In coin collecting, the older the coin the better. Also, the better the condition the higher the value. Depending on several factors, an old nickel can let you buy your dream house or car. Here are some of the most valuable nickels you might want to include in your collection.
1913 Liberty nickel/The Olsen specimen
The 1913 Liberty head nickel is the King of 20th century coins. There are only five known examples of this coin. Nobody knows why there are only five. A lot of controversy surrounds this nickel. The first ones produced in 1883 did not include the CENTS on it. People gold-plated them and passed them off as five-dollar gold pieces. Every coin collector would love to have this very rare nickel. It has a high demand and a very limited supply. That is why it is the most valuable nickel ever.
1937-D Three-legged Buffalo nickel
One of the most notable coins of the 20th century, the 1937-D Buffalo nickel was a result of an accident. A worker at the mint polished a coin die to repair its surface and remove imperfections. As a result, the worker removed the front leg of the buffalo but left the hoof on the ground. Details on the back leg were also somehow removed. Altered Buffalo nickels are rampant so be careful when buying one.
1880 Shield nickel
There were only 16,000 of these coins minted for circulation. That makes it the lowest production quantity in the whole series. There were 3,955 Proof coins struck for coin collectors of the era. This means that less than 20,000 coin collectors can complete a set of Shield nickels. There is a fierce competition for these nickels. Getting well-struck coins in pristine condition is too difficult.
It is best to be careful when buying these valuable nickels. There are a lot of people waiting to scam collectors.