Every design
| Design | Mintage | Value | Rarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson Monticello nickel | 146 dates and mint marks | Up to $4,620 | Has key dates |
| Jefferson Return to Monticello nickel | 43 dates and mint marks | Up to $3.88 |
A few low-mintage dates from 1938 and 1939 and a small group of errors are worth more too. Newer coins from 2009 and 2024 can be worth more than face, but only if they were never used.
The Jefferson nickel began in 1938 with Felix Schlag's left-facing portrait and Monticello on the back. It ran to 2003, and a forward-facing portrait by Jamie Franki followed from 2006.
How to tell
- Look at the date. The first years, 1938 and 1939, and the war years, 1942 to 1945, matter most.
- Turn the coin over and look above Monticello's dome. A large P, D or S mint mark there means a wartime silver nickel.
- If there is no mark above the dome, look beside the building. On 1938 and 1939 nickels, and on a 1942-D, the mint mark is a small letter on the back, to the right of Monticello.
- Check the date against the key dates below. A date that matches is only the first step, because wear changes the value a great deal.
- For 2009 and 2024 coins, ask whether the coin looks never used. Only an untouched coin is worth more than face.
The silver war nickels
The war nickels carry the large mint mark above the dome. Philadelphia used a mint mark for the first time on the 1942-P, which is why a P appears there too.
These coins are silver, so a worn one sells for close to the value of its silver, and the price moves with silver. Any nickel with the large mint mark above the dome is worth more than face value, even a worn one. Keep these coins out of your spending change.
The first years: 1938 and 1939
The first Jefferson nickels were common in some places and scarce in others. The plain 1938 and 1939, with no mint mark, are common and worth little more than face.
The Denver and San Francisco coins of both years are the ones to keep, because far fewer were made. The 1939-D is the key date: few were kept, and it is worth $2.17 to $6.50. It and the 1939-S are worth more than face in any condition.
Errors and varieties
Two errors are worth knowing about.
1939 doubled Monticello
The stamp (die) for the back had a doubled image, so MONTICELLO and FIVE CENTS are strongly doubled. Compare the lettering on the back with a normal coin. In uncirculated condition (MS65), it is worth $1,500.
1942-D, D over sideways D
On this variety the D mint mark was first stamped sideways, then upright over it. The 1942-D was struck in the pre-war metal, before the switch to silver in October 1942, so look for the mark beside the building, not above the dome. In uncirculated condition (MS65), it is worth $4,620. An ordinary 1942-D without the error is worth far less.
Newer nickels: 2009 and 2024
Recent nickels are worth more than face only when they were never used (uncirculated). Of these, the 2024-D is the best to find: the fewest were made, and an uncirculated one is worth $3.88. A worn one from your change is worth face value.
For a closer look at the first design, see the guide to the Jefferson left-facing nickel. The 2005 Westward Journey bison nickel has its own guide too.
Condition
Wear lowers value. A heavily worn coin sells for much less than a lightly worn one. Check the date, the mint mark and the lettering first, then look at how much detail remains.
If you think you have a rare date or an error, a professional grading service such as PCGS or NGC can grade it. A coin's own condition decides what it sells for, and the values here are ranges, not promises.
Metal value
- $0.07 for 75% copper, 25% nickel (5 g)
- $2.99 for 56% copper, 35% silver, 9% manganese (wartime alloy, 0.05626 troy oz silver, 5 g). The 9% manganese is left out: it adds a small fraction of a cent.
Questions
How do I know if my Jefferson nickel is silver?
Turn it over and look above Monticello's dome. A large P, D or S mint mark there means a wartime silver nickel. If you see no mark above the dome, it is not one of these.
Is a 1938 nickel worth more than face?
It depends on the mint mark. A 1938-D or a 1938-S is worth more than face, because far fewer were made. A plain 1938 with no mint mark is common and worth $0.05 to $0.25, depending on wear. Look for the mint mark on the back, beside Monticello.
Is my 2024 nickel worth anything?
Only if it was never used. A 2024-D is the better one to find, since fewer were made than of the 2024-P. A worn coin from your change is worth face value.
Which Jefferson nickel is the key date?
For the early years, the 1939-D is the key date. Few were made and few were kept. The silver war nickels are also worth more than face in any condition.
More coins to check
Check the rest of your change
Over 1,100 US and UK coins by year and mint mark, each value with its source and the date it was checked.
