1913 Liberty Head Nickel Painting to Be Auctioned for ANA

A one-of-a-kind painting of the ANA’s famed Bebee specimen 1913 Liberty Head nickel will be auctioned this month, with 100% of the proceeds benefiting the American Numismatic Association (ANA).

Created by artist Laura Verschoore and NFP.io for America’s 250th anniversary, the large-format artwork incorporates patented authentication technology embedded throughout its canvas. DLRC will offer the painting without a buyer’s fee or seller commission, allowing the full winning bid to go to the ANA.

The artwork will be displayed at DLRC’s table #1013 during the ANA World’s Fair of Money in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from Aug. 25 through its auction closing on Thursday, Aug. 27. The show continues through Aug. 29.

The painting depicts one of only five known 1913 Liberty Head nickels, a rarity whose mysterious origins and celebrated ownership history have fascinated collectors for generations. The Bebee specimen is held in the collection of the ANA Edward C. Rochette Money Museum.

Beyond its numismatic subject, the painting marks the first large-format fine-art application of NFP.io’s patented secure-substrate authentication technology, according to the company.

During production, UV-reactive stochastic markers were permanently embedded throughout the three-dimensional structure of the canvas. Their random arrangement forms a physical signature unique to the artwork, similar to a fingerprint or DNA profile.

Because the markers are part of the canvas itself, the technology is intended to provide permanent authentication that cannot be separated from or transferred to another work.

Originally developed to protect high-security documents and banknote materials, the technology is being applied to a museum-quality artwork for the first time.

NFP.io CEO Yury Shapshal said the technology gives the painting a permanent identity tied to the physical structure of its canvas, offering a new way to protect collectible assets against forgery and counterfeiting.

“This is the first full-scale fine artwork ever created using this patented authentication technology,” Shapshal said. “It is the inaugural demonstration that a work of art can possess a permanent, intrinsic identity embedded within its own canvas.”

He added that the sale’s proceeds will support the ANA’s efforts to preserve, educate and advance the numismatic hobby.

DLRC President John Brush said the technology addresses authentication concerns shared by the art and numismatic markets.

“We are honored to be chosen to auction this fantastic piece. Security and authenticity are critical parts of the numismatic hobby but can be very hard to monitor. NFP.io’s technology is a fascinating and rock-solid authentication milestone, and we are excited to see them grow and continue providing confidence to collectors of all kinds.”

The painting will be offered in DLRC’s Red Carpet Rarities Auction, available here, with bidding closing Aug. 27. It may be viewed at the company’s World’s Fair of Money table before the auction concludes.