1912 Nickel Coin Value (Errors List, “D”, “S” & No Mint Mark Worth)

Have you stumbled upon a 1912 Liberty Head nickel and wondered how much this old coin might be worth? Or are you building your collection and are curious if the 1912 nickel is a worthwhile a spot in your set? Our 1912 nickel value guide has all the answers you need for successfully collecting or selling your old Liberty Head nickel.

The truth is, the 1912 nickel is a key date as it boasts a relatively low mintage and a coveted status as the final date in the Liberty Head series. Collectors are willing to pay hundreds and even thousands for this coin!

But, being an old coin, finding a 1912 nickel in your pocket change or even in a roll is a big feat—you should consider yourself lucky if you discover this rare coin.

Our guide on the value of the 1912 nickel will breakdown the coin’s history, unique physical features, premium errors, grading tips, and of course explain how much is a 1912 nickel worth.

Let’s get started!

1912 Nickel Value Chart

Mint Mark Good Fine Extremely Fine Uncirculated
1912-No Mint Mark Nickel Value $3.50 $10 $50 $4500
1912-D Nickel Value $15 $45 $150 $18500
1912-S Nickel Value $150 $300 $1300 $11500
1912-P Proof Nickel Value $330

 

1912 Nickel Grading

Most collectors, particularly beginners, find coin grading pretty complicated. On the contrary, everybody can roughly assess every coin by following the Sheldon grading scale and instructions described in detail.

However, it is insufficient for rare, old, and valuable coinage since sometimes even the tiniest detail can make a difference. For instance, one microscopic error invisible to the naked eye can bring you thousands of dollars instead of a few expected bucks. That makes professional appraising so vital.

# Grade
1 Basal State-1
2 Fair
3 Very Fair
4, 5, 6 Good
7, 8, 10 Very Good
12, 15 Fine
20, 30 Very Fine
40 Extremely Fine
50 About Uncirculated
60 Mint State
65 Mint State
70 Mint State

Grading the 1912 Liberty nickel involves keenly assessing the coin’s condition and paying attention to high contact points. Keep in mind that most coins in this series display a weak strike even in mint state so you’ll have to be more careful with your assessment to identify true Mint State pieces.

In particular, focus on the high contact points such as Liberty’s coronet and hair. The presence of intricate details suggests that the piece is of a higher grade. On the reverse, pay attention to the V and wreath, which should have sharpness and clarity in Mint State nickels.

Lastly, given its status as a key date, the 1912 nickel is prone to counterfeiting. Use a magnifying loupe to check that the mint mark is genuine, ensuring no signs of alteration.

Please check our grading guides to know your coin scale, It’s the necessary step to know the exact value of your coin.

Check out now: How to Grade Liberty Nickel?

 

History of the 1912 Nickel

The 1912 nickel is one of the most outstanding coins in the history of the United States Mint. This coin belongs to the Liberty Head nickel series, which the U.S. Mint produced from 1883 to 1912.

Also fondly referred to as the “V” nickel, the Liberty Head nickel was designed by the Mint’s Chief Engraver, Charles E. Barber in an effort to replace the Shield Nickel, whose production had been challenging for a long time.

The 1912 issue holds a special place as it was the last coin to be released in the “V” nickel series, after which it was replaced by the Buffalo Nickel in 1912. The 1912 nickel was also the first and only year in the entire Liberty Head nickel series to release coins at the Denver and San Francisco mints, in addition to the ones traditionally produced in Philadelphia.

The Denver mint registered a mintage of about 8.4 million while the San Francisco mint released just 283,000 nickels, the lowest in the entire series, subsequently making it a key date highly sought after by collectors.

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Also read: Top 10 Most Valuable Nickels Worth Money

 

Features of the 1912 Nickel

Familiarizing yourself with the features of the 1912 nickel will help you recognize this coin’s true value. Also, understanding things like the design elements, mint marks, toning and surfaces can be invaluable in differentiating authentic coins from counterfeits.

Here’s what to look out for:

Obverse of the 1912 Nickel

Obverse of the 1912 Nickel

The front side of the 1912 nickel features Lady Liberty’s left-facing profile, a symbol of freedom and independence.  A coronet, with the word LIBERTY, is perched on her head while laurel and wheat sprigs elegantly decorate her curly hair.

Liberty’s profile is surrounded by thirteen stars, a nod to the initial 13 colonies while the date, 1912, is inscribed along the bottom edge. The coronet and Liberty’s hair are key high contact points and indicate the coin’s condition and grade.

Reverse of the 1912 Nickel

Reverse of the 1912 Nickel

The reverse side spots a large numeral “V” at the center, representing the coin’s denomination of five cents. A laurel wreath, which symbolizes victory and honor, surrounds the V.

The inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is inscribed in a semi-circle along the edge, closely followed by the Latin motto, E PLURIBUS UNUM. The coin’s denomination, CENT, is displayed boldly on the lower edge.

Nickels minted in Denver and San Francisco will have the mint mark “D” and “S” respectively displayed just underneath the wreath.

Other Features of the 1912 Nickel

In addition to the main obverse and reverse features, there are other attributes of the 1912 nickel worth noting. These are:

  • Diameter:20 millimeters
  • Weight:00 grams
  • Edge: Plain
  • Metal Composition: 75% copper, 25% nickel

Also read: Top 17 Most Valuable Buffalo Nickel Worth Money

 

1912 Nickel Value Guides

 Now, we’ll get straight into discovering just how much is a 1912 nickel worth. The year 1912 was the first and only time the U.S. Mint produced Liberty Head nickels at the Philadelphia, Denver and San Francisco mints.

So, there are four varieties of the 1912 nickel, each with its own value. The four are:

  • 1912 No Mint Mark Nickel
  • 1912-D Nickel
  • 1912-S Nickel
  • 1912-P Proof Nickel

Let’s dive in and discover how much each variety is.

1912-No Mint Mark Nickel Value

1912-No Mint Mark Nickel Value

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The Philadelphia mint released about 26,200,000 Liberty Head nickels in 1912, the highest mintage that year. As was the tradition, these coins do not have a mint mark and are therefore aptly referred to as 1912-no mint mark nickels.

The 1912 nickels from Philadelphia are plentiful across all grades up to MS65. That said, even Mint State uncirculated pieces have a somewhat weak strike; pieces with a sharp strike are rare.

Here’s what you can expect in terms of value:

  • Circulated examples: Circulated 1912 nickels are plentiful and quite affordable in the lower grades. These coins will fetch between $1.50 and $100 depending on the grade.
  • Uncirculated mint state: Pieces graded MS60 to MS65 are worth good money and can bring in as much as $115 up to $650.
  • Gem-quality: Gem-quality 1912 Liberty Head nickels are quite rare and will therefore be worth a premium. For example, pieces graded MS67 can be worth as much $4500. In 2015, Heritage Auctions sold a 1912 nickel graded MS66+ for a record-breaking price of $5875.

1912-D Nickel Value

1912-D Nickel Value

Next, we’ll look at the 1912-D nickel—this was the first and only year the Liberty Head nickel was produced at the Denver mint. The facility released about 8.5 million 1912-D nickels, the second highest mintage after Philadelphia.

Circulated pieces are plentiful, especially in lower grades and Mint State pieces are readily available up to graded MS64. The 1912-D nickel is relatively scarce in graded MS64 to MS67, and extremely rare in grades higher than this. The gem-quality population is so small, you’ll be lucky to find one graded MS68 and above.

Here’s what to expect:

  • Circulated examples: In circulated condition, 1912-D nickels are quite affordable although the price increases exponentially as you go further up the scale. These pieces will fetch between $7.50 for Poor or Average examples up to $335 for pieces graded About Uncirculated (AU).
  • Uncirculated mint state: Lower grade uncirculated examples are often worth premium prices and can bring in as much as $360 for M60 pieces to $1000 for MS65 nickels.
  • Gem-quality: 1912-D nickels graded as gem-quality are extremely rare and will therefore attract higher prices. For example, pieces graded MS67 can fetch as much as $18,500. According to the Professional Coin Grading Service, the most expensive 1912-D nickel was auctioned by Legend Rare Coins Auctions for an eye-watering $41,125.

1912-S Nickel Value

1912-S Nickel Value

The San Francisco mint also had the privilege of producing Liberty Head nickels in 1912. This was the first and only year the mint produced a Liberty Head nickel but more importantly, at 238,000 nickels, the San Francisco mint registered the lowest mintage in the entire Liberty Head nickel series.

Most pieces, including those in Mint State, have a weaker strike compared to their Philadelphia and Denver counterparts. In particular, you will notice visible softness above Liberty’s forehead and on the reverse, signs of a weak strike appear on the lower left side of the laurel wreath.

That said, uncirculated examples are somewhat plentiful up to grade MS65 but these pieces become rarer starting from grade MS66 with none graded higher.

Being a key date in the series, the 1912-S nickel is worth a premium across all grades. Here’s what to expect:

  • Circulated examples: Worn examples are plentiful but will bring in good money. Nickels graded Poor/Average will fetch as much as $100 while About Uncirculated (AU) pieces will bring in up to $1650.
  • Uncirculated mint state: Uncirculated 1912-S nickels attract premium prices ranging from $1700 for coins graded MS60 to $2700 for pieces graded M64.
  • Gem-quality: According to the Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC), only about 10 pieces of the 1912-S nickel have been graded as gem-quality. These extremely rare nickels graded MS66 and above can fetch up to $11500 on the open market.

 1912-P Proof Nickel Value

 1912-P Proof Nickel Value

In addition to regular nickels, the Philadelphia mint also produced proof nickels made of the same metal alloy. But, proof coins have a superior strike with sharp details on the devices, shiny satiny surface, and a smooth, blemish free finish and texture.

Specifically released for collectors, the mint produced only 2145 proof Liberty Head nickels in 1912. With such a low mintage, you can expect the demand for this coin to be high.

 All grades of the 1912 proof nickel are abundant but start becoming scarce at graded MS67. All in all, expect proofs in this rare series to fetch as much as $27,000.

Also read: Top 17 Most Valuable Jefferson Nickels Worth Money

 

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Rare 1912 Nickel Errors List

Several minting errors in the 1912 nickel series are worth a premium. Let’s take a look at each.

1. 1912 Nickel 40% Off-Center Strike Error

1912 Nickel 40% Off-Center Strike Error

One of the errors that come up in this series is the off-center strike, which occurs due to a misalignment between the die and planchet. This causes the die to strike the planchet away from the center and more toward the edge, resulting in an off-center strike.

The percentage of “off-ness” determines the value of an off-center strike error. The greater the percentage, the more valuable the error tends to be—of course, the coin’s condition also matters. For example, a coin with a 40% off-center strike will typically be more valuable than one with a 20%  off-center strike.

A collector once paid a whopping $1050 for a 1912 nickel with a 45% off-center strike, making this an excellent addition to your collection.

2. 1912 Nickel Lamination Error

Another error found in the 1912 Liberty nickel series is the lamination error. This minting flaw happens when the layers of metal alloy lift or peel, exposing the inner core.

Lamination often results from impurities which weaken the layers of metal alloy, causing them to detach from each other so that they are prone to peeling, lifting or cracking.

A 1912 Liberty nickel with a lamination error can fetch between $100 and $400 depending on the extent of the error. A coin with extensive lamination will often be worth more than one with few signs of lamination.

3. 1912 Nickel Clipped Planchet Error

Although not as common as the lamination error, the clipped planchet error also shows up in the 1912 nickel series. This error occurs due to a misfeeding flaw during the planchet-making process.

When the blank metal sheet from which planchets are made is misfed into the coining hub, resulting in a portion of the edge being cut into. This creates a planchet with a missing curved or straight edge.

Clipped planchets have a dramatic appearance, making them quite popular with collectors keen on building sets with peculiar errors. A 1912 nickel with a clipped planchet error can sell for between $50 and $300 depending on the coin’s condition.

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Also read: 14 Most Valuable Nickel Errors Worth Money

 

Where to Sell Your 1912 Nickel?

Now that you know the value of your coins, do you know where to sell those coins online easily? Don’t worry, I’ve compiled a list of these sites, including their introduction, pros, and cons. 

Check out now: Best Places To Sell Coins Online (Pros & Cons)

 

FAQs

What makes the 1912 nickel so valuable?

The 1912 nickel was the final issue in the Liberty Head series. This, combined with the historically low mintages and the fact that the Denver and San Francisco mints produced Liberty Head nickels for the first time that year, makes this a key date highly sought after by collectors.

Is the 1912 the most expensive nickel?

No, the 1912 is not the most expensive nickel—the 1913 nickel is considered the most expensive in the series. Only five known pieces were struck and this was done after the U.S. Mint officially ended the production of the Liberty Head nickel series in 1912. These coins can sell for as much as $3 million.

Is a 1912 nickel real silver?

Despite having a silverish appearance, the 1912 nickel like all other nickel coins does not contain any silver. Counterfeiters may claim that a nickel contain silver but the truth is these coins are made of 75% copper and 25% nickel which gives the coin the silverish appearance.

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