The Unique World of Rare Nickel Coins
Rare nickel coins not only serve as mere shiny pieces of metals, but they also allow us to have an insight into history and grab some priceless treasures. Some nickel coins are in great demand because of minting errors, historical events, or extreme rarity. Now let us get acquainted with the ten most valuable nickel coins and also learn what is so special about them.
1913 Liberty Head V Nickel-One of the Rarest Coins

1913 Liberty Head nickel can be one of the rarest coins in the world. It is only known in 5 copies. The mystery surrounding its origin arises due to the fact that the coin was never officially released by the mint. One was sold in 2018 for the sum of $4.56 million (almost Rs 38 crore) due to its extreme rarity and historic significance. The coin is a priceless part of the history of American currency.
1918/7-D Buffalo Nickel: A Unique Overdate Error
The 1918/7-D Buffalo Nickel became extremely rare due to an overdate error. The coin was originally dated 1917 and was later re-printed as 1918. The coin was minted at the Denver Mint and is extremely rare in high grade. Its unique error and historical significance have made it a prized possession for collectors.
1926-S Buffalo Nickel: A Limited Minting Coin
The 1926-S Buffalo Nickel is an important coin due to its limited minting of 970,000. Since most of these coins were widely circulated, high quality coins are extremely hard to find. This coin in better condition can be worth thousands of dollars. This coin is considered a gem in any serious coin collection.
1916 Doubled Die Obverse Nickel: A Unique Error
The 1916 Doubled Die Obverse Buffalo Nickel is one of the coins with an obvious error. It has obvious doubling on the letters “LIBERTY” and the face of the Native American chief. This error makes it a special coin, and if it is in good condition, it can fetch quite a high price.
1937-D Three-Legged Buffalo Nickel

This coin is famous for its unique error. The buffalo depicted on this coin is missing one leg, which is why it is called the “Three-Legged Buffalo Nickel”. This error was caused by over-polishing at the Denver Mint. This bizarre error made this coin extremely popular among collectors and pushed its price to new heights.
1924-S Buffalo Nickel: Rare and Hard to Find
1924-S Buffalo Nickel was hit in a limited race of just 1.4 million, making it a very rare coin. It will be difficult to find in quality and long lasting Good condition in its poor mining and spread. This rarity can lead to a very high price.
1885 Liberty Head V Nickel: The Allure of Limited Minting

The 1885 Liberty Head V nickel is one of the most important coins in the Liberty Head series. Only a total of 1.47 million copies were made, making it extremely rare. Due to its historical relevance and limited production, coins in excellent condition can be worth thousands of dollars.
1912-S Liberty Head V Nickel: San Francisco’s First Nickel
1912-S Liberty Head We Nickle Nickle The first nickel was extracted in San Francisco Mint. Only 238,000 copies were made, making it the lowest mining operation of the entire Liberty Head series. This coin is in demand and is a valued profession for collectors.
1867 Shield Nickel (With Rays): A Historical Rarity
The 1867 Shield Nickel is extremely attractive to collectors because of its unique design. The coin had a ray design all over it, but it was removed within just a year due to minting problems. This brief design period made it extremely valuable to coin collectors.
1942-D Over Horizontal D Jefferson Nickel: Wartime Coin Mistake
The 1942-D Over Horizontal D Jefferson Nickel is one of the coins minted during World War II and has a unique error. The coin’s Mint Mark “D” was originally engraved horizontally, which was later corrected. This rare mistake makes it extremely valuable to collectors, with coins in particularly good condition selling for a high price.
Conclusion
Whether you’re a seasoned coin collector or just starting out in the hobby, these rare nickel coins offer a wonderful blend of history, rarity, and artistry.
- Some coins, like the 1913 Liberty Head V nickel, reveal mysteries hidden in the pages of history.
- Some, like the 1937-D Three-Legged Buffalo nickel, became popular because of unusual mistakes made at the mint.
- And some, like the 1867 Shield nickel (with rays), became prized because of limited design periods.
Collecting rare nickel coins is not just a hobby, it is a way to stay connected to the past and preserve a historical heritage.
FAQs
What is a 1937-D 3-Legged Buffalo nickel?
It’s an error coin where the front leg of the buffalo is partially missing due to over-polishing of the die.
Why are 1942-1945 war nickels valuable?
They contain silver instead of nickel, making them unique and collectible.
Where can I sell a valuable nickel?
Auction houses, online marketplaces, and coin dealers specializing in rare coins offer the best selling opportunities.