Description

This U.S. five cent piece is nicknamed the Jefferson nickel for the obvious reason that the coin features a portrait of our third U.S. President, Thomas Jefferson. The obverse side also displays the motto "In God We Trust", the legend "Liberty" and the date of issue. The reverse design is Jefferson's home. The building and the word "Monticello" both appear on the reverse along with "E Pluribus Unum", "United States of America" and the stated value of "Five Cents".

General Information

Jefferson nickels have been minted since 1938 and is the current design in use for the U.S. five cent coin. The coin was designed by Felix Schlag and is the same size as earlier five cent pieces at just over 21 mm. When first minted in 1938, the composition also continued to be 75% copper and 25% nickel. From the later part of 1942 till 1945, during World War II, the composition changed to 56% copper, 35% silver and 9% manganese. Nickel and copper both were crucial metals needed for the war effort. The pre-war copper-nickel composition resumed in 1946.

Jefferson nickels have been produced at the Philadelphia, Denver and San Francisco Mints. The mint mark on coins dated 1938 to 1941 is located on the reverse to the right of the building. Starting in 1942 and continuing through 1945, there is a very large mint mark located above the building's dome. The location of the mint mark to the right of the building resumed in 1946 and was used till 1964. In 1968 the mint mark was moved to the obverse. In about 1985 the mint mark was enlarged slightly.

Mint Mark Right of Building - 1938 to 1941 and 1946 to 1964

Very Large Mint Mark Above Dome - 35% Silver War-time Issues 1942 to 1945

Small Mint Mark Below Date - 1968 to 1984

Larger Mint Mark Below Date - 1985 to Date

Later in 1942 the Jefferson nickel displayed the "P" mint mark for the first time ever on a U.S. coin to denote it's 35% silver content. All silver war-time nickels, except for a possible error, minted between the later part of 1942 and until 1945 feature a large mint mark above the building's dome. Jefferson nickels had already been struck earlier in 1942 at the Philadelphia Mint with the previous year's copper-nickel composition and without a mint mark. This may have also been a consideration for adding the "P" mint mark to the war-time issue five cent pieces.

The "P" mint mark on the Philadelphia Mint coin reappeared in 1980 and still appears on coins minted today. In about 1985 collectors began to see a slightly redesigned Jefferson nickel that exhibited a larger mint mark making it easier to read. Sometimes the new "P" mint mark was difficult to distinguish from the "D" mint mark on Jefferson nickels dated 1980 to 1983.

Author's Notes & Comments

The motto "In God We Trust" had not appeared on a U.S. five cent piece since the shield nickel.

The key date coin struck for circulation in the Jefferson nickel series is the 1950-D. An announcement of a low mintage about the time the Philadelphia nickels were stuck in 1950 led to many uncirculated rolls being saved away. In this author's experience, sometimes finding a circulated 1950-D nickel may prove difficult. Other earlier key and better date coins struck for circulation include the 1938-D, 1938-S, 1939-D and 1939-S.

Jefferson nickels are often weakly struck. It is often hard to find a sharply struck example of many particular date coins from all Mints. Uncirculated coins fully struck with all the building's steps visible and complete on the reverse command higher prices. The term used to describe a fully struck Jefferson nickel is "Full Steps".

Varieties

In 1943, a Philadelphia die dated 1942 was modified with the new date of 1943 and was used to strike silver war-time nickels. The last number in the date was repunched and changed from a "2" to a "3". The number two is still visible under the number three. This 1943/2-P die variety is available to collectors from coin dealers for a reasonable price in circulated grades. Since many of these repunched date coins were circulated and exhibit considerable wear, it may still be possible to find one in circulation or maybe from an old silver nickel hoard. Circulated bags and rolls are a good place to look. There is also a 1943-P doubled die variety with Jefferson's eye doubled.

There are other Jefferson nickel varieties that may command a premium price. Two popular examples are the 1954-S with a "S" over "D" mint mark and the 1955-D with a "D" over "S" mint mark. There is also a very rare 1971-S Proof Jefferson nickel missing the "S" mint mark.

A common pair of varieties that each collector will place in their coin ablum are the 1979-S and 1981-S Proof Type 1 and Type 2 Jefferson nickels. These coins feature two types of mint marks. The "Type 1" coins exhibit an "S" mint mark that is not very clear and appears to be filled. The "Type 2" coins have a sharper and much more clear looking mint mark.