So, the news about nickels being worth more than face value. The Type I coin has the denomination FIVE CENTS on the reverse below the Buffalo on a raised mound. The only difference is that the mint mark is larger and placed above the Monticello image. It's this demand coupled with its limited supply that makes this the most valuable nickel ever! 7Most Valuable Star Wars Trading Cards Worth Thousands. WebUncirculated 1944 P Jefferson nickels in mint condition are plentiful, but the true gems are fairly scarce. They may look like the other nickels in your pocket, but these rare and valuable Jefferson nickels all have something extra special. Also known as full-step nickels, these coins can fetch more than $100, especially for uncirculated, mint state coins. This overstamping makes the D over S nickel rare, and it's especially rare in the full steps version and near mint condition. If you buy thru these links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. While other mints and other years had millions of examples, only 970,000 Buffalo nickels came out of the San Francisco mint in 1926. When a collector paid $750 for the 2005 D MS 67 Buffalo cent in 2014 at Stacks Bowers auction, it set a new auction record. 6 Vintage Sneakers That Are Still in High Demand. While the coins design has remained relatively unchanged, the nickels metal composition has changed over the years. The die used for many of the 1919-S Buffalo Nickels that came out of the San Francisco mint had a sloppy appearance and were struck poorly. pennies made before 1982 are worth 2 to 3 cents just for their copper value, Some 1969 Washington Quarters Are Worth $4,000! James Bucki is a nationally-recognized coin collector and numismatic expert and author, sharing his knowledge and specialized training in coin grading, minting errors, and collection techniques. So, I know this is the part youve probably been waiting for what are yourold nickels worth? On the 1914 4 Over 3 Buffalo nickels, you can see a 3 sticking out from the overcast 4. When one comes to auction, it is certain to realize a record price. The first with Five Cents on it, which was later removed for fear of degradation in favor of the Type 2. 1972 Dollar Coin Value See How Much Your 1972 Eisenhower Silver Dollars Are Worth! Real Experiences. The melt value of a $100 box of nickels from 1946-2014 was $75.86 on June 26, 2019. The finest known example sold in 2013 for $18,800. Although these nickels are quite common, some in mint uncirculated condition can fetch you a neat sum. 2002-2023 LoveToKnow Media. The 1936 and 1937 three-leg nickels are great examples of how a small error from the mint has turned into big money. But perhaps most importantly, youll be able to check the change you receive to make sure nickels worth money arent hiding without your knowledge. Why would the U.S. government spend millions even billions of dollars making a bunch of coins if Americans are simply going to melt them down? A 1979 Susan B. Anthony over a 1978 nickel sold at auction in 2014 for $15,275. Very few of these in top-collector quality exist today. It is amazing that this dramatic mint error was never discovered for many years. 2.) 2005 Nickels Worth Money. Oh, and be careful about melting your pennies or nickels at home. There are only 24 known examples with full steps, and one sold in 2019 for $24,000. In more recent years, there has been building excitement around saving old copper pennies made before 1982 the year the one-cent coin transitioned to a cheaper copper-coated zinc composition still in use today. The Jefferson coins have quite an interesting history, but more important is that these coins are worth more than face value. This is the lowest mintage of any coin in the Buffalo Nickel series. The 1944 nickel was struck at the mints in Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco. If the hub is not correctly aligned with the coin die, some aspects of the coin will appear doubled. For the first year issue of this coin, it's very difficult to find a full steps version in near mint condition. Finding such a coin in excellent condition is not common, and one very fine example sold for $14,950 in 2007. This scale has been incorporated into the modern Professional Coin Grading Services (PCGS) and Numismatic Guaranty Corporations (NGC) rating systems. The most expensive 1944-P nickel, graded MS60, was sold at 7,475 in 2011. This resulted in a still visible overdate with the 7 showing underneath the 8. These imperfections must have been substantial because the worker polished the die beyond usual standards. An example sold in 2006 for $17,250. Because of misaligned die strikes, the letters, numbers, and images on some coins look as if they were stamped on twice in slightly different spots. But these arent easy to come by. In 1942, the Denver Mint stamped a few nickels with a horizontal D and then stamped over it with a normal D. It's estimated that only about 10 coins exist in perfect condition with this minting error, making this one of the rarest Jefferson nickels you can find. In 2021, a collector netted more than $13million by selling a 1913 Liberty Head along with an 1804 dollar and an 1894 dime. The 1944 nickel is very common, given that the Mint struck more than 170 million coins. That happened in 1940 when the 1938 die was used for a few nickels. While one brockage has reached a somewhat mysterious status (covered down below in this post), quite a few of the special strikes sell for significant sums. Uncirculated variations of the nickel sell for hundreds of thousands, including a record $276,000 sale in 2008 for a 1926 doubled die coin in mint condition. You can see the doubling of the last two digits on the date as evidenced by a duplicate set of numbers offset to the right of the original digits. 1926 S Buffalo Nickel - Worth $7,600. All told, the U.S. Mint produces an average of 12 to 15 billion coins each year and the more they make, the lower the production costs per coin tend to be. Your chances of findingvaluable nickels in everydaypocket change are pretty good much like your odds of finding valuable pennies. The first nickels produced in 1883 did not have the word CENTS on it. This means that every box of nickels costs the U.S. Mint $75.86 in metals alone. As of today, circulation grade 1944-S nickels are worth very little; they are certainly worth more than face value, but their average value is between $1.25 and $4. These are the most valuable nickels: Pay attention to the photos and details below to see if you have one of these valuable nickels in your piggy bank. 1917-S Buffalo Nickel. It's even rarer to find these with full steps on Monticello, and they are very valuable. Most examples circulated for almost 15 years until Paul M. Lange of Rochester, New York offered an example for sale in an auction on March 1930. You can identify the 1944 S nickel by its low relief or weak impression. Step 3: Special Qualities - Collectors support the value to old coins. Old nickel prices range from a few cents above face value to $50 or more. Sold: November 2008; Bowers & Merena, The November 2008 Baltimore Auction. Well touch on the coins history and its physical characteristics. Next time you get some change after buying a coffee, take another look in your hand, and perhaps youll stumble upon something great. While there are a lot of different nickels on this list, one thing is clear. In uncirculated condition, the coin can fetch up to $700. Because those nickels are made from a 35% silver composition and are not a significant part of pocket change and circulation anymore. If you want to know some valuable nickels to look out for, add this one to your list. Sold: January 2004; Heritage Auctions, 2004 January Long Beach Signature Sale. The reverse die used to create it was polished a little too hard, and the iconic buffalo is missing a leg because of it. It surely isnt worth it just to make a few bucks, is it? 1971 Quarter Value (Rare Errors, D, S & No Mint Marks). Distilled, not diluted. Very few are in good enough shape to show the steps. Therefore, it is scarce in circulated grades and rare in mint state grades. Only about 19 with this finish exist, probably part of an unofficial mint set. With only 200 examples in total known and less than 15 in mint condition, the doubling on the date and Indian Chiefs chin is apparent if you can get your hands on one of these valuable nickels to look out for. You can identify these coins by the large P appearing on the reverse at the top of the Monticello mansion. Read more in our privacy policy. This mistake at the mint has turned into one of the most highly sought-after nickels worth millions. Copper and Nickel Prices SOARING!Watch this video on YouTube, Stay up to date with everything about U.S Coins, We dont spam! As was typical, the San Francisco mint produced the fewest number of nickels, making these coins rare. Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription. However, in 1867 only 25 Proof coins were minted, with no more than 10 of them surviving today. With a mintage of 1,437,000 coins, many of them have survived and are available to collectors today. So, most of the circulation nickels from this year will appear significantly damaged. Couple this with the fact that the mint changed the reverse design by removing the decorative rays in between the stars further adds to the low production numbers for this coin. Mint state 1944 S nickels are worth significantly more, fetching upward of $1500. While the Denver nickels hold some value and are worth upwards of $100 in circulated condition, the 1926-S nickel is a prized key date coin. Most Valuable Nickel 1. The most expensive 1944 D nickel graded at MS67 was sold at $1,840 in 2006. In an uncirculated mint state, it can fetch up to $1,500. Another example of a coin being stamped with the reverse design of a different year, the 1939 Jefferson nickel with a reverse of 1940 is a valuable coin, especially in excellent condition. By combining the historical significance of the 19th century along with a small production, the 1880 Shield Nickel is one of the valuable rare nickels wanted by collectors. WebYou may add up to 4 additional photos online on Nickel's Worth website for a flat $5. The law also states you cant take or ship large quantities of nickels (or pennies) out of the country. In fact, at one point, the value of nickel went to $100,000 per metric ton. That said, if you happen to find a 1944 Jefferson nickel with half the design missing but the mintmark and date are fully visible, you should hold on to this coin as it is quite valuable. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. The reverse die used to create a special set of 1935 Buffalo Nickels had a slight misalignment, causing some aspects to be doubled. They are very rare in near mint condition with crisp full steps. A Few of These Nickels Are Worth a Small Fortune. In fact, the composition of a regular Jefferson nickel is just 25% nickel. Sold: November 2016; Stack's/Bowers, November 2016 Baltimore Coin Auction. These Type II coins are extremely rare in gem uncirculated condition of MS-68. 1924 S Buffalo Nickel - Worth $14,000. In fact, at one point, the value of nickel went to $100,000 per metric ton. For nickel collectors, 1913 is a noteworthy year. $0.83. In the early 1950s, it became less popular for people to save rolls of uncirculated coins. 1941 Proof Minting - $18,800 Although 18,700 proof If you were smart you'd trade that nickel in for 5 pennies. If I get lucky and find any coins that I wish to keep, I can just swapthose out with common pieces, and trade the roll back in for more coins. Full steps coins are extremely hard to find, and the 1952 issue from the Denver Mint is especially coveted by collectors. But theres a bit more to this story. One sold for $16,675 in 2008. The denomination was the highest point on the coin and was the first feature to wear away. This post may contain affiliate links. Learn how to spot these treasures so you don't accidentally put them in a parking meter or gumball machine. Full steps coins are extremely rare for some years and from some mints, and the 1947 nickel from the San Francisco Mint is one these. Many of the 1944 P nickels came out with a poor strike resulting from the Mint using worn, clumsily polished dies. However, collectors at the time were aware of the low mintage and immediately began hoarding the coins and storing them carefully to preserve their condition. 1940 Jefferson nickels are rare, so they tend to be valuable because of that. Most of these coins found their way into circulation; therefore, uncirculated examples sell for a premium price. A 1964 nickel is worth about $5 on the market today. Its also an amount that the buyer could make by selling them to someone else on that same basis. WebFelix Schlag designed these coins. Thanks to one over-polished die, the Denver mint produced a small amount of Buffalo nickels with just three and a half legs showing on it in 1936. A 1926-S coin in mint state sold for a record $322,000 at an auction in 2008, and circulated variations of the coin can sell for up to $5,000. Check Your Pocket Change for These Valuable Dimes, 25 Most Valuable Jefferson Nickels Worth Over 10K, storing them carefully to preserve their condition, 2007 George Washington Dollar Over Jefferson Nickel, 1979 Susan Be. Now, bear in mind the fact that nickel values are constantly fluctuating as are precious metals prices across the board. It took years before a numismatist discovered these coins in circulation. Errors dont happen too often at places where currency and coins are created, so this has become a collectors item and the 1937 versions even more. All rights reserved. All coins minted at each facility have a mintmark, P, D, or S, respectively. 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