Why So Little Interest In Liberty Nickels?

Probably because the lack of silver in it would be my guess... However, I do think they do not get the respect they deserve as I think V nickels are a very nice looking coin!

I think you hit on one reason for the unpopularity of V nickels - the plain design. It also is a low-relief design that was prone to uneven wear, unlike the Buffalo nickel. The liberty figure isn't particularly appealing to me, and the reverse is fairly boring to me, too.

I don't collect year-sets, but if I did, I would want VF-XF grades, and these criteria would make a V-nickel set somewhat expensive. I have two V nickels in my collection, and over 70 Buffalo nickels, because I like the design so much better. I think I have one Jefferson nickel - a proof.

Heres a small sample of some of the coins I've been picking up for right around 30 cents each. Seems pretty low risk to me. Not the best but also in a lot better condition than many of the "V's" I come across.

I do collect Shield nickels because there are so many varieties that are not too expensive, and they can be cherrypicked at coin shows. There are missing leaves, die cracks, and other varieties like this 1868 triple repunched date.

You definitely got a deal at .30 a piece.




That's exactly what I did a year ago. Bought a lot of 100 Liberty nickels, and kept all the different dates, and sold the lot for what I paid.

This topic gives me an idea for an article in the Barber Coin Collectors' Society journal!

Unlike other designs a complete set in good/very good condition is not a show-stopper.
A complete set in fine to very fine, on the other hand, is not often seen. The reason being that these nickels circulated when a nickel bought a phone call or a trolley ride. They were USED until worn beyond belief.

Consequently, few survive in an aesthetically pleasing yet affordable grade.

Lack of silver is a factor but not entirely as the Buffalo nickels lack silver and have a greater following.

Barber's designs suited the primary requirement for coins:
TO SERVE COMMERCE. But when the War Clouds were gathering in Europe it is my opinion that the Buffalo, Mercury, Standing Liberty and Walking Liberty designs served a secondary purpose: To stir up patriotic fervor.

Note: three out of four of these designs proved unequal to the task of commerce and required 'fixes!'

At $0.30 a piece the duplicates could either be sold or donated to the CCF Kid's program for distribution. Youngsters get a kick out of owning a hundred year old coin. I once put a handful of Barber Nickels into a bag and let kids pull one out.

I am very proud of my set. "Liberty" is complete on all 33 coins. It took many years to find the three keys ('85, '86 and '12-S) in very fine. It looks --- aesthetically pleasing.

Even among Barber collectors the nickels "get no respect!"

We get a lot of kids at the shows that like them, here's a story about one I wrote about right after it happened...
https://goccf.com/t/194792

I think you missed the point gyrene.