A 1938 Nickel Worth $5,000? Yes… Some Are! Here’s What To Look For On 1938 Jefferson Nickels & Buffalo Nickels

The 1938 nickel represents the first year of the Jefferson nickel series, which is still in production today.

While all 1938 nickels are worth more than face value, some are much scarcer – and more valuable – than others.

Did you know some 1940 nickels are worth more than $20,000?

Here’s how to tell what your 1938 nickel is worth, and how to determine if you have a scarce or valuable 1938 Jefferson nickel…

Are 1938 Nickels Rare?

Jefferson nickels went into production for the first time on October 3, 1938.

While 1938 nickels are difficult to find in pocket change these days, they are much easier to find among coin collector circles. In fact, there are millions still in existence — but most of them are held among collectors or found in the numismatic marketplace.

The most common 1938 nickels were struck at the Philadelphia Mint.

Those from the Denver Mint and San Francisco Mint (bearing the “D” and “S” mintmarks, respectively) are much scarcer. Some collectors consider these semi-key coins in the Jefferson nickel series.

What Is The “Full Steps” Grading Designation On Jefferson Nickels?

There’s an important grading term exclusively relating to Jefferson nickels called “Full Steps.” This designation refers to the 5 (or 6) steps seen near the base of Monticello on the reverse (“tails side”) of the Jefferson nickel.

This designation only applies to uncirculated Jefferson nickels – those that don’t show any signs of wear at all.

Therefore, that 1938 Jefferson nickel you just pulled out of pocket change which shows very little wear and “looks almost mint” or “nearly perfect” can’t be a Full Steps nickel — because the coin does have some wear from being in circulation.

The only Full Steps Jefferson nickels you’ll ever encounter in circulation are:

Newly minted Jefferson nickels that were just broken out of an uncirculated coin roll or mint set
Or those that you find in an old roll of Mint State Jefferson nickels

For the most part, the only way to acquire a 1938 Full Steps nickel worth a lot of money is to buy one from a coin dealer.

How Much Is A 1938 Nickel Worth?

So, what determines 1938 nickel values?

A few things, including:

The date-and-mintmark combination on the coin
The presence or absence of Full Steps details
The coin’s overall condition

Here are the various types of 1938 Jefferson nickels and how much they’re worth today…

1938 Nickel Value (no mintmark)

Philadelphia-minted 1938 Jefferson nickels don’t have a mintmark of any kind. These nickels had a mintage of 19,496,000 — making it by far the highest-mintage Jefferson nickel issue of the year.

Most of the surviving 1938 Jefferson nickels are known in circulated grades. However, even Mint States examples, which are much smaller in number, are plentiful enough that they can be easily found at coin shops and bought for a price.

A typical 1938 nickel with an average amount of wear is worth 15 to 25 cents. Examples in Mint State grades are worth about $5 and up.

The all-time record price for the 1938 Jefferson nickel? That goes to an outstanding specimen graded MS-67 by Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) with Full Steps. It sold for $8,625 in a 2006 auction.

1938-D Nickel Value (“D” mintmark)

The 1938-D Jefferson nickel is a tough date with a lower mintage of only 5,376,000 pieces.

Highly scarce in circulation today, most collectors seeking this coin end up buying it from a coin dealer. While it’s a valuable coin, it’s not cost prohibitive for most collectors.

In worn condition, the 1938-D trades for $2 to $3. Uncirculated examples sell for $6 and up.

The record price for the 1938-D nickel is $4,993.75, paid in a 2014 auction for a PCGS-certified example grading MS-67+ with Full Steps.

1938-S Nickel Value (“S” mintmark)

The 1938-S nickel is the rarest business-strike issue of the 3 different 1938 nickels produced for circulation.

This San Francisco Mint coin saw a mintage of 4,105,000 — with perhaps half or fewer surviving today. As with all vintage Jefferson nickels, the vast majority of existing pieces are in worn condition.

Circulated examples of the 1938-S Jefferson nickel are generally worth $3 to $5, with uncirculated pieces trading for $8 or more.

The record price for the 1938-S Jefferson is $9,200 — which was a specimen graded by PCGS as an MS-67 Full Steps.

1938 Proof Nickel

The 1938 proof Jefferson nickel was made exclusively for coin collectors.

Just 19,365 were struck, making it one of the lowest mintages in the entire Jefferson nickel series.

Most 1938 proof Jefferson nickels are worth around $100, though nicer specimens command much more than that.

The record price for a 1938 Jefferson proof nickel was a specimen that was graded PR-67 by PCGS and sold for a whopping $5,980 in 2001.

1938 Buffalo Nickel

Did you know that not all 1938 nickels bear the familiar Jefferson design?

During the first months of 1938, the U.S. Mint was still striking Buffalo nickels… until October 3, 1938!

Designed by James Fraser, the Buffalo nickel was in production from 1913 through 1938 and is one of the most popular classic coins even today.

Named for the American bison (mistakenly called a buffalo) standing prominently on the reverse, the Buffalo nickel showcases the bust of a Native American chief on the obverse. Some collectors, therefore, call these coins “Indian nickels” or “Indian head nickels.”