Jefferson Nickel

Country of Origin: USA - United States Mint

Year of Issue: 1963

Denomination: 5 Cents (one nickel)

Composition: 75% Copper, 25% Nickel (Cupro-nickel)

Jefferson Nickel

Brief Description

A standard US five-cent coin featuring Thomas Jefferson on the obverse and his home, Monticello, on the reverse.

Historical Significance

The Jefferson nickel was introduced in 1938, replacing the Buffalo nickel. The 1963 issue comes from the later years of the original Felix Schlag design before the removal of mint marks to the obverse in 1968.

Estimated Value

$0.05 circulated; $0.50-$2.00 in high uncirculated (MS-65); $50+ for rare 'Full Steps' specimens.

Care Instructions

Store in a PVC-free coin flip or capsule. Do not clean or polish the coin, as this removes the original surface (patina) and significantly lowers numismatic value.

Mint Mark

None (Philadelphia Mint). During 1963, only the Denver mint used a 'D' mark; Philadelphia did not use a mint mark on nickels of this era.

Mintage & Rarity

Common. 176,180,000 produced at the Philadelphia mint.

Weight & Diameter

5.0 grams / 21.21 mm

Edge

Plain

Apparent Grade

Circulated (Very Fine to Extremely Fine). Shows moderate wear on Jefferson's hair and the pillars of Monticello.

Obverse (Front)

Profile of Thomas Jefferson facing left, with 'IN GOD WE TRUST' on the left and 'LIBERTY' followed by the date '1963' on the right. Artist: Felix Schlag.

Reverse (Back)

Front view of Monticello, Jefferson's Virginia estate. Inscriptions include 'E PLURIBUS UNUM' above, 'MONTICELLO' below the building, and 'FIVE CENTS' and 'UNITED STATES OF AMERICA' at the bottom.

What Drives This Coin's Value

Condition (grade), presence of 'Full Steps' on the reverse design, and luster. As a common date, only high-grade or error specimens carry significant premiums.

Similar Coins

1942-1945 Silver War Nickels (distinguished by a large mint mark over the dome) and later Jefferson nickels with 'D' or 'S' mint marks.

Authenticity & Counterfeit Red Flags

Check for correct weight (5.0g) and size. Counterfeits of regular 1963 nickels are extremely rare due to the coin's low value.

Notable Varieties & Errors

The 1963-D 'Long L' and various doubled die obverse/reverse errors exist for the series, but are scarce for the Philadelphia issue.

Created At: 2026-06-13T20:23:37.872753