1913 Liberty Head Nickel Replicas: How to Avoid Buying a Fake

If you’ve seen a “1913 Liberty Head nickel” offered for sale at a price anywhere near affordable, it is not genuine. Per PCGS CoinFacts and NGC’s census of the issue, only five real examples exist, all individually named, tracked, and worth well over $1 million each. Nearly everything else in the marketplace bearing this date and design is a replica, novelty item, or fantasy piece—and this guide is about telling the difference.

GetCoinHunt helps you search inventory from multiple coin dealers in one place. For the genuine 1913 Liberty Head nickel, an empty search result is the expected, accurate outcome.

Why 1913 Liberty Head nickels shouldn’t exist at all

The United States Mint officially switched from the Liberty Head (“V”) nickel design to the new Buffalo (Indian Head) nickel design at the start of 1913. No Liberty Head nickels dated 1913 were ever supposed to be struck for circulation or any other authorized purpose.

Yet five do exist. Their origin remained a mystery for years until December 1919, when Samuel W. Brown—a former Philadelphia Mint employee—publicly revealed owning them through a numismatic advertisement. Researchers believe Brown acquired the coins, or had them struck, while working at the Mint before the design changeover, though he never disclosed exactly how. All five are individually named after past owners: the Norweb, Eliasberg, Olsen, Walton, and McDermott/Bebee specimens.

Their stories are part of what makes the coin legendary. The McDermott specimen’s owner famously carried it around in his pocket to show off at coin shows before eventually selling it at auction in 1967. The Walton specimen disappeared for decades after being misidentified as a counterfeit following its owner’s death in a car accident—it wasn’t rediscovered and properly authenticated until the 2003 American Numismatic Association convention, the first time all five genuine coins had been displayed together since the 1940s. Today, the McDermott/Bebee specimen is permanently housed at the ANA Money Museum, and the other four remain in private or institutional hands.

How to tell a genuine 1913 Liberty Head nickel from a replica

Given that all five genuine examples are individually documented, almost anything offered for sale under this name is a replica—but replicas vary widely in how they’re marketed, from clearly labeled novelty items to deceptively presented pieces.

Check for a “COPY” or similar marking

Legitimate replica manufacturers—including well-known ones selling openly through major retailers and marketplaces—stamp “COPY” somewhere on the piece, as required by U.S. law under the Hobby Protection Act for reproductions of collectible coins. A piece with no such marking, offered as if it might be genuine, is a red flag.

Understand that price alone tells you almost everything

A genuine 1913 Liberty Head nickel is worth well over $1 million. Any “1913 Liberty Head nickel” offered for anywhere close to an ordinary coin’s price—a few dollars, a few hundred dollars, even a few thousand dollars—is, without exception, not the genuine article. This is the single fastest way to screen out the overwhelming majority of listings.

Recognize “fantasy pieces” for what they are

Some items marketed around this coin aren’t attempts to replicate the original 1913 nickel at all, but novelty products—like silver rounds or medallions that reference the design in a larger, different format (a 2 oz silver round bearing the design, for example) explicitly sold as bullion or collectible novelties, not as the historic coin itself. These are legitimate products in their own right, but they are not the rare coin, and shouldn’t be confused with it.

Know the physical specifications

A genuine Liberty Head (“V”) nickel, per U.S. Mint records, weighs 5 grams, measures 21.2mm in diameter, is struck in 75% copper and 25% nickel, and has a plain edge. Many fantasy and novelty pieces referencing the 1913 design are deliberately struck in different formats—larger silver rounds, oversized medallions, or other sizes—precisely because they’re not attempting to pass as the genuine coin. A piece that doesn’t match these basic specifications is not a Liberty Head nickel of any date, genuine or otherwise.

If you think you may have found a genuine example

Given that all five known specimens are already accounted for, the odds of a genuine, previously undocumented sixth example turning up are vanishingly small. If you believe you may have one, the only responsible path is submission to a major grading service—PCGS or NGC—for authentication before any other action, exactly as happened with the once-“lost” Walton specimen.

Buying considerations

Treat any claimed genuine example with serious skepticism

Given that all five known 1913 Liberty Head nickels are individually documented and already accounted for, any coin offered as a genuine, previously unknown example demands the same rigorous authentication that eventually vindicated the Walton specimen—not a purchase decision made on a seller’s word.

Replicas can be fine to own—just know what you’re buying

There’s nothing wrong with owning a clearly marked replica or novelty piece as a decorative item or conversation piece. The issue is only ever when a seller fails to disclose that a piece is a reproduction, or when a buyer mistakes one for the real thing.

If your interest is genuine Liberty Head nickels

The broader Liberty Head (“V”) nickel series, struck from 1883 to 1912, is common, affordable, and widely collected. It shares the same basic design as the famous 1913 rarity without any of the risk or expense—a much more realistic way to own an example of Charles Barber’s design.

Suggested search terms and filters

Because the genuine 1913 Liberty Head nickel will not appear in ordinary dealer inventory, consider:

• “Liberty Head Nickel” (for the common, genuinely available 1883–1912 series)
• “1913 Liberty Head Nickel replica” (if you specifically want a clearly marked novelty piece)

Save “1913 Liberty Head Nickel” to your wishlist only if you want to be notified on the extraordinarily unlikely chance a listing referencing this coin appears—but treat any such listing with serious skepticism.

Availability and pricing notes

All five genuine 1913 Liberty Head nickels are individually tracked, and sales—when they happen—are major numismatic events reaching well into seven figures. Regular Liberty Head nickels from 1883 through 1912, by contrast, are common and affordable, typically ranging from a few dollars to a few hundred dollars depending on date and condition.

GetCoinHunt does not guarantee that any listing represents a genuine example of a historic rarity, and cannot verify replica or novelty items on your behalf. For anything claimed to be a genuine 1913 Liberty Head nickel, independent authentication through a major grading service is essential.

How the GetCoinHunt wishlist alert works

1. Search for the coin. Enter “Liberty Head Nickel” to find common, genuinely available examples from 1883 through 1912.
2. Expect no genuine 1913 matches. All five known genuine 1913 examples are already accounted for and do not appear in routine dealer inventory.
3. Add a broader search to your wishlist instead. Save “Liberty Head Nickel” to be notified about available examples from the wider series.
4. Verify before buying anything described as rare. Confirm certification for any coin represented as scarce or valuable before purchasing.

Frequently asked questions

How many genuine 1913 Liberty Head nickels exist?

Five, all individually named and tracked: the Norweb, Eliasberg, Olsen, Walton, and McDermott/Bebee specimens.

Why do 1913 Liberty Head nickels exist at all if the design changed that year?

The Mint officially switched to the Buffalo nickel design at the start of 1913. The five known Liberty Head nickels dated 1913 were never authorized; their exact origin remains unconfirmed, though they’re believed to trace to a Mint employee who revealed owning them in 1919.

How can I tell if a “1913 Liberty Head nickel” I’ve seen for sale is real?

Check the price first—a genuine example is worth well over $1 million, so anything offered for less is not genuine. Legitimate replicas are also required by law to be marked “COPY.” Any coin claimed to be genuine should be authenticated by PCGS or NGC before being taken seriously.

Is it illegal to own a replica?

No, as long as it’s properly marked as a reproduction. It becomes a problem only if a seller misrepresents a replica as genuine.

What happened with the “lost” Walton specimen?

It was misidentified as a counterfeit and set aside for decades after its owner’s death, only to be properly authenticated and rediscovered at a 2003 numismatic convention—proof of how seriously even experts take authentication before accepting a coin as genuine.

What should I search for if I want an affordable Liberty Head nickel?

Search “Liberty Head Nickel” for the common, widely collected series struck from 1883 through 1912, which shares the same design as the 1913 rarity without the price or authentication risk.

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