Though Lincoln Cents are more popular, Jefferson Nickels are easier to collect.
If you’re an investor, Jefferson Nickels are not for you, unless you’re collecting errors. Jefferson Nickels are a collectors dream. You find them in change or bank rolls. You could even do a complete MS-65 (Gem Uncirculated) collection within reason. In fact, the only coin that you may pay $100 for at MS-65 is the 1939-D. And now, an intro to the Jefferson Nickel.
Brief History of Jefferson Nickels
In 1938, the Buffalo Nickel had been minted for 25 years and the mint was ready for a change. Parts of the Buffalo Nickel would wear down quickly in circulation, especially the date and mint mark. Most of the Buffalo Nickels I see in change have no dates.
In January, the mint began a contest for someone to provide a new design for the nickel and as an added incentive, they offered $1,000 for the best design. The judges suggested it should be of Thomas Jefferson as it was the bicentennial of his birth, though his birth was actually 1743. The deadline to submit a design was April 15th, and after viewing almost 400 entries, they decided on the design by Felix Schlag who had Jefferson’s profile on the obverse and him home, Monticello, on the reverse. Jefferson’s face was changed in 2005 for the Westward Expansion Set that year and then a permanent change in 2006.
Key Dates
There are two key dates for the Jefferson Nickel. The 1939-D had only 3.5 million minted making it a rarity for the Jefferson Nickel, especially in higher grades. In contrast was the 1950-D which was only released in Mint Sets. Though less 1950-D nickels were minted at 2.6 million, the 1939-D is worth more in Uncirculated condition. After all, all of the 1950-D nickels were in uncirculated condition, but the 1939-D nickel was not.
Wartime Jefferson Nickels
When the United States entered World War II, there was a big demand for nickel. 1942 begins with the normal nickel/copper/manganese composition, but by October, the nickel has 35% silver. Surprisingly the composition includes 56% copper. The 1943 Lincoln Cent has steel instead of copper for the war effort.
Not only was 1942 the first time there was silver on a nickel, it would be the first time a ‘P’ mintmark would appear on a coin to represent the Philadelphia mint. Silver would remain in Jefferson Nickels until World War II ended in 1945. By 1946, the nickel went back to its original composition. Also, the ‘P’ mintmark disappears until the Susan B Anthony Dollar in 1979.
Westward Expansion
In 1803, President Jefferson purchased the Louisiana Purchase from French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte expanding the United States beyond the Mississippi River. The next year, he would commission an expedition led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to map the new territory and find a route across the west. From 1804 to 1806, Lewis and Clark ventured west from near St. Louis, MO to the Oregon Coast.
The US Mint would honor the Westward Expansion in 2004 and 2005 with 4 different reverses and a different design of Jefferson in 2005.
So, what do you think?
Like I said, it’s not for investors, but easy to collect. Would you consider collecting Jefferson Nickels?