Jefferson Nickel

United States of America · 1946

A silver-colored United States five-cent piece featuring Thomas Jefferson on the obverse and his home, Monticello, on the reverse.

Country: United States of America
Year: 1946
Denomination: 5 Cents / Five Cents
Metal: 75% Copper, 25% Nickel

This report is AI-generated and can be wrong. Always verify grade, authenticity, and value with a qualified dealer or certified grading service before buying, selling, or insuring.

Identified April 24, 2026More united states of america coins →

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Overview

A silver-colored United States five-cent piece featuring Thomas Jefferson on the obverse and his home, Monticello, on the reverse.

Historical significance

Following the end of World War II, the composition of the nickel returned to its pre-war copper-nickel alloy, ending the 'War Nickel' silver era (1942-1945).

Obverse (front)

Left-facing portrait of Thomas Jefferson. Legends: LIBERTY, 1946, and IN GOD WE TRUST. Designer: Felix Schlag.

Reverse (back)

A front view of Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's Virginia home. Legends: E PLURIBUS UNUM, MONTICELLO, FIVE CENTS, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Designer: Felix Schlag.

Estimated value

$0.05-$0.25 in circulated condition; $1.00-$15.00 in uncirculated (MS) condition; higher for specimens with Full Steps (FS).

What drives this coin's value

Condition/Grade is the primary factor. For this specific date, the 'Full Steps' (FS) designation on the reverse is highly sought after by collectors but not present on this worn specimen.

Grade assessment

Very Good (VG) to Fine (F). The coin shows significant surface wear, many contact marks, and the building details (especially the steps) are mostly worn away.

Mintage & rarity

45,292,200. This is a common date for the series.

Authenticity & counterfeit red flags

Check for the correct weight (5.0g) and the placement of the mint mark. Counterfeits for common dates like 1946-D are rare due to the low value of the coin.

Notable varieties & errors

1946-D Over D (re-punched mint marks) are known varieties for this year and location produced by the Denver mint. D/S (D over S) is also a major variety for 1946 nickels but usually specifically for 'S' mints or certain Denver dies (though most notable 1946 varieties are the D/horizontal D and D/inverted D).