1883 Racketeer Liberty Head Nickel Set

Legendary coins minted more than 135 years ago showcased in a deluxe wooden display chest.
Over 140 years ago in 1883, a nickel ignited a scandal that rocked the nation and forced the U.S. Mint to change the coin’s design almost immediately. The original 1883 Liberty Head Nickel was issued without the word “Cents” on the coin. Con men gold-plated the coins and passed them off as new $5 gold pieces. The 1883 Liberty Head Nickel and the $5 gold coin of this era were almost identical in size, so it was easy to mistake a gold-plated “No Cents” nickel for a $5 gold coin. The scam was shut down just weeks later when “Cents” was added to the reverse design on the nickel.

As a result, the “No Cents” nickel is one of the most notorious and scarce coins in U.S. history! Only about 25 percent of the first-year 1883 coins are the “No Cents” variety, and most of these coins were worn out in circulation or destroyed over a century ago. Known as the “Racketeer” nickel because of its notorious place in history, the few remaining coins are prized for their stunning history and their unique place in one of the most captivating tales in American coinage.