Coin Collecting Guide for Beginners Logo
Coin Collecting a Guide for Beginners Header

Design Specifications
for the Jefferson Nickel

The Jefferson Nickel is a long running coin series that has seen very little change. (1938 to date)

There was a slight change to the design of the steps of Monticello in 1939, and a change in composition during the war years (1942-1945).

The first major changes to the design took place beginning in 2004 with the The Westward Journey Nickel Series.

To read more about Jefferson Nickels click here.

The specification tables are listed below.

(click image for larger view)
1938-1942 Pre-War
Jefferson Nickel
1939 Jefferson Nickel
Type Jefferson Nickel (pre-war)
Designer Felix Schlag
Years Minted 1938-1942
Weight 5 grams
Comp-
osition
75% copper, 25% nickel
Diameter approx. 21.2 mm
Edge plain
Mints Philadelphia - no mint mark
Denver - D
San Francisco - S
Mintage

1938
1939
1940
1941
1942
Philadelphia

19,496,000
120,615,000
176,485,000
203,265,000
48,789,000
Denver-D

D - 5,376,000
D - 3,514,000
D - 43,540,000
D - 53,432,000
D - 13,938,000
San Francisco-S

S - 4,105,000
S - 6,630,000
S - 39,690,000
S - 43,445,000
S - 0



(click image for larger view)
1942-1945 Jefferson Wartime Nickel
1943 S Jefferson Wartime Nickel
Type Jefferson Silver Alloy Wartime Nickel
Designer Felix Schlag
Years Minted 1942-1945
Weight 5 grams
Comp-
osition
56% copper, 35% silver, 9% manganese
Diameter approx. 21.2 mm
Edge plain
Mints Philadelphia - P (This was the only time a coin from the Philadelphia Mint had a mint mark before 1980.)
Denver - D
San Francisco - S
Mintage

1942
1943
1944
1945
PhiladelphiaP

P - 57,873,000
P - 271,165,000
P - 119,150,000
P - 119,408,100
Denver-D

D - 0
D - 15,294,000
D - 32,309,000
D - 37,158,000
San Francisco-S

S - 32,900,000
S - 104,060,000
S - 21,640,000
S - 58,939,000



Pre-War Composition and Mintmark Location Resume

Type Jefferson Nickel - Pre-War Composition and Mintmark Location Resume
Designer Felix Schlag
Years Minted 1946-2003
Weight 5 grams
Comp-
osition
75% copper, 25% nickel
Diameter approx. 21.2 mm
Edge plain
Mints Philadelphia - no mint mark until 1980 when the mint began using the P mint mark.
Denver - D
San Francisco - S
Mintage Philadelphia Denver- D San Francisco- S
1946    161,116,000 D - 45,292,200 S - 13,560,000
1947    95,000,000 D - 37,822,000 S - 24,720,000
1948    89,348,000 D - 44,734,000 S - 11,300,000
1949    60,652,000 D - 36,498,000 S - 9,716,000
1950    9,796,000 D - 2,630,030 S - 0
1951    28,552,000 D - 20,460,000 S - 7,776,000
1952    63,988,000 D - 30,638,000 S - 20,572,000
1953    46,644,000 D - 59,878,600 S - 19,210,900
1954    47,684,050 D - 117,183,060 S - 29,384,000
1955    7,888,000 D - 74,464,100 S - 0
1956    35,216,000 D - 67,222,940 S - 0
1957    38,408,000 D - 136,828,900 S - 0
1958    17,088,000 D - 168,249,120 S - 0
1959    27,248,000 D - 160,738,240 S - 0
1960    55,416,000 D - 192,582,180 S - 0
1961    73,640,100 D - 229,342,760 S - 0
1962    97,384,000 D - 280,195,720 S - 0
1963    175,776,000 D - 276,829,460 S - 0
1964    1,024,672,000 D - 1,787,297,160 S - 0
1965    136,131,380 D - 0 S - 0
1966    156,208,283 D - 0 S - 0
1967    107,325,800 D - 0 S - 0
1968    0 D - 91,227,880 S - 100,396,004
1969    0 D - 202,807,500 S - 120,165,000
1970    0 D - 515,485,380 S - 238,832,004
1971    106,884,000 D - 316,144,800 S - proofs only
1972    202,036,000 D - 351,694,600 S - proofs only
1973    384,396,000 D - 261,405,000 S - proofs only
1974    601,752,000 D - 277,373,000 S - proofs only
1975    181,772,000 D - 401,875,300 S - proofs only
1976    367,124,000 D - 563,964,147 S - proofs only
1977    585,376,000 D - 297,313,422 S - proofs only
1978    391,308,000 D - 313,092,780 S - proofs only
1979    463,188,000 D - 325,867,672 S - proofs only
1980 P - 593,004,000 D - 502,323,448 S - proofs only
1981 P - 657,504,000 D - 364,801,843 S - proofs only
1982 P - 292,355,000 D - 373,726,544 S - proofs only
1983 P - 561,615,000 D - 536,726,276 S - proofs only
1984 P - 746,769,000 D - 517,675,146 S - proofs only
1985 P - 647,114,962 D - 459,747,446 S - proofs only
1986 P - 536,883,483 D - 361,819,140 S - proofs only
1987 P - 371,499,481 D - 410,590,604 S - proofs only
1988 P - 771,360,000 D - 663,771,652 S - proofs only
1989 P - 898,812,000 D - 570,842,474 S - proofs only
1990 P - 661,636,000 D - 663,938,503 S - proofs only
1991 P - 614,104,000 D - 436,496,678 S - proofs only
1992 P - 399,552,000 D - 450,565,113 S - proofs only
1993 P - 412,076,000 D - 406,084,135 S - proofs only
1994 P - 722,160,000
Special Unc. 167,703
D - 715,762,110 S - proofs only
1995 P - 774,156,000 D - 888,112,000 S - proofs only
1996 P - 829,332,000 D - 817,736,000 S - proofs only
1997 P - 470,972,000
Special Unc. 25,000
D - 466,640,000 S - proofs only
1998 P - 688,272,000 D - 635,360,000 S - proofs only
1999 P - 1,212,000,000 D - 1,066,720,000 S - proofs only
2000 P - 846,240,000 D - 1,509,520,000 S - proofs only
2001 P - 675,704,000 D - 627,680,000 S - proofs only
2002 P - 539,280,000 D - 691,200,000 S - proofs only
2003 P - 441,840,000 D - 383,040,000 S - proofs only



(click image for larger view)
2004-2005
Westward Journey
and 2006 to date
Jefferson Nickels
Westward Journey Jefferson Nickels
Type Westward Journey Jefferson Nickels
Designer 2004 Obverse - Felix Schlag
2004 Peace Medal Reverse - Norman E. Nemeth
2004 Keelboat Reverse - Al Maletsky
2005 Obverse - Joe Fitzgerald
2005 American Bison Reverse - Jamie Franki
2005 Ocean in View Reverse - Joe Fitzgerald
2006 obverse - Jamie Franki
Years Minted 2004 to date
Weight 5 grams
Comp-
osition
75% copper, 25% nickel
Diameter approx. 21.2 mm
Edge plain
Mints Philadelphia - P
Denver - D
San Francisco - S
Mintage Philadelphia- P Denver- D San Francisco- S
2004 Peace
Medal
P - 361,440,000 D - 372,000,000 S - proofs only
2004 Keelboat P - 366,720,000 D - 344,880,000 S - proofs only
2005 American Bison P - 448,320,000 D - 487,680,000 S - proofs only
2005 Ocean in View P - 394,080,000 D - 411,120,000 S - proofs only
2006 Monticello P - 693,120,000 D - 809,280,000 S - proofs only
2007 P - 523,680,000 D - 591,600,000 S - 2,062,793
2008 P - 279,840,000 D - 345,600,000 S - 2,169,461
2009 P - 39,840,000 D - 46,800,000 S - 2,172,313
2010 P - 229,920,000 D - 260,640,000 S - 1,455,015
2011 P - 450,000,000 D - 540,240,000 S -
2012 P - 464,640,000 D - 558,960,000 S -
2013 P - 607,440,000 D - 615,600,000 S -
2014 P - 570,720,000 D - 635,520,000 S -
2015 P - 752,880,000 D - 846,720,000 S -




My Recommendation!


Don't forget to visit Amazon to get your very own Kindle e-reader and a variety of Books about Coins .

That way you can take all of your coin books with you where ever you go.

I love my Kindle Fire ! I highly recommend them to everyone!

I know that any time I see a coin at a flea market or coin shop or anywhere else I happen to be, all I have to do is check it out in one of the many books on my Kindle Fire. That way I can refresh my memory at any time and know for certain when I am getting a good deal on any coin.




What Would You Like To Do Now?


Learn more about the Jefferson Nickel.

Learn about Rare Nickels and error coins you should watch for.

Return To US Coins

See Where the Mint Mark is located on US Coins

If You Can't Find What You Are Looking For....

Search This Site!

Custom Search




ANA Member Logo

Coin Collecting Guide for Beginners
Recommends







Surf Tip
When you see a word underlined in brown, like thisThis is an example of what to expect when you hover over words underlined in brown throughout this site., hover over it with your cursor to see the definition of that word.





Site Build It!



Return to Coin Collecting Guide for Beginners Home




Search This Site
Or Choose a New Topic to Explore



Site Build It!


Page copy protected against web site content infringement by Copyscape

Copyright© 2008-2014 coin-collecting-guide-for-beginners.com

Template Design

free hit counter script