The Liberty Head nickel, sometimes referred to as the V nickel because of its reverse design, was an American five-cent piece. It was struck for circulation from 1883 until 1912, w/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 US 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 30 years large quantities of coin of this design were produced to meet commercial demand, especially as coin-operated machines became increasingly popular. The obverse features a classic head of Liberty w/"Liberty" tiara, reverse features a wreath of wheat, cotton, and corn around a roman numeral designating the denomination of the coin, hence this coin having the nickname of the "V" nickel. From the Robert M. Overstreet Collection and comes with COA.