1888 5C AU58 Certification #29400268, PCGS #3849

Ron Guth

The 1888 Liberty Head Nickel has a mintage similar to that of the 1912-D, and both coins are valued similarly across the grade spectrum.  Only eight other dates in the series have a lower mintage (nine, if you count the 1913 Liberty Nickel), making it one of the more popular, early dates. 

The most common Mint State grade for the 1888 Nickel is MS-64, followed by MS-63.  Gems are scarce and superb exmples are essentially non-existent.  The finest 1888 Nickel certified by PCGS (as of December 2011) is a single MS-66+.

Collectors should seek spot-free examples that show a strong strike, especially on the obverse stars and the ear of corn on the lower left reverse.

Charles Morgan

The 1888 Liberty Nickel

In 1888, Dr. George F. Heath published a humble, four-page pamphlet titled The American Numismatist, which he distributed from his home to fellow coin collectors across the United States. Heath found it difficult to meet other numismatists in person, as the primary numismatic societies of the era were concentrated in major Eastern cities like Baltimore, Boston, and New York. When Heath launched his pamphlet, he estimated that there were 20,000 active coin collectors nationwide. In time, The American Numismatist would evolve into The Numismatist, becoming the flagship journal of the hobby's first national club, the American Numismatic Association.

Meanwhile, the United States Mint was primarily focused on striking high volumes of Morgan Dollars to fulfill its congressionally mandated obligations. With the Philadelphia Mint overburdened by silver dollar production, minor coinage took a backseat, not because Philadelphia lacked the capacity to strike smaller coins, but because the Mint had produced a surplus of minor coinage following the Civil War and simply had no need to strike more. Two economic downturns (the Depression of 1882–1885 and the Recession of 1887–1888) also served to suppress demand.

A Date With Production Issues

Series specialists are well aware of the general poor quality of the 1888 Liberty Nickel (#3849). Due the Philadelphia Mint's workload, quality control and die maintanance at the Philadelphia Mint suffered significantly. By 1888, it was common for Liberty Head nickels to exhibit:

• Weak strikes across high focal points.
• Frequent die cracks along the fields and rims.
• Extensive pitting and evidence of die rust.

Additionally, due to a flaw in the coin's design, the lower portion of the vegetal wreath on the reverse suffered the most from weak strikes, with the left-hand ear of corn frequently displaying little to no detail.

The 1888 Liberty Nickel, Doubled Die Obverse (FS-101)

A few minor varieties have been reported for this date, but PCGS recognizes only the FS-101, which is listed in the Cherrypickers' Guide. On this scarce doubled-die obverse, collectors will notice clear doubling on Liberty's ear. As of July 2026, PCGS has certified nearly 900 1888 Liberty Head nickels, but fewer than 25 featuring the doubled die - offering plenty of opportunity for the astute variety seeker.

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