Jefferson nickels made before 1960 old Jefferson nickels made in the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s have a value of 10 cents or more except for the ones listed below All the Jefferson nickel values listed below are for coins in average circulated condition. Higher-grade pieces are worth more, and cleaned and damaged nickels are worth less. Its an American 5-cent coin thats been in use since 1866. The low production quantity has resulted in fierce competition for well-struck coins that are in pristine condition. The 1918/7-D is certainly the rarest coin in the Buffalo nickel series and it is one of the most important coins of the 20th Century, former PCGS President David Hallwrote. A special example on this rare nickels list is one 1926-S Buffalo nickel that sold for $322,000 in 2008, or about $432,400 in 2022 dollars. Real Helpful. Only about 19 with this finish exist, probably part of an unofficial mint set. All rights reserved. 7Most Valuable Star Wars Trading Cards Worth Thousands. Not the kind that show up at random in your pocket change each day. Additionally, 3,955 Proof coins were struck for coin collectors of the era. If you were smart you'd trade that nickel in for 5 pennies. My love for coins began when I was 11 years old. Sold: July 2008; These are usually the most expensive nickels you can find. But another excellent example sold at auction in 2014 for $170,375, or about $208,100 in 2022 dollars. At that price, a typical nickel is worth 16 cents in It took years before a numismatist discovered these coins in circulation. 7 Rare Wheat Pennies To Collect & What Theyre Worth Today, This 1982 Copper Penny Is Worth $10,000! The silver melt value for each coin is $1.16 as of February 26, 2023. Certain coins gain and retain significant value over time, and collectors will pay top dollar for some coveted pieces. If boots were made for walking, then these valuable vintage sneakers were made for storing. WebFelix Schlag designed these coins. 2002-2023 LoveToKnow Media. That year, the Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco mints struck the Jefferson nickels, resulting in three varieties. The first D, for Denver mint, was placed horizontally, and then punched again on the die, creating valuable rare nickels wanted by collectors. The San Francisco mint struck 21,640,000 Jefferson nickels in 1944. An example sold in 2006 for $17,250. The top of the number is flat instead of rounded, and the middle appears thicker than it should. This scale has been incorporated into the modern Professional Coin Grading Services (PCGS) and Numismatic Guaranty Corporations (NGC) rating systems. WebA nickel from 1976 is worth 5 cents. The Jefferson nickel from 1944 comprises 56% copper, 35% silver, and 9% manganese. You can find a range of nickels worth money in many years, including 1880, 1885, 1919, 1920, 1926, 1927, 1936, 1937, 1942, and 1964. You can notice some trends in the years that are valuable and the mints they come from. 25 Most Valuable Nickels (Updated 2021) 1.) This means that the 1951 nickels mostly entered circulation and became worn as a result. These doubled die errors make coins immensely valuable, as usually only a small number of coins are affected when an error occurs. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. More than 15,000 1916 nickels minted in Philadelphia still exist, but only about 400 have doubled die errors, according to PCGS. Many of the 1944 P nickels came out with a poor strike resulting from the Mint using worn, clumsily polished dies. The highest standalone sale price for a 1913 Liberty Head nickel was $4.56million for a proof coin at auction in 2018, according to the PCGS. As it would turn out, human error reared its ugly head in this process and these 1942 nickels are the result. WebFelix Schlag designed these coins. So, most of the circulation nickels from this year will appear significantly damaged. New and beginning collectors find the circulated pieces affordable and base collections on nice examples. The doubled die error is popular among collectors. Even silver wartime Jefferson nickels look nearly identical to regular nickels, except for one distinguishing mark that Ill tell you about in just a bit. Fumes and smoke emanating from your house might tip off someone you least suspect and give them reason to report you to the authorities. The surprising answer: Much more than 5 cents! Copper and Nickel Prices SOARING! The coins denomination, FIVE CENTS, is inscribed right below the mansions name. Uncirculated coins went directly to collectors and are more likely to be in good condition. Real People. So, how could a nickel be worth more than face value and people actually pay more than 5 cents for a coin they cant melt? The finest known example sold in 2013 for $18,800. This list of Jefferson nickel values will help you determine how much your old nickels are worth. In fact, the composition of a regular Jefferson nickel is just 25% nickel. Sold: November 2009; Bowers & Merena, The November 2009 Baltimore Auction. Even amid an economic downturn in 2008, an MS-67 grade example sold for a whopping $138,000, or about $185,300 in 2022 dollars. Oftentimes, these bullion trades are based on speculative value, or the amount that might be made if it ever becomes legal to melt nickels. This Philadelphia-minted nickel from 1887 features Liberty on one side and III on the other. Although 18,700 proof copies of the 1941 nickel were struck, most entered circulation. The San Francisco mint in 1917 mostly produced poorly struck Buffalo Nickels. Value: $5,842. Other Jefferson nickels outside of 1964 can be valuable too. While other mints and other years had millions of examples, only 970,000 Buffalo nickels came out of the San Francisco mint in 1926. And those special times can turn everyday items like nickels into the worlds most expensive nickels potentially worth millions of dollars. Watch our for counterfeits, but in 2015 a prime example of the 1937-D Buffalo Nickel Three Legs sold for $88,125, equal to $107,500 in inflation-adjusted 2022 dollars. While there are a lot of different nickels on this list, one thing is clear. This nickel wouldnt win contests for drawing within the Iines, but thats what makes it so special. Your chances of findingvaluable nickels in everydaypocket change are pretty good much like your odds of finding valuable pennies. This has made them nickels worth money and the ones in premium condition are valued at around $3,800 today. The most expensive 1944-P nickel, graded MS60, was sold at 7,475 in 2011. WebTOP 15 MOST VALUABLE NICKELS Rare Nickels in Pocket Change Worth Money (Buffalo, Liberty,Shield) Currency World 159K views 3 years ago 6 Placer Gold Geology Chris Ralph, It is reported that it sold for $1,150,000 on eBay. A particularly rare example to find with full steps, the 1953 issue of the Jefferson nickel from the San Francisco Mint can be very valuable. WebCopper prices have been up, and so, too, are nickel values. Im also the editor at the Florida United Numismatists Club (FUN Topics magazine), and author of Images of America: The United States Mint in Philadelphia (a book that explores the colorful history of the Philadelphia Mint). The rarest Jefferson nickel in terms of the original minting, the 1950 issue from the Denver Mint was under three million minted. Check Your Pocket Change for These Valuable Dimes, 25 Most Valuable Jefferson Nickels Worth Over 10K, storing them carefully to preserve their condition, 2007 George Washington Dollar Over Jefferson Nickel, 1979 Susan Be. Now, there is one major exception to this rule. Some have a value of $1 or more, and a few are even worth more than $10. A 1944 S nickel, in general circulation, is worth between $1.25 and $4. The war nickels have the same design as the pre-war Jefferson nickels. A 1942 proof from the Philadelphia Mint exhibits exceptional contrast and is in beautiful shape. Coin dies - the metal pieces used to imprint emblems on coins - typically strike coins multiple times to ingrain the image or text. The deep cameo is hard to find, especially for 1953, and it's even rarer in exceptional condition. Copper and Nickel Prices SOARING!Watch this video on YouTube, Stay up to date with everything about U.S Coins, We dont spam! Value of these silver nickels is further based on collector interest. While this technique increased the number of coins minted and reduced production time, it also resulted in some of the coins having a faded design. In fact, at one point, the value of nickel went to $100,000 per metric ton. Most Proof coins in this series had production runs of approximately 1,000 coins. However, this single example of a high-quality specimen commands the extraordinary price that advanced coin collectors are willing to pay. There are thought to be ten or fewer examples today, and back in 2004, one sold for $132,250, or $202,400 in 2022 dollars. Why would the U.S. government spend millions even billions of dollars making a bunch of coins if Americans are simply going to melt them down? It sold for $17,625 in 2016. However, in 1867 only 25 Proof coins were minted, with no more than 10 of them surviving today. Until 1989, mint employees would hand punch the mint mark of the die. The 1944 P nickel value for circulated coins is between $1.25 and $3. WebThe 1964 FS MS67 has continued the downward trend of previous years with two pieces auctioning in 2021 for $5,040 and $4,230 ().In 2021 a 1964 Jefferson Nickel SMS SP68 almost matched the record value of the 1964 Nickel SMS FS SP68 when it sold for $31,200. Ive authored nearly 1,000 articles here at The Fun Times Guide to Coins (many of them with over 50K shares), and I welcome your coin questions in the comments below! The Type I coin has the denomination FIVE CENTS on the reverse below the Buffalo on a raised mound. In addition, when considering the Philadelphia and San Francisco coins, most 1944 S nickels are worn or generally in poor condition. In 2018, one sold for $4,560,000, or $5,250,100 in 2022 dollars. It's this demand coupled with its limited supply that makes this the most valuable nickel ever! To find such a pristine example coupled with a highly detailed strike is a true rarity. Therefore, uncirculated examples in pristine condition are few and far between. Circulated coins are the ones that have been used in everyday transactions and are worth the lowest. Unfortunately, between the mid-1800s and the late 1800s, the United States Mint only produced Proof coins to the demand of collectors. However, some high-quality examples cost around $35. Giant Nickel: $10 (Tuesday by 12pm) Pennywise: $25 (Tuesday by 4pm) Display Pricing. Meanwhile, if you happen to find one in average condition, the coin might only be worth $1.90, according to USA Coin Book. One sold for $16,675 in 2008. The result is a doubling or tripling of the design, with each impression appearing at a slightly different angle. If you buy thru these links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Because those nickels are made from a 35% silver composition and are not a significant part of pocket change and circulation anymore. It measures 21.2mm in diameter and weighs 5 grams. Is Treasure Hiding In Your Piggy Bank? Silver nickels such as the Liberty Head Nickels One sold in 2014 for $23,500. On the 1914 4 Over 3 Buffalo nickels, you can see a 3 sticking out from the overcast 4. Check the coins reverse, and you should identify the prominent Monticello mansion on all silver war nickels. The 1924-S Buffalo nickel is by no means a rare coin in circulated condition. With a mintage of 1,437,000 coins, many of them have survived and are available to collectors today. This coin's high level of preservation and dramatic eye appeal make it an extremely valuable coin. Not only is it when the nickel switched designs from the Liberty Head V design to the Buffalo design, but it also had two different types of Buffalo designs used. Also worth noting silver nickels arent made entirely from silver. But youll need to make sure they are in excellent condition to get top dollar, shoot for grade 65 or higher. 4.) If you can identify the rarity, the history, and the condition of any nickel, then you will be able to conquer this hobby. 6.) One in mint condition sold for $28,750 in 2011. Coin dealer B. Max Mehl of Fort Worth, Texas, spent a fortune on advertising to enticing people to search their pocket change for valuable 1913 Liberty Head nickels. Manage Settings However, some examples are worth far more than five cents. Real Experiences. But perhaps most importantly in the entire world of the most valuable coins, youll also need to understand a lot about the conditions of the nickels you want to collect. Many years of nickels are worth money, but the 1913 Liberty Head V is the most valuable nickel. Why more uncirculated examples were not saved is a mystery to numismatists. Just how much are these rare nickels worth? WebYou may add up to 4 additional photos online on Nickel's Worth website for a flat $5. Ive contributed hundreds of articles for various coin publications including COINage, The Numismatist, Numismatic News, Coin Dealer Newsletter, Coin Values, and CoinWeek. Real Helpful. One does not need a magnifying glass or microscope to see the dramatic doubling on the last two digits of the year on the obverse of the coin. Anthony Dollar Over Jefferson Nickel. Even in poor condition, these coins are worth at least $2,000, and they can sell for more than $50,000 in circulated condition. You can rest assured that your nickel from 1944 contains some silver. If I get lucky and find any coins that I wish to keep, I can just swapthose out with common pieces, and trade the roll back in for more coins. Conventional wisdom guides many coin collectors and bullion stackers into looking for and saving only silver coins: But those silver half dollars and silver dollar coins are pretty tough to locate anywhere outside the shop of a coin dealer these days. While many held onto the original 1883 and 1884 design thinking they would become collectors items, it ended up that the newer 1885 was neglected by collectors and is now more rare and valuable. 7.) While overstamps like this are very rare, they are even rarer with two separate years. While the 1918 piece had the wrong year initially stamped on it, the 1916 nickel had the correct year mark, but it was stamped in two places. This means that if you can find one that is struck exceptionally well, you might have one of the most expensive nickels. While 1913 is the year the design changed from the Liberty Head to the Buffalo, 1914 was a special year too. The United States Mint struck the first Jefferson nickels in 1938 after the United States Treasury decided to stop the production of the Buffalo nickel. In fact, for most of 1942, the 5-cent coin was made from nickel. How much your Jefferson nickel is worth will depend on factors such as its condition, the coins rarity, and the presence of significant errors. Of all the denominations in circulation, nickels provide you with the best chances of finding old and valuable coins in your pocket change. But these arent easy to come by. If you're looking for an extremely well-struck example in a gem uncirculated grade, you will have to pay the price that only an advanced collector can afford. Perhaps to fulfill the demand for nickels in the Midwest, the San Francisco Mint sent a die for the 1949 nickel to Denver. Examine them for the following signs of a rare coin: Even though you might not have a Jefferson nickel worth thousands of dollars, you could still have a valuable five-cent piece. An avid antiques collector herself, Kate has written about antiques for many years. Sold: July 2008; Heritage Auctions, Baltimore, MD (ANA) US Coin Signature Auction. Another aspect that almost always leads to rarity is an error printed on the nickel. My love for coins began when I was 11 years old. The mint quickly added the denominations to the reverse of the coin. In uncirculated condition, the coin can fetch up to $700. In more recent years, there has been building excitement around saving old copper pennies made before 1982 the year the one-cent coin transitioned to a cheaper copper-coated zinc composition still in use today. This coin is the only one in the Buffalo nickel series with a significant doubling on the coin's reverse. If we had a time machine and could go back to 1913, maybe it would be worth it to find out who struck the Liberty Head V nickels and ask them to make a few more for you. Like the 1918 nickel, some variations of the 1916 Buffalo five-cent piece contain errors. Those costs may have gone up more recently due to rising base metal values. All Jefferson nickels minted between 1942 and 1945 contain 35% silver. 14 Stylish Ideas to Repurpose Old Shutters. The new coin was a hit, and in 1867 and 1868, nearly 30 million nickels were minted! If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. 1924 S Buffalo Nickel - Worth $14,000. There are 3mintmarks to look for on wartime nickels: For the record, the 1942 wartime nickel was the first U.S. coin on which a P mintmark was ever placed. Yes, you read that correctly more than 3 times its face value! It's still the nickel we use today, but it has undergone a few changes over the years. Nothing is more eye-catching to a coin collector than seeing a Proof coin. Still, few of the coins were sharp and clear, and it's rare to see the full steps of Monticello on one. In 2006, one sold for $350,750, equal to about $503,000 in 2022 dollars. It's even rarer to find these with full steps on Monticello, and they are very valuable. This coin possesses all the qualities that make it a great rarity and commands such a high value. Step 3: Special Qualities - Collectors support the value to old coins. The denomination was the highest point on the coin and was the first feature to wear away. This manual technique led to quite a number of dies imprinting mintmarks on the wrong spot or angle or double or triple punching the mintmark. In 2021, a 1944 S nickel in grade MS68 sold for $6,169. When the Liberty Head nickel design was first released in 1883, the word cents was omitted from it. The 1936 and 1937 three-leg nickels are great examples of how a small error from the mint has turned into big money. Higher-grade pieces are worth more, and cleaned and damaged nickelsare worth less. Knowing how to spot the rarest coins can help you keep an eye out for special nickels that might be worth a closer look. The existing examples only have minor doubling, but these rare coins are worth between $25 and $100, but it is common for doubled die nickels to fetch more. Specifically, the denomination FIVE CENTS and minor doubling on the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM. In this section, we will take a detailed look at the value of the 1944 nickel. The 1920-D Buffalo nickel has a reasonably low mintage at slightly less than 10 million coins. One sold for $16,450 in 2014. You Could Find This Rare Penny In Your Pocket Change Heres What To Look For, 90% silver dimes and quarters that were made prior to 1965, 90% silver half dollars and silver dollars. Unlike the nickels from Philly, the ones from the Denver mint were struck remarkably well, coming out with an attractive luster and sharp strike, a great example of a wartime coin. Auction in 2014 for $ 18,800 available to collectors and are available to today. Pocket change and circulation anymore but the 1913 Liberty Head nickel design first. 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Rarer to find such a high value mid-1800s and the middle appears than... Nickels worth money, but the 1913 Liberty Head nickel design was first released in 1883 the! Rarer to find, especially for 1953, and a few are even worth,!