1883 Liberty Head Nickel, With Cents Proof : A Collector’s Guide

By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for CoinWeek Notes …..

The Philadelphia Mint struck Proof versions of the Liberty Head Nickel each year throughout the series’s 29-year run. This tally does not include the famous 1913 Liberty Head Nickel, of which only five are known and were likely struck “off the books” by an employee for personal gain. As for the authorized issues, the Mint typically struck at least 2,000 examples per year, but in the 1900s, demand lessened somewhat. Even in the lean years, it struck 1,400+ examples.

Today, a complete set of “authorized” Liberty Head Nickels in Choice Proof can be completed for about the same cost as a complete set of business strikes- that’s because, outside of the 1885 Proof, which is a priced higher due to its proximity to the low mintage business strike, there are no out-of-reach “keys” in the series.  To include the 1913 Proof, you must wait for the opportunity and pay $4 to $5 million.

Two Proof Varieties Were Struck in 1883

The 1883 issues had the highest mintage of Liberty Head Nickel Proofs. As was the case with the business strike, the Philadelphia Mint struck two varieties of Proofs. The first is known as the Without Cents type. As the designer intended, the coin’s value was to be determined by the size and rim characteristics, along with the large Roman numeral “V.” To a modern reader, this may seem unusual, but by 1883, coins carrying the Roman numeral “III” had been in circulation since 1851, and neither the Three-Cent Silver, nor the Three-Cent Nickel included the word “CENTS”. Fears that the “V” nickel would be gold-plated to pass for the heavier, slightly larger, and reeded Half Eagle $5 gold coin caused the Mint to revise the design, moving the motto to a position above the opening the vegetal wreath and placing the words CENTS between two points at the bottom of the reverse. The general public hoarded the deprecated business strikes, which remain common today, while Proofs of both types continued to be struck throughout the year for the collector market.

The Mintage of 1883 Liberty Head Nickel Proofs is the subject of some controversy. The Mint (and the Guide Book) report that 5,219 1883 Liberty Head Nickel, Without Cents Proof, were struck, along with 6,783 1883 Liberty Head Nickel, With Cents Proofs. Some experts, including Q. David Bowers, have written that the actual mintage of the With Cents Proof is probably less, possibly two-thirds less than the published number. Lowering the mintage by two-thirds would put the number of 1883 Liberty Head Nickel, With Cents Proofs struck at 2,261. This would put the scarcity of the issue in line with Proof nickels struck from 1890 to 1912.

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Market Data and Noteworthy Specimens

Most 1883 Liberty Head Nickel, With Cents Proofs, were struck with a brilliant finish that, when new, is highly reflective. Over time, a layer of hazy toning develops, and most coins today that do not exhibit some degree of tarnish or haze have been dipped. Proofs struck from a pair of properly-prepared, fresh dies will display some cameo contrast, which gradually fades with each struck coin. Coins that earn the Cameo or Deep / Ultra Cameo designations are highly sought-after and trade for a premium. There is some debate amongst serious collectors whether a slightly lower graded coin with Deep / Ultra Cameo is preferable to a somewhat higher graded coin with only a Cameo designation. Typically, collectors prefer a top population Proof 67 Deep / Ultra Cameo coin over a Proof 68 or Proof 68+ Proof with brilliant surfaces.

Top Population: PCGS PR67+CAM (2, 5/2025), NGC PF68+CAM (1, 5/2025), and CAC PR67DCAM (9:2 stickered:graded, 5/2025).

• NGC PF68* CAM #2024318-002: Stack’s Bowers, March 2013, Lot 1233 – $7,637.50; “The Douglas C. Kaselitz Collection”, Stack’s Bowers, July 2015, Lot 5083 – $6,462.50. Dark gold hue with iridescent toning. 
• PCGS PR67+CAM CAC #84753844: “Ogden Avenue Ladies”, Legend Rare Coin Auctions, May 14, 2020, Lot 70 – $9,987.50.
• PCGS PR67DCAM #81296881: Stack’s Bowers, August 11, 2016, Lot 3041 – $7,637.50; “The Boulder City Collection,” Heritage Auctions, May 23, 2022, Lot 44167 – $9,000. Golden toning throughout. Darker toning over V.
• NGC PF67UCAM #1634578-006: Heritage Auctions, January 9, 2003, Lot 6091 – $6,037.50.
• PCGS PR67CAM #84753844: Legend Rare Coin Auctions, September 2019 – $8,813.
• PCGS PR67CAM CAC #25532518: Legend Numismatics to Eugene H. Gardner, via private treaty, March 2012; “The Eugene H. Gardner Collection,” Heritage Auctions, June 23, 2014, Lot 30164 – $10,575.
• PCGS PR67CAM #25317735: Heritage Auctions, April 23, 2014, Lot 3263 – $6,462.50.
• NGC PF67*CAM #1850367-001: Heritage Auctions, January 4, 2007, Lot 2144 – $10,925.
• PCGS PR66DCAM #30492019: Heritage Auctions, October 9, 2014, Lot 4661 – $6,462.50; Heritage Auctions, January 29, 2015, Lot 3047 – $6,462.50. Toning spot on neck above 1.
• PCGS PR66DCAM #29542427: Heritage Auctions, June 5, 2014, Lot 4350 – $7,637.50. Scattered toning spots in the right obverse field. Diagonal mark above the Left arm of “V”.
• PCGS PR66DCAM CAC #25373715: Heritage Auctions, December 5, 2013, Lot 3541 – $8,225.
• PCGS PR66DCAM: Stack’s Bowers, June 27, 2012, Lot 2303 – $9,400. Die gouge between stars 2 and 3.

Coin Specifications