This Nickel Sold for $4.5 MILLION in Pennsylvania!

Only five of these rare coins exist—and one gleaming specimen set a new record thanks to its scandalous past. 🌐 #News #PhiladelphiaPA #Pennsylvania #Lifestyle

PHILADELPHIA, PA — Here in Pennsylvania, a coin that once cost just five cents shattered records with a staggering auction price of $4.56 million—thanks to its dazzling finish and a past cloaked in mystery.

The 1913 Liberty Head nickel isn’t just rare—it’s one of the most hotly pursued collector’s items in American coin history. With only five known examples in existence and a rumored illegal origin, the coin’s reputation has grown almost mythic over the last century.

Only Five in the World

What makes this Liberty nickel so valuable isn’t just its age or appearance—it’s the fact that it was never supposed to exist. Official records from the U.S. Mint show that the Liberty Head design was phased out in 1912, replaced in 1913 by the now-familiar Buffalo nickel. Yet, five Liberty Head nickels bearing the 1913 date mysteriously surfaced, launching a frenzy of speculation and obsession in the numismatic world.

Among these five, one specimen stands out: the Eliasberg nickel. Named after renowned collector Louis Eliasberg, this particular coin features a flawless mirrored finish and a PCGS grading of Proof 66—the highest among its peers. It’s the only one with such a reflective, gleaming surface, which significantly boosted its market appeal.

A Notorious Origin Story

The backstory of these coins is nearly as valuable as the metal they’re made of. Rumors have long circulated that Samuel W. Brown, a Mint employee and coin enthusiast, may have secretly struck the coins himself before the Liberty Head dies were retired. Though never officially confirmed, the whispers only fueled the legend and skyrocketed the coin’s desirability.

After passing through several hands, including those of famous collectors, the Eliasberg nickel made history in 1996 as the first coin to sell for over $1 million. Then, in 2018, it cemented its legacy with a record-breaking $4.56 million sale at a Philadelphia auction—making it the most expensive of the 1913 Liberty nickels ever sold.

Million-Dollar Market for Rare Coins

This jaw-dropping sale isn’t a one-off. Collectors have consistently paid eye-watering sums for U.S. coins with unique traits or historical significance. A 1796 quarter dollar, for instance, fetched $1.74 million at auction. That coin, graded MS64 and boasting a rare B-2 die pairing, was minted during the quarter dollar’s debut year. Only 6,000 of that design were ever made, and few have survived.

The rare coin market thrives on these kinds of historical quirks—oddities in design, low mintage numbers, or illicit origins can all drive demand into the millions.

Did You Know?

The 1913 Liberty Head nickel is one of the only U.S. coins to have its authenticity disputed for decades, until scientific testing confirmed its age and composition (Smithsonian Magazine).
Louis Eliasberg is the only known collector to have completed a full collection of U.S. coins, owning every variety ever minted by the U.S. government (CoinWeek).
In 2021, a different rare coin—the 1933 Double Eagle—sold for a record-setting $18.9 million, becoming the most expensive coin ever auctioned (CNN Business).

Moment for Reflection

Sometimes, the smallest things carry the greatest worth—not just in gold or silver, but in story and spirit. This nickel, once dismissed and nearly forgotten, now shines as a reminder that value isn’t always measured by size or face value. Like each of us, it was created with purpose—even if the world didn’t see it at first. Grace has a way of finding what was lost and lifting it higher than anyone expected.

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RELATED TOPICS: History | Lifestyle | Pennsylvania