Jefferson Nickel

1938-Present • United States • 5¢

About This Coin

The Jefferson Nickel features President Thomas Jefferson on the obverse and his home, Monticello, on the reverse. It replaced the Buffalo Nickel and remains in production today with design variations.

Specifications

Composition

75% Copper, 25% Nickel (1938-1942, 1946-present); 56% Copper, 35% Silver, 9% Manganese (1942-1945 War Nickels)

Weight

5 grams

Diameter

21.2 mm

Edge

Plain

Designer

Felix Schlag

Mintage

Varies widely by year

Estimated Values by Condition

Condition	Estimated Value
Poor (P)	$0.05
Good (G)	$0.05-0.10
Fine (F)	$0.10-0.25
Very Fine (VF)	$0.25-0.50
Extremely Fine (EF/XF)	$0.50-2
Uncirculated (MS)	$2-50+

* Values are estimates based on market data and may vary significantly based on specific condition, mint mark, and market demand.

Identification Tips

The mint mark is on the reverse to the right of Monticello (1938-1964, 2006-present) or on the obverse below the date (1968-2005). War Nickels (1942-1945) have a large mint mark above Monticello and contain 35% silver. Look for Full Steps (FS) designation on Monticello for premium coins.

Historical Context

Designed by Felix Schlag through a public competition, the Jefferson Nickel was introduced in 1938 to replace the Buffalo Nickel. During WWII (1942-1945), nickel was needed for the war effort, so the composition was changed to include silver. The design was updated in 2004-2005 for the Westward Journey series.

Notable Varieties

1939 Doubled Monticello
1942-1945 War Nickels
1950-D
1954-S
1971 No S Proof

Frequently Asked Questions

What are War Nickels and how do I identify them?

War Nickels were minted from 1942-1945 with 35% silver to save nickel for WWII. They have a large mint mark (P, D, or S) above Monticello on the reverse. Regular nickels have the mint mark beside Monticello or no mark at all.

What does "Full Steps" mean?

Full Steps (FS) refers to complete, unbroken steps on the Monticello building on the reverse. Due to weak strikes, most Jefferson Nickels have incomplete steps. FS examples command significant premiums, sometimes 10-100x more.