Jefferson Nickel Value Chart: Every Date From 1938 to 2003

The dates to check first

These are the lowest-mintage Jefferson nickels struck for circulation. If you're sorting a jar or an inherited collection, pull these dates out before anything else and check the mint mark carefully.

1. 1950-D Jefferson Nickel: 2,630,030 made. The 1950-D has the lowest mintage of any regular circulating Jefferson nickel and was heavily hoarded by speculators at the time.
2. 1939-D Jefferson Nickel: 3,514,000 made.
3. 1938-S Jefferson Nickel: 4,105,000 made.
4. 1938-D Jefferson Nickel: 5,376,000 made.
5. 1939-S Jefferson Nickel: 6,630,000 made.
6. 1951-S Jefferson Nickel: 7,776,000 made.

Every jefferson nickel by date and mint

Click any date for its full page: how many were made, the mint mark location, varieties and what to check. Mint marks matter: the same year can be common from one mint and scarce from another.

The series in 7 stages

Felix Schlag's new nickel (1938 to 1941)

In 1938 Felix Schlag won the design competition for a new nickel. His portrait of Thomas Jefferson with Monticello on the reverse was released in November. The Mint modified his original design, changing Monticello from an angled view to a straight front view. The 1938-D and 1938-S were saved in rolls by collectors.

Wartime silver nickels (1942 to 1945)

Nickel was needed for the war, so in late 1942 the Mint switched to an alloy of 56 percent copper, 35 percent silver and 9 percent manganese. To show the change, a large mint mark was placed above Monticello. For the first time Philadelphia used a P. Early 1942 nickels in the old alloy have the mint mark to the right of the building.

Return to copper-nickel and the 1950-D (1946 to 1955)

The prewar alloy of 75 percent copper and 25 percent nickel returned in 1946, along with the small mint mark to the right of Monticello. Output was modest in the late 1940s as wartime demand eased. The 1950-D, with only 2.6 million coined, became the key date of the series. Speculators hoarded it in rolls almost at once, so it is found in uncirculated condition more often than worn.

Coin shortage years and no mint marks (1956 to 1967)

Output grew rapidly through the late 1950s and early 1960s, led by Denver, which struck more than 280 million in 1962. A nationwide coin shortage in the early 1960s, blamed on vending machines, hoarding and a booming economy, led the Mint to strike more than 2.8 billion nickels dated 1964, with production of that date continuing into 1965.

Mint marks move to the obverse (1968 to 1979)

When mint marks returned in 1968, they moved to the obverse, just to the right of the date. San Francisco struck circulating nickels from 1968 to 1970, then only proofs from 1971 onward. The 1971 proof nickel without an S, caused by a die that was never punched, is a major rarity, with only about 1,655 reported struck.

The P mint mark and high output (1980 to 1992)

In 1980 Philadelphia began placing a P on its nickels, the first time since the wartime silver years. The mint mark has been used ever since. Output ranged from a few hundred million to nearly 900 million at each mint, with Philadelphia's 1982 figure of 292 million among the lowest of the decade. San Francisco proofs continued every year. Prestige proof sets from 1983 onward included the nickel.

Matte finishes and the final original Monticello years (1993 to 2003)

Special matte finish nickels were made for collector sets in 1994 and 1997. The 1994-P came in a Jefferson coin and currency set marking his 250th birthday, while the 1997-P came in a set honoring the U.S. Botanic Garden. The 1997-P matte is scarce, with only about 25,000 made. Output climbed past a billion at each mint in 1999. Denver struck 1.5 billion in 2000.

Decade by decade

• 1930s: 6 issues, 160 million coins. Scarcest: 1939-D (3,514,000).
• 1940s: 31 issues, 2.1 billion coins. Scarcest: 1949-S (9,716,000).
• 1950s: 24 issues, 1.2 billion coins. Scarcest: 1950-D (2,630,030).
• 1960s: 17 issues, 5.1 billion coins. Scarcest: 1960 (55,416,000).
• 1970s: 20 issues, 7.1 billion coins. Scarcest: 1971 (106,884,000).
• 1980s: 20 issues, 10.8 billion coins. Scarcest: 1982-P (292,355,000).
• 1990s: 20 issues, 13.3 billion coins. Scarcest: 1992-P (399,552,000).
• 2000s: 8 issues, 5.7 billion coins. Scarcest: 2003-D (383,040,000).

Where to find the mint mark

• 1938 to 1941: On the reverse, to the right of Monticello.
• 1942 to 1945: Large mint mark above the dome of Monticello on the reverse, including a "P" for Philadelphia, the first ever used. A large mint mark means a 35% silver war nickel.
• 1946 to 1964: On the reverse, to the right of Monticello.
• 1965 to 1967: No mint mark. Mint marks were suspended in 1965–1967.
• 1968 to 2003: On the obverse, near the date. "P" appears from 1980.

Identifying and grading Jefferson nickels

The steps of Monticello are the key: coins with 5 or 6 full steps (5FS / 6FS) sell for large premiums. On the obverse, check Jefferson's cheekbone and hair.

Felix Schlag's portrait shows Thomas Jefferson facing left with IN GOD WE TRUST, LIBERTY and the date. The reverse shows the front of Monticello, Jefferson's home, with MONTICELLO and FIVE CENTS below. The mint mark was to the right of the building until 1964 (above the dome on wartime silver nickels) and moved to the obverse, near the date, in 1968. Schlag's initials FS were added below the bust in 1966.

What the value bands mean

• Face value: worth its face in worn condition; only uncirculated coins and varieties carry a premium.
• Metal value: worth its silver content in worn condition.
• Small premium: sells for a little over face or metal value even when worn.
• Collector premium: scarcer than usual, so worn coins sell well above face or metal value.
• Significant rarity: a key date, valuable in any condition and often faked.

Bands describe a coin in ordinary circulated condition. An uncirculated coin with full original luster sits a band or more higher. Recognized varieties can be worth far more than the date itself.