Five Cents · 1938–2003

Jefferson Nickel

Thomas Jefferson's left-facing portrait with IN GOD WE TRUST in front of his face and the date behind his shoulder. Jefferson's Virginia home Monticello, shown straight-on with its name below and FIVE CENTS under that.

Designer

Felix Schlag

Diameter

21.21 mm

Edge

Plain

Mint mark

Reverse, to the right of Monticello (1938–1964); large mark above Monticello's dome on silver war nickels (1942–1945); obverse near the date (1968–2003); no marks at all 1965–1967

Composition

1938–1942: 75% copper, 25% nickel · 5 g

1942–1945: Wartime alloy: 56% copper, 35% silver, 9% manganese (silver 'war nickels'; 1942 exists in both alloys) · 5 g Silver

1946–2003: 75% copper, 25% nickel · 5 g

Did you know? From late 1942 through 1945 nickels were struck in a 35% silver alloy because nickel metal was needed for WWII armor — spot them by the oversized mint mark floating above Monticello's dome, the first time a P mint mark ever appeared on a US coin, and each contains a couple dollars' worth of silver today.

Beginner tip: Check above Monticello's dome first — a big P, D, or S there means a 35% silver war nickel worth keeping no matter how worn it is.

Key dates to look for

1938-D Jefferson Nickel

$1–3, more uncirculated

First-year Denver issue with a modest mintage

1938-S Jefferson Nickel

$2–4

Lowest mintage of the first year at 4.1 million

1939-D Jefferson Nickel

$4+ worn, $30+ uncirculated

Just 3.5 million struck — a series semi-key

1939-S Jefferson Nickel

$2+

Low mintage of 6.6 million

1950-D Jefferson Nickel

$10+ in any condition

Famous 2.6 million mintage — hoarded in rolls, so most survivors are uncirculated

Valuable varieties & errors

1939 Doubled MONTICELLO

rare

$30 – $500+

A doubled hubbing on a reverse die boldly doubled the words MONTICELLO and FIVE CENTS. It is the best-known doubled die of the whole Jefferson series.

How to check: Put a loupe on the word MONTICELLO under the building. On this variety every letter shows a strong second outline shifted downward, and FIVE CENTS is doubled the same way. The doubling is clear enough that many collectors can see it with sharp eyes alone.

1942-D D Over Horizontal D

rare

$100 – $3,000+

A Denver mint mark was first punched into the die lying on its side, then corrected with an upright D on top. This dramatic repunched mint mark is scarce in all grades and rare uncirculated.

How to check: This is the copper-nickel 1942-D, so look to the right of Monticello for the mint mark. Under a loupe, the upright D sits on top of a sideways D — you can see the horizontal D's straight back and loop sticking out from beneath the normal letter.

1943/2-P Overdate

rare

$50 – $1,500+

A war nickel die hubbed with a 1942 date was finished with 1943 hubs, leaving parts of a 2 beneath the 3. It is the only overdate in the Jefferson series.

How to check: Confirm the large P above Monticello's dome, then examine the last digit of the date with a loupe. On the overdate, the curved top and diagonal of a 2 show through the upper part of the 3, and the date often shows slight doubling overall.

1949-D/S (D Over S)

rare

$50 – $400+

A die originally punched with an S mint mark was corrected with a D for use at Denver. It was the first D-over-S discovered on any US coin and remains a series favorite.

How to check: Find the mint mark to the right of Monticello. Under magnification, look inside and around the D for the curves of an S — the upper and lower loops of the S peek out from the openings and edges of the D.

1954-S/D (S Over D)

scarce

$15 – $150

A leftover Denver die was re-punched with an S mint mark for San Francisco. The buried D is subtle, making this a fun loupe challenge for beginners.

How to check: Locate the S right of Monticello and magnify it well. Look for the straight vertical back and curved bowl of a D showing along the right side and inside the S. Compare against photos, because a normal S with die wear can fool you.

1955-D/S (D Over S)

scarce

$15 – $150

San Francisco stopped striking circulation coins after 1955, and some of its unused dies were re-punched with a D for Denver. Several different die pairs of this D-over-S are known.

How to check: Magnify the mint mark right of Monticello. On the strongest examples the loops of an S clearly stick out above and below the D, like the D was stamped over a snake. Weaker pairs show just traces inside the D's opening.

Error types found on this series

Doubled Die (Obverse)

The front design shows a second, shifted image because the die itself was made doubled.

Doubled Die (Reverse)

Same as a doubled die obverse, but the doubling appears on the back of the coin.

Repunched Mint Mark (RPM)

The mint mark was punched into the die more than once, slightly off position, leaving a doubled letter.

Off-Center Strike

The blank wasn't centered when struck, so part of the design is missing and part of the coin is blank.

Grease-Filled Die (Struck Through Grease)

Grease and debris packed into the die's recesses blocked part of the design, leaving weak or missing details.

Lamination Error

A thin layer of the coin's metal peels, flakes, or cracks off because the alloy was poorly mixed.

Machine Doubling

The die bounced or chattered at the moment of striking, smearing a flat shelf-like second edge onto the design.

Die Crack

A crack in the die fills with metal during the strike, leaving a thin raised line on the coin.

Real photos where available (credits); others are illustrations.

Have one of these?

Identify your exact coin and see what to check for.

Identify my nickel