC Population: (16/76). Mintage 3,330,290. ...
$840
1886 5C Fine 15 PCGS. PCGS Population: (50/982). Mintage 3,330,290. ...
$288
1886 5C -- Cleaned, Edge Filed, Damaged -- ANACS Details. AU50. Mintage 3,330,290....
$324
1886 5C Good 4 PCGS. Mintage 3,330,290. ...
$124
1886 5C XF45 PCGS. PCGS Population: (45/647). Mintage 3,330,290. ...
$528
1886 5C VG10 PCGS. PCGS Population: (94/1082 and 0/15+). Mintage 3,330,290. ...
$210
1886 5C -- Heavily Corroded, Scratched -- ANACS. VG8 Details. Mintage 3,330,290....
$69
1886 5C AG3 PCGS. Mintage 3,330,290. ...
$84
1886 5C AU53 PCGS. PCGS Population: (32/571 and 0/15+). NGC Census: (13/310 and 0/3+). CDN: $640 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS AU...
$630
1886 5C VF25 PCGS. PCGS Population: (51/849). NGC Census: (21/419). CDN: $360 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS VF25. Mintage 3,330,2...
$360
1886 5C MS64 PCGS. PCGS Population: (119/69). NGC Census: (63/26). CDN: $2,250 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS MS64. Mintage 3,330,...
$3,360
1886 5C MS61 NGC. NGC Census: (35/181). PCGS Population: (14/368). CDN: $1,150 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS MS61. Mintage 3,330,...
$1,080
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