Last sold at public auction for $1,485,000 in May 1996 at the Eliasberg auction conducted by
Bowers and Merena. In 1913, the Liberty Head Nickel was abandoned for the new Indian or
Buffalo Nickel. Only five clandestine specimens of the famous 1913 Liberty Head Nickels
were actually struck. Four of these are accounted for, while one remains missing. This
possibly lost in a fatal automobile accident in the 1960's. The American Numismatic
Association has posted a $5,000 reward just for proof that this coin is still out there
somewhere. The reward remains unclaimed to the best of this writer's knowledge.
Supposedly, Mr. Samuel W. Brown, Assistant Curator of the Mint Cabinet Collections and
previously, Clerk or Storekeeper of the Mint, decided to have some late night coining activity
done for unscrupulous reasons. The fact known is that he was the first to advertise
in numismatic publications to buy any 1913 Liberty Head Nickels. He put an advertisement
in The Numismatist in December of 1919 offering to pay $500 per coin. It sounds
pretty logical to me that he simply waited until the "right" people either died, retired or
whatever, to make his move in "making a market". But this is just speculation. Basically,
that is everyone's speculation.
Anyway, years later the megalacoindealer of his time, B. Max Mehl of Fort Worth, Texas,
advertised to pay $50 a piece for 1913 Liberty Head Nickels. According to Breen, Mehl
later admitted spending over a million 1930's
Depression Era dollars for the nationwide advertising campaign. The ads weren't actually
expected to bring any sellers to him as he knew that only a few had been struck. The guy
was a marketing guru in numismatics for his day. The stimulus for the rare coin market was
terrific. People were checking their pocket change. Rare coins were (and are) occassionally
found in pocket change, abandoned buildings, buried in the ground, etc.. B. Max Mehl
meanwhile, was busy selling his Star Rare Coin Encyclopedia like hotcakes.
Some pretty colorful characters have owned these nickels. From King Farouk, the Egyptian
King (and playboy) to a vest-pocket dealer by the name of J.V. McDermott. Old timers say
McDermott did most of his business across the bar. He used to pass it around for folks to
admire, figuring it was too important and rare to "just walk off". Where would you
unload it without attracting attention?
This is a coin of extreme popularity and value. As a matter of fact, a 1913 Liberty Head
Nickel appeared in an old episode of the television program Hawaii Five-O.
Pedigree: Samuel W. Brown, Stephen K. Nagy, Wayte Raymond, Col. EHR Green, Burdett
Johnson, Eric P. Newman, Abe Kosoff, Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr., and Jay Parrino.
