The Jefferson Nickel or "five-cent piece" as pictured here was minted by the United States government from 1938 until 2005. It is 21.2mm in diameter, weighs 5 grams and is composed of 25% nickel and 75% copper. With the onset of World War II demand for nickel to be used in armor plating prompted Congress to order a temporary reformulation of the coin's composition. From October 8, 1942 through the end of 1945, five-cent pieces bore the regular design but were minted from an alloy of copper, silver and manganese. To distinguish these silver war nickels, coins from all three mints featured extra large mintmarks above the dome of Monticello, and uniquely the letter 'P' was used as a mintmark to indicate Philadelphia.
| Jefferson Nickels | G4 | VG8 | F12 | VF20 | XF40 | AU50 | MS60 | MS65 | Prf65 |
| 1938 | $0.25 | $0.35 | $0.45 | $1.00 | $1.30 | $2.00 | $4.00 | $8.00 | $125.00 |
| 1938 D | $0.90 | $1.05 | $1.25 | $1.50 | $2.00 | $2.75 | $4.25 | $7.50 | .. |
| 1938 S | $1.25 | $1.45 | $1.80 | $2.05 | $2.65 | $3.30 | $4.50 | $8.00 | .. |
| 1939 | $0.13 | $0.15 | $0.20 | $0.25 | $0.35 | $2.00 | $2.50 | $3.25 | $125.00 |
| 1939 Dbl Mont. | $20.00 | $25.00 | $45.00 | $75.00 | $130.00 | $175.00 | $225.00 | $700.00 | .. |
| 1939 D | $3.15 | $3.60 | $4.00 | $5.60 | $11.25 | $24.50 | $40.00 | $120.00 | .. |
| 1939 S | $0.60 | $0.70 | $1.00 | $1.90 | $3.65 | $9.25 | $15.25 | $40.00 | .. |
| 1940 | $0.06 | $0.08 | $0.09 | $0.15 | $0.25 | $0.60 | $1.30 | $2.75 | $125.00 |
| 1940 D | $0.08 | $0.11 | $0.20 | $0.35 | $0.50 | $1.30 | $2.65 | $3.00 | .. |
| 1940 S | $0.08 | $0.13 | $0.20 | $0.40 | $0.65 | $1.80 | $3.50 | $5.00 | .. |
| 1941 | $0.06 | $0.08 | $0.09 | $0.15 | $0.35 | $0.50 | $1.30 | $2.25 | $120.00 |
| 1941 D | $0.08 | $0.11 | $0.15 | $0.35 | $0.50 | $1.30 | $2.65 | $5.50 | .. |
| 1941 S | $0.08 | $0.11 | $0.15 | $0.35 | $0.65 | $1.65 | $3.00 | $6.25 | .. |
| 1942 | $0.06 | $0.09 | $0.15 | $0.22 | $0.45 | $0.80 | $2.65 | $5.50 | $110.00 |
| 1942 D | $0.50 | $0.90 | $1.25 | $2.75 | $4.50 | $16.00 | $30.00 | $55.00 | .. |
| 1942 P | $0.50 | $0.60 | $0.80 | $0.95 | $1.40 | $3.00 | $7.50 | $20.00 | $190.00 |
| 1942 S | $1.00 | $1.05 | $1.10 | $1.65 | $2.05 | $2.75 | $4.60 | $18.00 | .. |
| 1943 P | $1.00 | $1.05 | $1.10 | $1.45 | $1.60 | $1.80 | $3.00 | $13.00 | .. |
| 1943/2 P | $25.00 | $32.00 | $42.00 | $68.00 | $95.00 | $125.00 | $240.00 | $600.00 | .. |
| Jefferson Nickels | G4 | VG8 | F12 | VF20 | XF40 | AU50 | MS60 | MS65 | Prf65 |
| 1943 D | $1.00 | $1.05 | $1.45 | $1.60 | $2.00 | $2.30 | $3.00 | $12.00 | .. |
| 1943 S | $1.00 | $1.05 | $1.10 | $1.45 | $1.60 | $2.00 | $3.30 | $20.00 | .. |
| 1944 P | $1.00 | $1.05 | $1.10 | $1.45 | $1.60 | $2.10 | $5.30 | $16.00 | .. |
| 1944 D | $1.00 | $1.05 | $1.10 | $1.60 | $2.05 | $3.45 | $6.00 | $12.00 | .. |
| 1944 S | $1.00 | $1.05 | $1.10 | $1.60 | $2.15 | $3.15 | $4.00 | $11.00 | .. |
| 1945 P | $1.00 | $1.05 | $1.10 | $1.45 | $1.65 | $2.00 | $3.30 | $11.00 | .. |
| 1945 D | $1.00 | $1.05 | $1.10 | $1.60 | $2.00 | $2.65 | $3.30 | $12.00 | .. |
| 1945 S | $1.00 | $1.05 | $1.10 | $1.45 | $1.60 | $1.70 | $2.65 | $10.00 | .. |
| 1946 | $0.06 | $0.08 | $0.09 | $0.13 | $0.20 | $0.25 | $0.70 | $3.25 | .. |
| 1946 D | $0.08 | $0.09 | $0.11 | $0.14 | $0.25 | $0.45 | $0.80 | $3.25 | .. |
| 1946 S | $0.09 | $0.11 | $0.20 | $0.25 | $0.40 | $0.45 | $0.80 | $1.80 | .. |
| 1947 | $0.06 | $0.08 | $0.09 | $0.13 | $0.20 | $0.25 | $0.70 | $1.80 | .. |
| 1947 D | $0.08 | $0.09 | $0.11 | $0.14 | $0.35 | $0.50 | $0.85 | $2.25 | .. |
| 1947 S | $0.09 | $0.11 | $0.12 | $0.15 | $0.25 | $0.40 | $0.65 | $2.00 | .. |
| 1948 | $0.06 | $0.08 | $0.09 | $0.13 | $0.20 | $0.35 | $0.60 | $4.25 | .. |
| 1948 D | $0.09 | $0.11 | $0.12 | $0.35 | $0.45 | $0.65 | $1.10 | $3.25 | .. |
| 1948 S | $0.09 | $0.11 | $0.20 | $0.40 | $0.45 | $0.50 | $0.80 | $3.25 | .. |
| Jefferson Nickels | G4 | VG8 | F12 | VF20 | XF40 | AU50 | MS60 | MS65 | Prf65 |
| 1949 | $0.09 | $0.11 | $0.15 | $0.20 | $0.25 | $0.45 | $0.90 | $5.50 | .. |
| 1949 D | $0.09 | $0.11 | $0.12 | $0.25 | $0.45 | $0.60 | $1.05 | $4.50 | .. |
| 1949 D/S | $26.50 | $30.00 | $37.00 | $45.00 | $85.00 | $115.00 | $170.00 | $325.00 | .. |
| 1949 S | $0.20 | $0.35 | $0.45 | $0.65 | $0.80 | $1.00 | $1.30 | $3.25 | .. |
| 1950 | $0.13 | $0.15 | $0.20 | $0.25 | $0.45 | $0.65 | $1.05 | $4.50 | $65.00 |
| 1950 D | $6.00 | $6.60 | $7.25 | $8.00 | $8.60 | $9.25 | $13.25 | $28.00 | .. |
| 1951 | $0.09 | $0.11 | $0.12 | $0.14 | $0.30 | $0.35 | $0.95 | $8.50 | $65.00 |
| 1951 D | $0.12 | $0.14 | $0.15 | $0.25 | $0.45 | $0.60 | $1.10 | $8.00 | .. |
| 1951 S | $0.13 | $0.20 | $0.25 | $0.45 | $0.75 | $1.00 | $2.00 | $4.50 | .. |
| 1952 | $0.06 | $0.08 | $0.09 | $0.11 | $0.13 | $0.15 | $1.60 | $4.25 | $35.00 |
| 1952 D | $0.09 | $0.11 | $0.12 | $0.18 | $0.25 | $0.40 | $3.15 | $6.50 | .. |
| 1952 S | $0.08 | $0.09 | $0.12 | $0.15 | $0.20 | $0.35 | $0.65 | $3.25 | .. |
| 1953 | $0.06 | $0.08 | $0.09 | $0.11 | $0.12 | $0.20 | $0.30 | $1.25 | $35.00 |
| 1953 D | $0.08 | $0.09 | $0.11 | $0.13 | $0.18 | $0.20 | $0.40 | $1.25 | .. |
| 1953 S | $0.08 | $0.09 | $0.13 | $0.20 | $0.30 | $0.35 | $1.00 | $2.25 | .. |
| 1954 | $0.06 | $0.08 | $0.08 | $0.09 | $0.11 | $0.20 | $0.95 | $1.75 | $18.00 |
| 1954 D | $0.06 | $0.08 | $0.08 | $0.09 | $0.11 | $0.20 | $0.50 | $1.75 | .. |
| 1954 S | $0.06 | $0.08 | $0.08 | $0.09 | $0.11 | $0.25 | $1.25 | $2.75 | .. |
| 1954 S/D | $4.00 | $6.00 | $8.00 | $10.50 | $16.00 | $25.00 | $37.00 | $185.00 | .. |
| 1955 | $0.18 | $0.20 | $0.25 | $0.25 | $0.35 | $0.40 | $0.85 | $1.75 | $12.00 |
| 1955 D | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.08 | $0.11 | $0.18 | $0.25 | $0.75 | .. |
| Jefferson Nickels | G4 | VG8 | F12 | VF20 | XF40 | AU50 | MS60 | MS65 | Prf65 |
| 1955 D/S | $4.00 | $6.60 | $9.25 | $12.00 | $17.75 | $32.00 | $42.25 | $65.00 | .. |
| 1956 | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.20 | $0.65 | $2.25 |
| 1956 D | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.20 | $0.55 | .. |
| 1957 | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.20 | $0.55 | $1.25 |
| 1957 D | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.20 | $0.55 | .. |
| 1958 | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.13 | $0.15 | $0.18 | $0.35 | $0.60 | $6.00 |
| 1958 D | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.20 | $0.55 | .. |
| 1959 | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.20 | $0.60 | $1.25 |
| 1959 D | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.20 | $0.50 | .. |
| 1960 | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.20 | $1.75 | $1.00 |
| 1960 D | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.20 | $0.50 | .. |
These prices for Jefferson Nickels are provided as a service to Hobbizine readers. They are derived from numerous sources such as dealer price lists, advertisements in numismatic publications, and public auction results. Use these values as a guideline for evaluating the reasonableness of dealer prices, setting up trades with other collectors, and estimating the worth of your collection.
Some notes about grading:
- G - Good: Major design elements are outlined but details are gone; the date may not be sharp (but should be readable) and the rim may not be complete.
- VG - Very Good: Major design elements, letters and numerals are worn but clear.
- F - Fine: Major elements are still clear but details are worn away.
- VF - Very fine: Light even wear on high points, all lettering and design details are sharp.
- XF - Extremely Fine: All design details are sharp; some mint luster remains.
- AU - About Uncirculated: Traces of wear with at least half of the original luster remaining.
- MS-60 - Mint State: A perfect coin with bright consistent luster and no scratches or contact marks.
- MS-65 - Mint State: A gem coin - blemish free with sharp strike. Here it is presumed to have been professionally graded.
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