One of the most venerated, valuable and legendary coins in American numismatics, the 1913 Liberty Head Nickel, is to auction at Heritage Auctions on April 25, 2013 - its centennial year, according to Numismaster.com.
 The coin remained 'lost' for 40 years |
The rare nickel, which was produced in extremely small quantities without the authority of the United States Mint, is thought to be one of only five examples still in existence. It is valued at $10m, meaning the April sale could prove a record breaking affair.
A 1794 Flowing Hair Dollar currently holds the title of most valuable coin ever sold, having changed hands through private treaty for $7.9m in 2010. The title of most valuable coin ever sold at auction, however, remains with a 1933 Saint-Gaudens double eagle, which brought $7.6m in 2002.
The top selling coin of 2012, an ultra high relief Saint-Gaudens double eagle, brought $2.8m in Baltimore on June 29.
Even if it does not meet its $10m estimate, the 1913 Liberty Head Nickel may still exceed both the record holding dollar and the double eagle in terms of price.
While the 1913 Liberty Head Nickel's fame might be attributed to its rarity, it is also the subject of an intriguing tale. The Walton specimen, which was thought to have been lost for more than 40 years, only resurfaced in 2003.
Having died in a car crash on his way to exhibit the coin in 1962, George O Walton's collection was recovered from the scene and the Liberty Head Nickel mistakenly identified as a fake.
The coin remained in the possession of Walton's family until, in 2003, the American Numismatic Association (ANA) launched a nationwide search to find the missing fifth example. Walton's relatives presented the coin and it was subsequently determined to be real. The Walton heirs previously loaned the remarkable specimen to the ANA's Edward C Rochette Money Museum in Colorado Springs, where it has been on permanent display for the last nine years.
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