Coin Values Moving with Precious Metals: Up-Dated 7/7/2025: Gold $3313 | Silver $36.57
1909 Nickel Value
A collector inspects a coin's condition closely when determining 1909 nickel value. This is an important date in the Liberty nickel series, somewhat scarce.
With the focus of the market on condition and how much these coins are worth, judging condition within a narrow range is a key consideration. Compare the condition of your coin to images of different "grades" of nickels. These grades represent descriptions used in the coin hobby.
Proceed through the step-by-step method to become familiar with this nickel series. The significance of date and condition, all combine to find the special quality of these coins.
Steps Leading to Value:
- Step 1: Date Identified - An important date in the Liberty series of nickels to confirm.
- Step 2: Grading Condition - Strong increases in premiums requires close inspection of quality.
- Step 3: Special Qualities - Added detail is imaged and reviewed to find subtle qualities to these coins.
| 1909 Nickel Value | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Condition of Coin | ||||
| Date | Good | Fine | Extremely Fine |
Mint State |
| Liberty Nickel Value Updated | 2025 | |||
| 1909 | $1.80 | $4.62 | $24 | $85 |
A narrow range of Wholesale values is listed on the chart. Using these values as a guide is a conservative approach. This takes into account variances in the market. Dealer's demands and overall eye appeal contribute to a final worth.
Step 1: 1909 an Important Year to Verify the Date
Becoming a busy year, the mints were focusing on production of new design cents. The older Indian cent series was retiring. As a result, production of nickels declined sharply. Recording 11.5 million nickels as a total for the year. These nickels are now the least likely to find in a box of old coins. Most 1909 nickels circulated for years, many becoming featureless, losing most of their design details. Today, a collector needs patience to acquire nice examples for their collection.
A second look to confirm the exact date is always done. 1909 an important year within the coin market.
Step 2: | Grading Condition Within a Proper Setting
Visible Small Details Highlight a Rise in 1909 Nickel Value
Judging condition of an old nickel requires a workspace with a single light source. One light illuminates the surface of a coin, giving a nice contrast to small details. Remaining design features on worn coins are often very shallow. A sharp shadow from lighting brings out subtle detail. Of importance, the value chart shows a nice 1909 nickel premium when detecting qualities to meet the Extremely Fine grade.
Collectors and dealers use a series of grade categories as descriptions of coin's surface condition. When viewing the images below, a difference among the grades becomes apparent. Inspect the key features highlighted by the descriptions.
Mint State Grade
Mint State: Nickels with the "Mint State" designation are of the highest collector quality. There continues a high demand for this quality among collectors. No wear disturbs the surface, helping define the grade and describes the state of preservation. Surfaces when originally minted are covered with a fine texture radiating a shine. This is an important characteristic of the grade.
When examining Liberty's hair above her forehead, there is no evidence of dulling in color or smoothing of the luster on the metal. Additionally, the wheat grains located above the headband display intricate detail and high relief. The grade is confirmed by the absence of any flattening on small details, as well as the luster that still covers the metal.
To finalize the judgment, note that Liberty's cheek shows no signs of smoothing from wear. Both the cheeks and fields of the coin match with a similar texture and shine.
Extremely Fine Grade
Extremely Fine: Nickels from 1909 having signs of only minor wear represent a small fraction of the total coins available today. Light wear and very little smoothing to the surface are two characteristics identifying and, importantly, defining the Extremely Fine grade.
On the example nickel, small areas of hair strands just beginning to fade is typical of wear. This lightly affects the sharpness of the waves of hair. The key to confirming the condition is each area of smoothness is both small and isolated from one another. There is no connection between any two flat regions; they are completely separate.
One of the details still visible and used to identify the grade is Liberty's hairline separating the forehead. This subtle line remains complete from the top of her head to her ear. Additionally, the letters of LIBERTY remain boldly visible within the headband. Also, located just above the headband is a wreath featuring wheat grains and cotton leaves. All remaining well detailed with only small spots of wear. Throughout her portrait, the combination of Liberty's headband, full lettering, and bold hair details creates a crisp appearance.
Fine Grade
Fine Grade: A Liberty nickel graded in Fine condition displays noticeable wear beginning to cover the entire portrait of the coin. This amount of wear is the grade's defining characteristic. Many features appear with a smooth surface, including missing hair detail and visible flattened areas within the wreath.
Lettering of "LIBERTY" is plainly visible within the headband in order for the nickel to receive the quality grade of Fine. Second, there are many individual hair strands visible and well detailed towards the back of Liberty's head near the tie of hair. Presence of smaller details and wreath elements are important to the grade's definition and quality.
Additionally, Liberty's facial features are defined and distinct, enhancing the coin's overall condition and grade. Noticeable, is her ear is well detailed.
Good Grade
Good Grade: Due to widespread circulation at the time, the majority of 1909 nickels available today are heavily worn. These are in Good grade condition. A starting collector finds these obsolete nickels interesting, available, and affordable.
The design of Liberty nickels is popular because of its ability to present strong features despite heavy wear. Defining the grade, all major features are worn to a smooth surface while still maintaining their outlines.
Beginning with the portrait of Liberty, inner details of her face and hair are now worn smooth. Meeting the standards of the grade, the entire outline of the portrait remains intact and well-raised above the coin's field. As a frame to the outline of Liberty is a circle of stars, all displayed bold of the field. These thirteen stars, all complete and distinct and remaining separate from the rim add to the overall appeal. Confirming the Good grade condition is the strong, full date. No fading of outlines to the portrait, stars, and inner edge of the rim is a plus quality coin.
How to Video: Grading Liberty Nickels
A second pass in judging condition often helps spot additional remaining detail, key to an accurate grade. Viewing the highlights of the video and additional descriptions develops an understanding of important features to examine.
Grading Liberty Nickels | How to Video and Descriptions
Step 3: | Special Qualities | Minor Coinage Popularity
1909 Nickels and the New Pennies of a Special Year
1909 Liberty nickel mintage shows a steep decline from previous years. 11 million minted in 1909 versus 22 million the year before, and 30 million nickels coined in 1910.
This drop in nickel coinage centers around the ending of the Indian cent series and the beginning of the Lincoln cent. Philadelphia, the main mint was responsible for minor coinage. In 1909 it was the sole producer for all nickels and the major producer for cents.
A shift in priorities led to all nickels dated 1909 were minted by July. This left time to concentrate on the two different cent design series. With a focus on cents, the last of the Indian cents were struck by May of 1909. As part of their introduction, Lincoln cents were minted and held to build adequate supplies for their release to the public in August 1909.
A busy year for Philadelphia, time constrained nickel production, ending and beginning of cent series, and a need to provide coinage for interest and demand for the new Lincoln cent.
Quote From 1909 U.S. Mint Report
Above is the entry in the 1909 Annual Report of the U.S. Mint. It shows the quick action needed and taken to prepare and mint the Lincoln cent. Philadelphia went on to strike 115 million cents dated 1909 between the Indian and Lincoln designs.
Attention by the public was now focused on cents. Older Indian pennies were retrieved and saved. Lincoln cent became very popular and was also saved. In contrast, 1909 nickels quietly circulated. With its lower mintage and a reasonably lower saving rate, these present an interesting year of the series.
1909 Liberty Nickel and 1909 Indian and Lincoln Cents
Consider 1909 nickels as a possibly overlooked year and slightly less available than the rest of the nickels from the 1900's. A special nickel tied to special cents.
References
U.S. Mint. 1909 U.S. Mint Annual Report
https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/book/322
U.S. Mint. 1910 U.S. Mint Annual Report
https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/book/512058
U.S. Mint. Catalogue of Coins of the United States.
https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/book/554591
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