1944-S Jefferson Nickel
The 1944-S Jefferson Nickel had a much smaller mintage than the previous year. The 1943-S Jefferson Nickel saw over 104 million coins struck while the 1944-S Jefferson Nickel only had over 21 million coins produced at the San Francisco Mint. This is a beautiful coin that can be found in some of the highest grades, all the way up to MS68, in both Mint State and Full Step versions, although it will take careful searching and a small investment. These special wartime coins didn’t have nickel in them, as it was needed to create ammunition for the military, and instead contained copper, silver, and manganese, adding to their value and uniqueness.
History of the 1944-S Jefferson Nickel
The wartime “silver” nickels fell between 1942 and 1945. They stand out from all non-wartime coins because each of the mints add an enlarged mint mark to the top of the dome of the Monticello that is found on the reverse of the coin. The P mint mark is even included on Philadelphia minted coins which was a new practice for any American coin. The 1944-S Jefferson Nickel features the enlarged ‘S’ mint mark above Jefferson’s Monticello home, and the obverse, designed by Felix Schlag, showcases Thomas Jefferson himself. The Jefferson Nickels are still in production today.
1944-S Jefferson Nickel Value
The 1944-S Jefferson Nickel value ranges from around $2,000 to upwards of $14,000 for Mint State and Full Step coins up to about MS68. This is a great value for the highest quality coins, but the coin can be obtained by those on a smaller budget by seeking out coins in lower Mint State grades. It’s possible to find them for less than $50 or $100, even with the silver content. The 1944-S Jefferson Nickel is a beautiful coin worth adding to a collection.
Type of coin: Nickel
Year: 1944-S Jefferson Nickel
Jefferson Nickel Mint Mark: San Francisco
Total mintage: 21,640,000
Metal content: 56% Copper, 35% Silver, 9% Manganese
Face value: 5 Cents
Weight: 5.00 grams
Edge: Plain
Designer: Felix Schlag
Diameter: 21.20 millimeters