Expert: Brad Swain - 2/4/2010

Question
QUESTION: I have two Liberty V Nickels. lately i have bin looking to sell them and i know that since it is a key date it can be worth a good amount, but it has to be a S because they are scarce. The first one that i have is a D and the second one i have, after some serious examination, is unidentified. for some reason there really is not a D or S marking under the left dot next to "cents". I know that being that it is an old coin the salt on peoples hands past on to the coin can eat away at it, but it truly looks like there was never a class. My question is, if it had one how can i tell it did, and if it really doesn't have the S or D marking is it priceless.

ANSWER: Hi Adam, what are the dates of the coins?
The only V nickels (1883-1912) that had mintmarks (D or S) were the 1912 issues.
U.S. coin prices for professionally graded coins: http://www.pcgs.com/prices/
and ungraded coins: http://www.bestcoin.com/united-states-coin-pricing-guide.htm .
Ungraded coins (raw) are worth less depending on amount of wear and collector demand.
You might also try a library for a copy of the Guidebook of United States Coins for pictures, values and lots more interesting info.
Brad

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QUESTION: they are 1912! so that means it is a misprint!?!?

Answer
Hi Adam, not a misprint. The 1912 without a mintmark was one of 26.2 million minted that year in Philadelphia. Collector value may be worth about $2 with heavy wear to around $13 with moderate wear to maybe $28 with light wear.
There were 8.5 million minted in Denver (D) that year and collector value may be worth about $3 with heavy wear to around $38 with moderate wear to maybe $85 with light wear.
Brad