The History of the 1913 Liberty Head Nickel
History
The 1913 Liberty Head Nickel is unique among American coins for one simple reason: it should not exist. For those not aware, the Liberty Head nickel design was slated to be retired following those produced in December of 1912, with the Buffalo Nickel to take over starting in 1913. In fact, the existence of this coin was not even on anyones radar until 1919 when one Samuel Brown (the clerk of the US Mint from 1912 to 1913) created an advertisement in the collecting community offering to pay $500 cash for an example of the 1913 Liberty Head Nickel. Since this time the speculation has been this advertisement was used as a way for Brown to generate legitimacy for the coins, which he already had in his possession. Having been the clerk for the US Mint in the year the coin was being retired, many assume that Brown used his access (with or without assistance) to create the coins using the Mint’s equipment.
Whenever the coins changed hands up through the 1940’s they always were bought or sold as a complete set. Following this time period, they were broken up and sold to individual buyers. One was purchased by King Farouk of Egypt, who owned it until his removal from his throne. His coin would eventually make its’ way by donation to the Smithsonian Institute that the public might appreciate it. A second coin made its’ way into the hands of…
