1945-S Jefferson Nickel

The 1945-S Jefferson Nickel had a total mintage of over 58 million coins struck at the San Francisco Mint. This coin can be found at very affordable prices in circulated and lower Mint State grades, and climbs in price as it moves up in grade. This was the last year that the wartime “silver” nickels were produced. From 1942 to 1945, the U.S. military needed nickel for ammunition to help support the war efforts, so the Jefferson Nickel composition shifted to copper, silver, and manganese. This history and makeup alone make these coins a key date within the series and more expensive and highly sought after compared to non-war nickels.

History of the 1945-S Jefferson Nickel

Cherrypicking is advised with the 1945-S Jefferson Nickel. Seek out coins with attractive surfaces that are well-struck. The 1945-S Jefferson Nickel features the enlarged “S” mint mark on the reverse of the coin atop the dome of Jefferson’s Monticello home. This was a special feature for the war nickels that the other coins didn’t have. It’s relatively easy to find this coin in Mint State and Full Step versions, but it becomes scarce in examples at Mint State 67 and above. The obverse of the coin features a left-facing profile of Thomas Jefferson, and the coin was designed by Felix Schlag. The Jefferson Nickel is still in production today.