Rare 1913 nickel fetches over $3.1M at auction

WFTV.com ^

[Daffynition]

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. —

A rare century-old U.S. nickel that was once mistakenly declared a fake and forgotten about for decades has sold at auction for more than $3.1 million.

The 1913 Liberty Head nickel is one of only five known to exist. But it's all the more prized because of its unusual back story: It was surreptitiously and illegally cast, discovered in a car wreck that killed its owner, declared a fake, forgotten in a closet for decades and then declared the real deal.

It was offered up for sale Thursday by four Virginia siblings at a rare coin and currency auction in the Chicago suburb of Schaumburg where it sold for well over the expected $2.5 million.

The winning bidders were two men from Lexington, Ky., and Panama City, Fla., who bought the coin in partnership, according to Heritage Auctions.

[Daffynition]

This Jan. 2, 2013 image provided by Heritage Auctions shows an authentic 1913 Liberty Head nickel that was hidden in a Virginia closet for 41 years after its owners were mistakenly told it was a fake.

[Past Your Eyes]

I have an 1803 penny. It must be worth at least twice that, wouldn’t you say?

[AndrewB]

2 cents? Easily!

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

When I was a boy we would occasionally get these as change. If we would only have known-Sigh!

[ClearCase_guy]

I blame the Federal Reserve for all this inflation — a 1913 nickel now buys over $3M worth of stuff! That’s hyperinflation!!

[the OlLine Rebel]

No. Not necessarily. I have forgotten many things I learned about coins but I remember the 1913 date for a nickel. The article helped me remember the rest.

[Doogle]

"6...I spent one this morning"

[the OlLine Rebel]

No, you didn’t get a 1913. There were only 5 made during what was supposed to be the start of the Indian/buffalo run. Big difference in rarity.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

It was surreptitiously and illegally cast...

CAST coins?? I don't think so.

[the OlLine Rebel]

Adorable!

[RegulatorCountry]

I've got an old silver dollar in excellent condition, given to me by my grandmother when I turned ten. It went into a safe and has stayed there all these years. I recalled it as being 1921, and was very excited to come across information stating that it could be worth over $8,000.00. So, I went and got it out, first time in many years. 1922. Dramatic difference, a little over a hundred dollars.

[Secret Agent Man]

cute pic...:-)

[Secret Agent Man]

struck or stamped - not cast.

[the OlLine Rebel]

Exactly. These writers show their ignorance.

[Catmom]

I think you’re taking about buffalo head nickles.

[COBOL2Java]

I have some Liberty nickels. But a 1913? Sadly, no.

[the OlLine Rebel]

1921 was a Morgan dollar, the very last after a pause of many years. 1922 started the Peace dollar, and they ran about a decade or so. Ll very popular, but not as rare as anyone might suppose. High dollars are for excellent coins never circulated.

My mother has a famous story about Morgans. Her grandparents had loads of bank bags of Morgans in their house when they died and her parents got some. My mother spent those lovely dollars at her school and so on, where the nuns asked if she really wanted to use them. So, this coin collector has no nearly mint Morgans for free in her collection. Thanks, Mom.

[COBOL2Java]

I've got an old silver dollar in excellent condition, given to me by my grandmother when I turned ten. It went into a safe and has stayed there all these years. I recalled it as being 1921, and was very excited to come across information stating that it could be worth over $8,000.00. So, I went and got it out, first time in many years. 1922. Dramatic difference, a little over a hundred dollars.

Rick'll give you $30 for it!

[COBOL2Java]

Exactly. These writers show their ignorance.

They'd probably look at you and say "Coins, guns, whatever..."

[RegulatorCountry]

I’ve also encountered information stating that pre-1985 pennies are worth fifteen cents. If so I’ve got several drawers full that just accumulated out of pocket change over the years, probably a majority of them minted before that date.