Numismatic

1888 Liberty Head V Nickel AG

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The 1888 Liberty Head five-cent piece offers a fascinating glimpse into late nineteenth-century American coinage. Struck in copper-nickel at the Philadelphia Mint, this coin represents a classic era of United States currency design. Despite showing significant wear that places it in an Almost Good state of preservation, the essential character of this historic issue remains recognizable. On the obverse, the coin displays a profile representation of Liberty. Designed by Charles Barber, this portrait depicts Liberty facing left while wearing a stylized coronet or headdress. The date 1888 is positioned directly beneath the portrait, anchoring the coin to its year of manufacture during the Gilded Age. The reverse of the coin is dominated by a large Roman numeral V, representing the five-cent denomination. This central numeral is encircled by a decorative wreath, which is itself surrounded by the traditional national motto, E Pluribus Unum, and the identifying country name. This distinctive reverse layout gave the series its popular nickname, the V Nickel.