BCCS Liberty Nickels Rarity Ratings


1885 Liberty Nickel

In 2009, the Barber Coin Collectors' Society conducted a survey to ascertain rarity ratings for Liberty Nickels. The survey did not estimate the actual number of surviving pieces, but rather a rating for relative availability and rarity.


 
       Results of BCCS Liberty Nickels Rarity Survey - 2009


For the sake of this survey, the following rarity ratings were used:

R1: Common date and grade
R2: Better date and grade
R3: Tough date – available, but may require some looking
R4: Scarce – may or may not find at larger shows/auctions
R5: Very scarce – only a few offered for sale each year
R6: Almost never seen – only one or two may be offered for sale in a year’s time
R7: Rare – a single specimen might, on average, be offered for sale once every few years

Date G VG F VF XF AU MS
  1883 NC R1 R1 R1 R1 R1 R1 R1
  1883 WC R2 R2 R3 R3 R3 R3 R3
  1884 R2 R2 R3 R3 R3 R3 R3
  1885 R3 R4 R4 R4 R4 R5 R4
  1886 R3 R3 R4 R4 R4 R4 R4
  1887 R2 R2 R2 R3 R3 R2 R2
  1888 R2 R2 R2 R3 R4 R4 R2
  1889 R1 R2 R2 R3 R3 R3 R2
  1890 R1 R2 R2 R3 R2 R3 R2
  1891 R1 R2 R2 R3 R2 R2 R2
  1892 R1 R2 R2 R2 R2 R2 R2
  1893 R1 R2 R2 R2 R2 R2 R3
  1894 R2 R2 R3 R4 R4 R4 R3
  1895 R1 R1 R2 R2 R3 R3 R2
  1896 R1 R2 R2 R2 R3 R3 R2
  1897 R1 R1 R2 R2 R3 R3 R1
  1898 R1 R1 R2 R2 R2 R2 R1
  1899 R1 R1 R1 R1 R2 R2 R3
Date G VG F VF XF AU MS
  1900 R1 R1 R1 R1 R1 R1 R1
  1901 R1 R1 R1 R1 R1 R1 R1
  1902 R1 R1 R1 R1 R1 R1 R1
  1903 R1 R1 R1 R1 R1 R1 R2
  1904 R1 R1 R1 R1 R1 R1 R1
  1905 R1 R1 R1 R1 R1 R2 R1
  1906 R1 R1 R1 R1 R1 R1 R1
  1907 R1 R1 R1 R1 R1 R1 R1
  1908 R1 R1 R1 R1 R1 R2 R1
  1909 R1 R1 R2 R2 R2 R3 R2
  1910 R1 R1 R1 R1 R1 R1 R2
  1911 R1 R1 R1 R1 R1 R1 R1
  1912 R1 R1 R1 R1 R1 R1 R1
  1912-D R2 R2 R2 R3 R3 R4 R3
  1912-S R3 R3 R3 R4 R5 R5 R5
  1913 - - - - - - R7

  Copyright © 2004-2023, Barber Coin Collectors' Society      --      Email:   bccs@barbercoins.org