Jefferson nickels minted between 1938 and 1964 are not popular among coin collectors—you can still pluck most of these coins right from your pocket change. Therefore, this series rarely gets the respect it deserves from intermediate and advanced collectors. However, you will find that collecting pre-1964 Jefferson nickels can be rewarding and pleasantly challenging.
Here is a brief history of Jefferson nickels minted between 1938 and 1964 and a guide to help you understand which of these coins are worth good money.
Jefferson Nickel History and Design
The Jefferson nickel was first minted in 1938 and replaced the Buffalo (or Indian Head) nickel that had been minted since 1913. Felix Schlag designed the Jefferson nickel—he was paid $1,000 for winning a design competition among 390 artists. However, United States Mint officials did not like the style of lettering he chose for the coin or his rendering of Jefferson’s home, Monticello (the winning design had a corner view of the house and the Mint wanted a head-on view of the iconic building).
This was the third circulating coin where the United States Mint eliminated a symbolic figure from the obverse, such as Lady Liberty or an American Indian, and replaced it with a former president of the United States. Previous redesigned coins included the penny, which began featuring Abraham Lincoln in 1909, and the quarter, which started featuring George Washington in 1932.
The Jefferson nickel weighs five grams and comprises 75% copper and 25% nickel. Approximately halfway through 1942, to save raw material for the war effort, the composition was changed to 56% copper, 35% silver, and 9% manganese (.05626 t oz ASW). This silver composition continued until the end of 1945. The Jefferson nickel has a diameter of 21.2 mm and has a plain edge.
Market For Jefferson Nickels
Jefferson nickels are still being made at the U.S. Mint and are actively used in commerce. Therefore, most circulated specimens are worth only face value. However, there are a few specimens that are worth a little more. Jefferson Nickels made between 1942 in 1945 are also called War Nickels and consisted of 35% silver. This means they are worth more than face value, and most have been removed from circulation. An easy way to identify these more valuable coins is to look at the reverse. If there is a letter (P, D, or S) over the dome of Monticello, then it is a silver coin.
Key Dates, Rarities, and Varieties
The following Jefferson nickels, in any condition, are worth more than common coins that you can find in your pocket. Therefore, look at the coin carefully or have the coin authenticated by a reputable coin dealer or third-party grading service.
- 1939-D
- 1942 to 1945 – Wartime Silver Alloy
Note: If the mint mark on the reverse is above the building (see the “Mint Mark Location” photo below), the coin contains 35% silver or about 0.0563 troy ounces of pure silver. - 1943 P 3/2 – Doubled Die Obverse
- 1949 D D/S – Re-punched Mint Mark (or RPM)
- 1950 D
- 1954 S S/D – RPM
- 1955 D D/S – RPM
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Condition or Grade
If your coin is worn and looks similar to the one illustrated below, it is considered a circulated coin.
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If your coin looks similar to the one illustrated below and has no evidence of wear due to being in circulation, it is considered an uncirculated coin. Remember to look at the details and not the “shininess” of the coin when determining if your coin is circulated or uncirculated. Cleaning a coin to make it shiny will not increase its value. It will decrease its value because clean coins are worth less to a coin collector than an unclean circulated coin.
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Mint Marks
As illustrated in the photo below, the mint mark is located on the reverse of the coin, right next to Monticello for coins dated 1938 to 1942 and 1946 to 1964: Philadelphia (no mint mark), Denver (D), and San Francisco (S). Beginning in 1942 and lasting until 1945, the Mint used an alloy of 35% silver, made the mint mark larger, and moved above Monticello. During this time, coins minted in Philadelphia had a “P” for a mint mark, while coins minted in Denver and San Francisco continued to use a “D” and “S,” respectively.
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Average Prices and Values
The buy price is what you can expect to pay to a coin dealer to purchase a Jefferson nickel. The sell value is what you can expect a coin dealer to pay you if you sell the coin. These are approximate retail prices and wholesale values. The actual offer you receive from an individual coin dealer will vary depending on the agreed-upon grade of the coin and a variety of other factors that determine its worth.
| Date & Mint | Circ. Buy | Circ. Sell | Unc. Buy | Unc. Sell | |
| 1938 | $0.30 | $0.15 | $4.50 | $3.50 | |
| 1938-D | $0.90 | $0.50 | $5.50 | $4.50 | |
| 1938-S | $1.20 | $0.70 | $5.50 | $4.00 | |
| 1939 | $0.13 | F.V. | $3.00 | $2.00 | |
| 1939-D | $3.00 | $1.50 | $55.00 | $47.00 | |
| 1939-S | $0.60 | $0.35 | $18.00 | $14.00 | |
| 1940 | $0.06 | F.V. | $2.50 | $1.70 | |
| 1940-D | $0.10 | F.V. | $3.50 | $2.50 | |
| 1940-S | $0.10 | F.V. | $4.50 | $3.50 | |
| 1941 | $0.07 | F.V. | $2.50 | $1.50 | |
| 1941-D | $0.10 | F.V. | $4.50 | $3.50 | |
| 1941-S | $0.10 | F.V. | $5.00 | $3.50 | |
| 1942 | $0.08 | F.V. | $5.00 | $3.70 | |
| War Time Silver Alloy | |||||
| 1942-P TII | $1.50 | $1.00 | $7.00 | $5.00 | |
| 1942-D | $1.50 | $1.00 | $19.00 | $13.00 | |
| 1942-S | $1.50 | $1.00 | $6.00 | $4.50 | |
| 1943-P | $1.50 | $1.00 | $5.00 | $3.50 | |
| 1943-P 3 over 2 | $35.00 | $25.00 | $300.00 | $250.00 | |
| 1943-D | $1.50 | $1.00 | $4.00 | $3.00 | |
| 1943-S | $1.50 | $1.00 | $4.50 | $3.50 | |
| 1944-P | $1.50 | $1.00 | $5.50 | $4.00 | |
| 1944-D | $1.50 | $1.00 | $7.00 | $5.00 | |
| 1944-S | $1.50 | $1.00 | $6.00 | $4.00 | |
| 1945-P | $1.50 | $1.00 | $5.00 | $3.50 | |
| 1945-D | $1.50 | $1.00 | $5.00 | $3.50 | |
| 1945-S | $1.50 | $1.00 | $4.50 | $3.00 | |
| Resume Copper Nickel Alloy | |||||
| Date & Mint | Circ. Buy | Circ. Sell | Unc. Buy | Unc. Sell | |
| 1946 | $0.06 | F.V. | $1.70 | $1.00 | |
| 1946-D | $0.06 | F.V. | $1.70 | $1.00 | |
| 1946-S | $0.06 | F.V. | $1.70 | $1.00 | |
| 1947 | $0.06 | F.V. | $1.30 | $1.00 | |
| 1947-D | $0.06 | F.V. | $2.90 | $1.90 | |
| 1947-S | $0.06 | F.V. | $3.00 | $2.20 | |
| 1948 | $0.06 | F.V. | $1.30 | $1.00 | |
| 1948-D | $0.06 | F.V. | $2.30 | $1.60 | |
| 1948-S | $0.09 | F.V. | $2.70 | $1.80 | |
| 1949 | $0.09 | F.V. | $1.90 | $1.00 | |
| 1949-D | $0.09 | F.V. | $1.90 | $1.00 | |
| 1949-D D over S | $28.00 | $13.00 | $190.00 | $120.00 | |
| 1949-S | $0.30 | $0.15 | $2.20 | $1.50 | |
| 1950 | $0.10 | F.V. | $1.70 | $1.00 | |
| 1950-D | $6.00 | $3.00 | $12.30 | $8.30 | |
| 1951 | $0.10 | F.V. | $2.80 | $1.90 | |
| 1951-D | $0.10 | F.V. | $3.30 | $2.30 | |
| 1951-S | $0.17 | F.V. | $3.70 | $2.50 | |
| 1952 | $0.07 | F.V. | $2.80 | $1.90 | |
| 1952-D | $0.10 | F.V. | $4.00 | $2.70 | |
| 1952-S | $0.10 | F.V. | $2.00 | $1.00 | |
| 1953 | $0.10 | F.V. | $1.30 | $1.00 | |
| 1953-D | $0.10 | F.V. | $1.30 | $1.00 | |
| 1953-S | $0.10 | F.V. | $1.50 | $1.00 | |
| 1954 | $0.10 | F.V. | $1.20 | $1.00 | |
| 1954-D | $0.06 | F.V. | $1.00 | $0.64 | |
| 1954-S | $0.06 | F.V. | $2.20 | $1.60 | |
| 1954-S S over D | $4.90 | $2.50 | $41.00 | $28.00 | |
| Date & Mint | Circ. Buy | Circ. Sell | Unc. Buy | Unc. Sell | |
| 1955 | $0.18 | F.V. | $1.00 | $0.70 | |
| 1955-D | F.V. | F.V. | $1.00 | $0.59 | |
| 1955-D D over S | $5.50 | $2.90 | $48.00 | $33.00 | |
| 1956 | F.V. | F.V. | $1.00 | F.V. | |
| 1956-D | F.V. | F.V. | $1.00 | F.V. | |
| 1957 | F.V. | F.V. | $0.75 | F.V. | |
| 1957-D | F.V. | F.V. | $0.75 | F.V. | |
| 1958 | F.V. | F.V. | $1.00 | F.V. | |
| 1958-D | F.V. | F.V. | $0.75 | F.V. | |
| 1959 | F.V. | F.V. | $0.50 | F.V. | |
| 1959-D | F.V. | F.V. | $0.50 | F.V. | |
| 1960 | F.V. | F.V. | $0.50 | F.V. | |
| 1960-D | F.V. | F.V. | $0.50 | F.V. | |
| 1961 | F.V. | F.V. | $0.50 | F.V. | |
| 1961-D | F.V. | F.V. | $0.50 | F.V. | |
| 1962 | F.V. | F.V. | $0.50 | F.V. | |
| 1962-D | F.V. | F.V. | $0.50 | F.V. | |
| 1963 | F.V. | F.V. | $0.50 | F.V. | |
| 1963-D | F.V. | F.V. | $0.50 | F.V. | |
| 1964 | F.V. | F.V. | $0.50 | F.V. | |
| 1964-D | F.V. | F.V. | $0.50 | F.V. | |
| Complete Date-Mint Set Total Coins: 71 |
$32.00 | $13.50 | $275.00 | $200.00 | |
| Complete Date Set Total Coins: 27 |
$10.00 | $3.00 | $55.00 | $40.00 |
*= See the section above “Key Dates, Rarities and Varieties” for more information on these coins.
F.V. = Face Value
