Rare Liberty Head Nickel Sold for $3.17 Million A 1913 Liberty Head nickel was hidden in a Virginia closet for 41 years after its owners were mistakenly told it was a fake. It was thought to fetch up to $2.5 million but sold for $3.17 million. The nickel is one of only five known and was auctioned in Schaumburg, Ill., on April 25, 2013. Four siblings inherited it from their mother, the sister of a coin collector named George Walton. Heritage Auctions/AP Photo