Jefferson Nickels — Key Dates, War Nickels & Collector Guide

Origins of the Jefferson Nickel

The Jefferson Nickel has been a fixture of American pocket change since 1938, but its origins carry more deliberate intent than most people realize. When the U.S. Treasury decided to replace the long-running Buffalo Nickel design, it took the unusual step of holding an open design competition — a rare departure from the tradition of assigning new coinage to Mint staff engravers. The competition drew nearly 400 entries, and the winner was Felix Schlag, a German-born sculptor who had emigrated to the United States in 1929. His design placed a left-facing portrait of Thomas Jefferson on the obverse and a depiction of Monticello — Jefferson's Virginia estate — on the reverse.

The choice of Jefferson was significant. He was the author of the Declaration of Independence, the third President of the United States, and one of the most intellectually prominent figures in American history. Placing his image on the five-cent piece connected everyday commerce to the founding ideals of the republic. The new coins entered circulation in late 1938, replacing the Buffalo Nickel after a 25-year run, and quickly became one of the most recognizable coins in American history.

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Felix Schlag's Design and Early Production

Schlag's winning design was not adopted without modification. His original reverse showed Monticello at a three-quarter angle with a stylized font for the inscriptions — a more artistic interpretation that the Treasury ultimately rejected in favor of a more straightforward frontal view of the building. The revised design, showing Monticello head-on, was the version that went into production and remained largely unchanged for decades. Schlag's initials "FS" were not added to the obverse until 1966, a belated acknowledgment of his contribution.

The coin's specifications were straightforward: 75% copper and 25% nickel, 21.2mm in diameter, weighing 5 grams. Early production years at Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco established the basic framework of the series, though mintages varied considerably. The 1938-D and 1938-S issues had relatively low mintages as the new design ramped up, and the 1939-D — with just over 3.5 million struck — stands as one of the lower-mintage regular issues of the pre-war era.

War Nickels — The Silver Issues of 1942–1945

The most distinctive sub-series within the Jefferson Nickel run is the wartime silver coinage of 1942 through 1945. As the United States entered World War II, nickel became a critical strategic material needed for armor plating and other military applications. Congress authorized a change in composition, and beginning mid-1942 the Mint switched to an alloy of 56% copper, 35% silver, and 9% manganese. These "War Nickels" are immediately identifiable by a large mint mark placed above Monticello on the reverse — the first time Philadelphia issues had carried a mint mark since the branch mint system was established.

The large P, D, or S mint marks on War Nickels were a practical measure: it allowed the Treasury to easily locate and recall the silver coins after the war if needed (they never were). The 35% silver content gives these coins meaningful metal value beyond face value, and they remain popular with collectors and silver stackers alike. A full set of War Nickels by date and mint mark is an achievable and rewarding goal — the key issue is the 1942-P, which exists in both the original copper-nickel composition and the new silver alloy, making date and composition identification an important part of collecting this year.

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Key Dates and Valuable Varieties

The Jefferson Nickel series is unusually accessible for collectors because the vast majority of dates are affordable even in higher circulated grades. That said, several issues stand apart. The 1950-D is the most celebrated key date of the regular series — with a mintage of just 2.63 million, it was heavily saved by collectors at the time of issue, which paradoxically makes uncirculated examples more common than worn ones, but it remains the date every Jefferson collector needs. The 1939-D and the doubled die varieties scattered throughout the series are also worth knowing.

Beyond scarce dates, the "Full Steps" designation has become one of the defining grading considerations in the series. A Jefferson Nickel with Full Steps (FS) shows complete, uninterrupted horizontal steps on the base of Monticello — typically five or six fully struck steps with no weakness or interruption. Full Steps coins are dramatically scarcer than their technically graded counterparts at the same numerical grade, and the premium for FS examples on key dates can be substantial. Strike quality varied considerably across mints and years, making Full Steps a genuine rarity on many issues rather than just a grading technicality. For current certified values by date and grade, the FRC Coin Price Guide is a useful reference. See also our guides to Buffalo Nickels, Shield Nickels, and Liberty Head Nickels for the full nickel series context.

The Westward Journey Series and Modern Redesigns

In 2004 and 2005, the Jefferson Nickel underwent its first significant design changes in over 65 years as part of the Westward Journey Nickel Series, commemorating the bicentennial of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The 2004 issues featured a "Peace Medal" reverse (based on a medal carried by the expedition) and a "Keelboat" reverse showing the vessel used on the journey. The 2005 issues brought an "American Bison" reverse and an "Ocean in View" reverse celebrating the expedition's arrival at the Pacific. All four reverses were paired with a slightly modified version of Schlag's original Jefferson portrait.

In 2006, a new obverse portrait designed by Jamie Franki replaced Schlag's design, showing Jefferson in a more forward-facing pose based on a Rembrandt Peale painting. The Monticello reverse returned, now with enhanced detail. This current design has been in production since, representing the latest chapter in a series that has now spanned nearly nine decades and remains one of the most collected coins in American numismatics.

Where to Find Jefferson Nickels

Frequently Asked Questions