1902 Liberty Head 'V' Nickel
Coin/Bullion (United States Five-Cent Piece) · United States Mint (Philadelphia)
Pattern: Liberty Head (V) Nickel, designed by Charles E. Barber, produced 1883-1912 (non-proof)
Type
Coin/Bullion (United States Five-Cent Piece)
Maker
United States Mint (Philadelphia)
Material
Cupro-Nickel: 75% Copper, 25% Nickel (No silver content)
Dimensions
Diameter: 21.2mm; Weight: 5.0 grams (nominal); Thickness: 1.95mm.
Description
A well-circulated 1902 Liberty Head nickel, commonly referred to as the 'V' nickel due to the large Roman numeral on the reverse. This piece exhibits typical wear for an over-century-old coin that has passed through many hands during the early 20th century American expansion.
Key Features
Charles Barber's classic Liberty profile; 13 stars on obverse; 1902 date; lack of silver content (often mistaken for silver due to color).
Material & Composition
Cupro-Nickel: 75% Copper, 25% Nickel (No silver content)
Finish & Decoration
Business strike with circulating wear. Obverse features Liberty facing left wearing a coronet with 'LIBERTY' and a wreath of wheat and cotton. Reverse (implied) features a Roman numeral 'V' within a wreath of corn, wheat, and cotton.
Hallmarks & Stamps
Date stamp '1902' on obverse. No mint mark (indicating Philadelphia). 'LIBERTY' on coronet (heavily worn).
Construction Details
Machine-made; die-struck at the Philadelphia Mint.
Functional Features
Standard circulating currency; reeded or plain edge (plain for this series).
Handle & Grip Details
Not applicable (coinage).
Craftsmanship Details
Industrial minting; high relief for the period but prone to rapid wear in the center of the design.
Authentication Indicators
Correct font for 1902 date; profile silhouette matches Barber's master dies; diameter to weight ratio appears consistent with cupro-nickel standards.
Origin & Manufacturing
United States of America, Philadelphia Mint.
Era & Period
Turn of the Century / Gilded Age (1902)
Age Estimate
Dated 1902; 122 years old.
Cultural Significance
Represented a standard daily unit of commerce in early 1900s America; the 'nickel' was the price of a local phone call, a candy bar, or a streetcar fare.
Condition Notes
Very Good (VG) to Fine (F) grade. Significant surface wear, flattened details on Liberty's hair, and softened stars. Visible tarnish and minor environmental spotting. No major gouges but significant circulation smoothing.
Value Estimate
$1.00 - $5.00 USD (Common date in circulated condition).
Care & Maintenance
Do not clean or polish. Cleaning numismatic items destroys their collector value. Store in a PVC-free plastic flip or archival holder to prevent further oxidation.
Similar Pieces
Shield Nickel (predecessor), Buffalo Nickel (successor), 1913 Liberty Head Nickel (the rarest of the series).
Interesting Facts
The 1883 version of this coin originally lacked the word 'CENTS', leading fraudsters to gold-plate them and pass them off as $5 gold pieces (the 'Racketeer Nickels'). By 1902, 'CENTS' had long been added to the reverse.