Liberty Nickel

The Liberty Head nickel was an American five-cent piece. It was
struck for circulation from 1883 until 1912, with at least five pieces
being surreptitiously struck dated 1913. The original copper–nickel
five-cent piece, the Shield nickel, had longstanding production
problems, and in the early 1880s, the United States Mint was looking to
replace it. Mint Chief Engraver Charles Barber was instructed to
prepare designs for proposed one-, three-, and five-cent pieces, which
were to bear similar designs. Only the new five-cent piece was
approved, and went into production in 1883. For almost thirty years
large quantities of coin of this design were produced to meet
commercial demand, especially as coin-operated machines became
increasingly popular. Beginning in 1911, the Mint began work to replace
the Liberty head design, and a new design, which became known as the
Buffalo nickel, went into production in February 1913. Although no 1913
Liberty head nickels were officially struck, five are known to exist.
While it is uncertain how these pieces originated, they have come to be
among the most expensive coins in the world, with one selling in 2010
for $3,737,500. (more...)