Why is the 1885 Liberty Head 'V' Nickel valuable?

Lowest-mintage circulation Liberty nickel.

Why is the 1913-S Buffalo (Indian Head) Nickel valuable?

1913-S Type 2 — low mintage, key date for the series.

Why is the 1918-D Buffalo (Indian Head) Nickel valuable?

1918/7-D Overdate — 1918 punched over a 1917 die. Among the most valuable buffalo nickels.

Why is the 1937-D Buffalo (Indian Head) Nickel valuable?

1937-D Three-Legged Buffalo — a die was over-polished, removing the buffalo's front leg.

Why is the 1939 Jefferson Nickel valuable?

1939 Doubled Monticello — visible doubling on MONTICELLO and FIVE CENTS.

Why is the 1950-D Jefferson Nickel valuable?

1950-D — lowest-mintage modern Jefferson nickel.

5¢ face value

Nickel lookup

Five-cent pieces include silver wartime nickels and the iconic Buffalo design.

№ 01Year

Look for the date on the obverse (the front). Mintage spans 1883–2099 for this denomination.

Matches: Jefferson Nickel (1938–present)

№ 02Mint mark

A small letter on the coin showing where it was struck. No mark usually means Philadelphia.

Where to find it: obverse below the date (modern); reverse next to Monticello (older)

№ 03Condition

Estimate the visible wear. Pick the closest match — values shift significantly between tiers.

№ 04Errors & varieties

Check anything you can verify on the coin.

Inspect

Worth a closer look.

In good condition or with error features, this coin can carry a real premium. Inspect carefully before deciding.

Estimated value: $0.10 – $0.50
Face value: 5¢
Confidence: High

Estimates reflect typical retail values for the noted condition. Actual sale prices vary with grade, eye appeal, and authentication. Confirm valuable finds with PCGS or NGC.

Highlights

What jumps out

Worth more than face value

What this means

In plain English

This is a Jefferson Nickel. It's worth a small premium over face — common date but still collectible.

What to inspect

A short checklist

War nickels: large mint mark (P, D, or S) on the reverse above Monticello — these are 35% silver
Look at Monticello's steps for 'Full Steps' designation, which boosts uncirculated value significantly
Mint mark normally appears next to Monticello (1938–1964), then dropped, then on obverse from 1968 onward

Series details

Jefferson Nickel

Years issued: 1938–present
Composition: 75% copper, 25% nickel; 'War Nickels' 1942–1945 are 35% silver, 56% copper, 9% manganese
Obverse: Thomas Jefferson, left-facing portrait (1938–2003); newer designs after
Reverse: Monticello (Jefferson's home)

Check another coin Reset this lookup

✦ Reference table ✦ Key dates & varieties

Every nickel key date we track.

6 catalogued entries sorted by year. Values shown across condition tiers — heavy wear is rare, so most circulated finds will sit in the lower half of each range.

Specimen	Series	Why it's notable	Circulated	Uncirculated
1885	Liberty Head 'V' Nickel	Lowest-mintage circulation Liberty nickel.	$700 – $1,100	$2,500 – $7,000
1913-S	Buffalo Nickel	1913-S Type 2 — low mintage, key date for the series.	$275 – $450	$1,100 – $2,000
1918-D	Buffalo Nickel	1918/7-D Overdate — 1918 punched over a 1917 die. Among the most valuable buffalo nickels.	$1,100 – $2,500	$22,000 – $80,000
1937-D	Buffalo Nickel	1937-D Three-Legged Buffalo — a die was over-polished, removing the buffalo's front leg.	$550 – $900	$2,300 – $6,500
1939	Jefferson Nickel	1939 Doubled Monticello — visible doubling on MONTICELLO and FIVE CENTS.	$50 – $100	$300 – $1,500
1950-D	Jefferson Nickel	1950-D — lowest-mintage modern Jefferson nickel.	$5.00 – $10	$12 – $30

1885
Liberty Head 'V' Nickel
Lowest-mintage circulation Liberty nickel.
Circulated
$700 – $1,100
Uncirculated
$2,500 – $7,000
1913-S
Buffalo Nickel
1913-S Type 2 — low mintage, key date for the series.
Circulated
$275 – $450
Uncirculated
$1,100 – $2,000
1918-D
Buffalo Nickel
1918/7-D Overdate — 1918 punched over a 1917 die. Among the most valuable buffalo nickels.
Circulated
$1,100 – $2,500
Uncirculated
$22,000 – $80,000
1937-D
Buffalo Nickel
1937-D Three-Legged Buffalo — a die was over-polished, removing the buffalo's front leg.
Circulated
$550 – $900
Uncirculated
$2,300 – $6,500
1939
Jefferson Nickel
1939 Doubled Monticello — visible doubling on MONTICELLO and FIVE CENTS.
Circulated
$50 – $100
Uncirculated
$300 – $1,500
1950-D
Jefferson Nickel
1950-D — lowest-mintage modern Jefferson nickel.
Circulated
$5.00 – $10
Uncirculated
$12 – $30

Authenticate any high-value find with a professional grading service (PCGS, NGC). Altered dates and added mint marks are common in older key dates — strong third-party authentication protects your investment.