Jefferson Nickel

Country of Origin: United States of America

Year of Issue: 1946

Denomination: 5 Cents / Five Cents

Composition: 75% Copper, 25% Nickel

Jefferson Nickel

Brief Description

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).

Estimated Value

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

Care Instructions

Handle by the edges; do not clean or polish as this removes the natural patina and halves the collector value. Store in a PVC-free flip or coin book.

Mint Mark

D (Denver Mint), visible to the right of the Monticello building on the reverse.

Mintage & Rarity

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

Weight & Diameter

5.00 grams / 21.2 mm

Edge

Plain / Smooth

Apparent Grade

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.

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.

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.

Similar Coins

The 1942-1945 'War Nickels' look similar but are 35% silver and feature a large mint mark (P, D, or S) above the dome of Monticello.

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).

Created At: 2026-04-24T06:04:01.243155