The Jefferson nickel was a replacement to the Buffalo nickel and is still being minted for circulation today! The Jefferson Nickel was first minted and released into circulation in 1938. It is said that for two years the Jefferson Nickel was barely seen in circulation due to hoarders. Moreover, the Jefferson Nickel was minted in silver from 1942-1945 due to the war. This version of the Jefferson Nickel is often referred to as the War nickel.
The Jefferson nickel’s original designer was Felix Schlag. The original design consisted of a left facing profile of Thomas Jefferson on the obverse and on the reverse a picture of Thomas Jefferson’s plantation “Monticello”. Since the inception of the Jefferson Nickel the design has changed multiple times.
The Jefferson nickel was first minted in 1938 and is still being minted today, From 1938-1964 the mint marks are located by the word “Monticello”, with the exception of the War nickels. The Jefferson Nickels were minted in Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco. Some of the key dates of the series are the following:
-1942 S Jefferson Nickel with the reverse of the 1941
1938 Jefferson nickel
-1942-1945 Jefferson nickels due to them being wartime nickels and their silver content
Often times, collectors buy the Jefferson Nickels in Dansco books. The whole set of Jefferson Nickels can be put together relatively cheap, around only $200 or less, including the book! This is a great coin for any beginner on a budget.
Jefferson Nickel Mintages and Values
| Date | Mintage | Very Fine | Extremely Fine | Uncirculated | |
| 1938 Jefferson Nickel | 19,496,000 | $0.50 | $1.00 | $3.00 | |
| 1938-D Jefferson Nickel | 5,376,000 | $1.50 | $2.00 | $7.00 | |
| 1938-S Jefferson Nickel | 4,105,000 | $2.50 | $3.00 | $4.50 | |
| 1939 Jefferson Nickel | 120,627,535 | $0.25 | $0.50 | $2.00 | |
| 1939-D Jefferson Nickel | 3,514,000 | $10.00 | $13.00 | $60.00 | |
| 1939-S Jefferson Nickel | 6,630,000 | $2.00 | $5.00 | $18.00 | |
| 1940 Jefferson Nickel | 176,485,000 | $0.25 | $0.40 | $1.00 | |
| 1940-D Jefferson Nickel | 43,540,000 | $0.35 | $0.50 | $2.00 | |
| 1940-S Jefferson Nickel | 39,690,000 | $0.35 | $0.50 | $2.25 | |
| 1941 Jefferson Nickel | 203,265,000 | $0.20 | $0.30 | $0.75 | |
| 1941-D Jefferson Nickel | 53,432,000 | $0.25 | $0.40 | $2.50 | |
| 1941-S Jefferson Nickel | 43,445,000 | $0.30 | $0.50 | $3.00 | |
| 1942-P Jefferson Nickel | 49,789,000 | $0.30 | $0.45 | $4.00 | |
| 1942-D Jefferson Nickel | 13,938,000 | $1.00 | $2.00 | $28.00 | |
| 1942-S Jefferson Nickel | 32,900,000 | $2.00 | $2.50 | $7.00 | |
| 1943 Jefferson Nickel | 271,165,000 | $2.00 | $2.50 | $5.00 | |
| 1943-D Jefferson Nickel | 15,294,000 | $2.00 | $3.50 | $6.00 | |
| 1943-S Jefferson Nickel | 104,060,000 | $2.00 | $2.50 | $5.00 | |
| 1944 Jefferson Nickel | 119,150,000 | $2.00 | $2.50 | $7.00 | |
| 1944-D Jefferson Nickel | 32,309,000 | $2.00 | $2.50 | $6.00 | |
| 1944-S Jefferson Nickel | 21,640,000 | $2.00 | $2.50 | $5.00 | |
| 1945 Jefferson Nickel | 119,408,100 | $2.00 | $2.50 | $5.00 | |
| 1945-D Jefferson Nickel | 37,158,000 | $2.00 | $2.50 | $5.00 | |
| 1945-S Jefferson Nickel | 58,939,000 | $2.00 | $2.50 | $5.00 | |
| 1946 Jefferson Nickel | 161,116,000 | $0.25 | $0.30 | $0.75 | |
| 1946-D Jefferson Nickel | 45,292,200 | $0.35 | $0.40 | $1.00 | |
| 1946-S Jefferson Nickel | 13,560,000 | $0.40 | $0.45 | $1.00 | |
| 1947 Jefferson Nickel | 95,000,000 | $0.25 | $0.30 | $0.90 | |
| 1947-D Jefferson Nickel | 37,822,000 | $0.30 | $0.35 | $0.90 | |
| 1947-S Jefferson Nickel | 24,720,000 | $0.40 | $0.45 | $1.00 | |
| 1948 Jefferson Nickel | 89,348,000 | N/A | N/A | $1.00 | |
| 1948-D Jefferson Nickel | 44,734,000 | N/A | N/A | $1.60 | |
| 1948-S Jefferson Nickel | 11,300,000 | N/A | N/A | $1.50 | |
| 1949 Jefferson Nickel | 60,652,000 | N/A | N/A | $2.50 | |
| 1949-D Jefferson Nickel | 36,498,000 | N/A | N/A | $1.50 | |
| 1949-S Jefferson Nickel | 9,716,000 | N/A | N/A | $1.75 | |
| 1950 Jefferson Nickel | 9,796,000 | N/A | N/A | $2.00 | |
| 1950-D Jefferson Nickel | 2,630,030 | N/A | N/A | $14.00 | |
| 1951 Jefferson Nickel | 28,552,000 | N/A | N/A | $3.00 | |
| 1951-D Jefferson Nickel | 20,460,000 | N/A | N/A | $4.00 | |
| 1951-S Jefferson Nickel | 7,776,000 | N/A | N/A | $1.50 | |
| 1952 Jefferson Nickel | 63,988,000 | N/A | N/A | $1.00 | |
| 1952-D Jefferson Nickel | 30,638,000 | N/A | N/A | $3.50 | |
| 1952-S Jefferson Nickel | 20,572,000 | N/A | N/A | $1.00 | |
| 1953 Jefferson Nickel | 46,644,000 | N/A | N/A | $0.25 | |
| 1953-D Jefferson Nickel | 59,878,600 | N/A | N/A | $0.25 | |
| 1953-S Jefferson Nickel | 19,210,900 | N/A | N/A | $0.75 | |
| 1954 Jefferson Nickel | 47,684,050 | N/A | N/A | $1.00 | |
| 1954-D Jefferson Nickel | 117,183,060 | N/A | N/A | $0.60 | |
| 1954-S Jefferson Nickel | 29,384,000 | N/A | N/A | $1.75 | |
| 1955 Jefferson Nickel | 7,888,000 | N/A | N/A | $0.75 | |
| 1955-D Jefferson Nickel | 74,464,100 | N/A | N/A | $0.50 | |
| 1956 Jefferson Nickel | 35,216,000 | N/A | N/A | $0.50 | |
| 1956-D Jefferson Nickel | 67,222,940 | N/A | N/A | $0.50 | |
| 1957 Jefferson Nickel | 38,400,000 | N/A | N/A | $0.50 | |
| 1957-D Jefferson Nickel | 136,828,900 | N/A | N/A | $0.50 | |
| 1958 Jefferson Nickel | 17,088,000 | N/A | N/A | $0.60 | |
| 1958-D Jefferson Nickel | 168,249,120 | N/A | N/A | $0.40 | |
| 1959 Jefferson Nickel | 27,248,000 | N/A | N/A | $0.25 | |
| 1959-D Jefferson Nickel | 160,738,240 | N/A | N/A | $0.25 | |
| 1960 Jefferson Nickel | 55,416,000 | N/A | N/A | $0.25 | |
| 1960-D Jefferson Nickel | 192,582,180 | N/A | N/A | $0.25 | |
| 1961 Jefferson Nickel | 73,640,100 | N/A | N/A | $0.25 | |
| 1961-D Jefferson Nickel | 229,342,760 | N/A | N/A | $0.25 | |
| 1962 Jefferson Nickel | 97,384,000 | N/A | N/A | $0.25 | |
| 1962-D Jefferson Nickel | 280,195,720 | N/A | N/A | $0.25 | |
| 1963 Jefferson Nickel | 175,776,000 | N/A | N/A | $0.25 | |
| 1963-D Jefferson Nickel | 276,829,460 | N/A | N/A | $0.25 | |
| 1964 Jefferson Nickel | 1,024,672,000 | N/A | N/A | $0.25 | |
| 1964-D Jefferson Nickel | 1,787,297,160 | N/A | N/A | $0.25 | |
*Source 2020 Red Book