A small coin may bring you unexpected wealth. Some rare coins are still in circulation, so it’s wise to check your pockets for coins regularly.
According to GoBankingRates, despite the long history of nickels in the United States, early 5-cent coins were not made of nickel, but of gold, silver, or copper, according to the US Mint. Modern US nickels were not introduced until 1866. If you happen to have an early or rare coin, you may be fortunate enough to gain tens of thousands or even millions of dollars in wealth.
The first batch of nickels, known as Shield nickels, was produced from 1866 to 1883. This was followed by the Liberty Head nickel (1883-1913), the Buffalo nickel (also known as the Indian Head nickel, 1913-1938), and the Jefferson nickel (1938-present), as reported by “American Bullion”.
In terms of rarity and value, you are most likely to find the most valuable nickels in the older coins before World War I. However, as “American Bullion” points out, some expensive coins minted during World War II (1942-1945) can also be found. These versions are valuable today because silver and manganese were added during production to save nickel for use in the war. In addition, some error coins may also fetch high prices.
So far, the most valuable nickel is the 1913 Liberty Head nickel, considered by “American Bullion” as one of the most legendary and mysterious coins in American history. Legend has it that these coins were not supposed to be produced that year, as it was a transitional period from the Liberty Head nickel to the Buffalo nickel. Only five known 1913 Liberty Head nickels exist, and they were never officially issued. Their current valuation exceeds $3 million.
While encountering a 1913 Liberty Head nickel is highly unlikely, there are still other nickels in circulation that could earn you a profit. Here are nine of them summarized by GoBankingRates, with estimates provided by “American Bullion”. Remember, only coins in the best condition can fetch the highest prices.