USA 5 cents Liberty Nickel 1912
USA, San Francisco
Rarity
Scarce
Attributes of Coins
| Region | USA |
|---|---|
| Denomination | 5 cents |
| Krause number | KM# 112 |
| Mintage | 238,000 |
| Metal | Copper-Nickel |
| thickness | 1.95 mm |
| diameter | 21.21 mm |
| weight | 5 g |
Obverse:
Liberty
Star
Creators:
Charles Edward Barber
LIBERTY
Reverse:
Wreath
Creators:
Charles Edward Barber
E PLURIBUS UNUM
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
V CENTS
Introduction of Coins
This is the only S-Mint Liberty Head Nickel and a key date in the series. It has by far the smallest mintage, but because these coins were still circulating when coin boards became popular in the 1930s, worn examples have survived in disproportionate numbers. The higher-mintage 1885 and 1886 nickels are thus more rare across most grades. The entire production was struck in four days---December 24 and 26-28. On that last date, the first 1912 S nickel coined was used to pay the first fare on San Francisco's new Municipal Railway. The celebrated passenger was Mayor James Rolph, and the coin was presented to the city treasurer for preservation, but it disappeared from the treasurer's office many years ago. Gems are rare for this issue, the number shown being perhaps higher than normal due to multiple submissions of the same coin. This is a frequent occurrence with key dates. The typical 1912 S nickel is softly struck in the hair above Liberty's forehead and at the lower left of the wreath. A fully struck example may not exist, as the obverse weakness seems to have been caused by an incomplete transfer from the hub.Read More
