Ever wonder why the Liberty Nickel (or "V" Nickel, as it is commonly known) has so many worn-out specimens and hardly any examples in VF or better?

The time is the 1880s, a period rich with new technology. One exciting invention brought music to the masses, for just a nickel. The nickelodeon was an immediate success, as people everywhere flocked to play this wonderful new creation.

Into the music machine went the nickel of the day -- the "V" Nickel. By 1910 the novelty of the nickelodeon had somewhat worn off, but not before the machines had totally worn out the poor nickels!

This explains why the "V" Nickel is one of the scarcest and most undervalued of all coins in VF to MS-63.