Jefferson nickels began production in 1938 along-side the last of the Buffalo nickels. Introducing a new design featuring Thomas Jefferson on the obverse with Monticello, his Virginia home, as the reverse design. These nickels retained the deep relief of design elements as the previous Buffalo nickel; Jefferson’s portrait is raised high above the field of the coin.
Jefferson Nickel | Nickel-Copper Alloy
Jefferson nickels are made of a nickel-copper alloy (25% nickel with 75% copper) the same metal used since the first five cent nickel denomination was introduced with the Shield nickel in 1866. A very durable metal proven by longevity of surviving in circulation.
Three mints struck Jefferson nickels throughout the years. San Francisco mint, Denver mint in Colorado, and the Philadelphia mint. All varieties are valued separately.
San Francisco Mint Jefferson Nickel
San Francisco struck the fewest Jefferson nickels of the three mints throughout the early years; 1938 to 1964. A total just over 230 million nickel-copper alloy coins. Low mintages signal to collectors a less available coin and in general values follow with slightly higher premiums.
Mintmarks were placed on coins to identify branch mint production. San Francisco used an “S” mintmark on nickel-copper Jefferson nickels 1938 through 1964. Find the small “S” mintmark on the reverse, to the right of Monticello, and next to the rim.
Lowest mintage year is 1938, some 4 million struck in San Francisco. A sought-after coin, worth is above face value in circulated condition.
Denver Mint Jefferson Nickel
The first few years of production of the Denver mint 1938 to 1942 started slow. Just under 120 million struck. 1938 and 1939 are notable for low mintages and above average values. Numbers of coins struck in the 1960’s increased and Denver through 1964 struck the largest total of nickels, more than Philadelphia and San Francisco combined.
Denver uses a “D” mintmark to indicate its production. The “D” is placed to the right of Monticello next to the rim.
Despite Denver’s total mintages compared to the other mints, many individual years are modest in numbers. 1950 stands out as the lowest of the entire series, just over 2.5 million struck and a premium find in any condition.
Philadelphia Mint Jefferson Nickel
Philadelphia mint placed into circulation over 2.7 billion nickels of the nickel-copper variety spanning the years 1938 to 1964. Quantities are available today and collecting of the variety is focused on high condition examples.
Philadelphia did not place any mintmarks on these nickel-copper alloy pieces. Those dated 1938 through 1968 without any mintmark are Philadelphia nickels.
Lowest production year from the Philadelphia mint of the nickel-copper variety is 1955 with 7.8 million struck for circulation.
Continues at CoinStudy
