The 1910 US Nickel, known as the Liberty Head or "V" Nickel, was designed by Charles E. Barber during an era of economic growth and political change. In 1910, America was expanding industrially, with President William H. Taft promoting trust-busting policies that shaped a stronger economy, indirectly stabilizing coinage demand, including the 1910 US Nickel. Barber’s classical design reflected a conservative artistic style favored during a period of cautious modernization.
The 1910 US Nickel, struck primarily in 75% copper and 25% nickel, symbolized industrial Americas reliance on durable metals. That same year, nickel mining expanded globally, linking the coin’s metal choice to booming industrial needs. Barber’s 1910 US Nickel design endured until rising calls for artistic reform in coins led to the Buffalo Nickels creation. Politically, America’s global influence grew, influencing coin design towards stronger, more iconic imagery, yet the 1910 US Nickel remained a snapshot of pre-modern American ideals.