Jefferson Nickels
(1938 - 2003)
Original Vintage Design (1938–1964)
From 1938 through 1942, Jefferson nickels were struck in the standard 75% copper and 25% nickel alloy. During World War II (1942–1945), nickel was needed for the war effort, prompting a temporary composition change. The “War Nickels” were made of 35% silver, 56% copper, and 9% manganese. These coins are easily identified by a large mintmark (P, D, or S) placed above Monticello on the reverse—the only time a “P” mintmark appeared on circulating coinage prior to 1979. Silver was removed from the composition after 1945, returning to the original copper-nickel alloy through 1964.
Original Modern Design (1965–2003)
Beginning in 1965, the composition remained 75% copper and 25% nickel, but mintmarks were temporarily removed from 1965–1967 to discourage hoarding. The classic obverse portrait and reverse view of Monticello continued unchanged for decades, making this one of the most familiar and widely circulated designs in American coinage.
While most dates are common in circulated grades, key early dates (such as the 1939-D and 1950-D) and high-grade examples remain popular with collectors. The long-running original design concluded in 2003, just before the introduction of the Westward Journey series in 2004.
Check out dates & mintages for Jefferson Nickels, below.Business Strikes
Type 1, Original Vintage Design
1938 | 19,496,000
1938-D | 5,376,000
1938-S | 4,105,000
1939 | 120,615,000
1939-D | 3,514,000
1939-S | 6,630,000
1940 | 176,485,000
1940-D | 43,540,000
1940-S | 39,690,000
1941 | 203,265,000
1941-D | 53,432,000
1941-S | 43,445,000
1942 | 49,789,000
1942-D | 13,938,000
Type 2, Silver Alloy
1942-P Silver | 57,873,000
1942-S Silver | 32,900,000
1943-P Silver | 271,165,000
1943-D Silver | 15,294,000
1943-S Silver | 104,060,000
1944-P Silver | 119,150,000
1944-D Silver | 32,309,000
1944-S Silver | 21,640,000
1945-P Silver | 119,408,100
1945-D Silver | 37,158,000
1945-S Silver | 58,939,000
Type 1, Original Vintage Design
1946 | 161,116,000
1946-D | 45,292,200
1946-S | 13,560,000
1947 | 95,000,000
1947-D | 37,822,000
1947-S | 24,720,000
1948 | 89,348,000
1948-D | 44,734,000
1948-S | 11,300,000
1949 | 60,652,000
1949-D | 36,498,000
1949-S | 9,716,000
1950 | 9,796,000
1950-D | 2,630,030
1951 | 28,552,000
1951-D | 20,460,000
1951-S | 7,776,000
1952 | 63,988,000
1952-D | 30,638,000
1952-S | 20,572,000
1953 | 46,644,000
1953-D | 59,878,600
1953-S | 19,210,900
1954 | 47,684,050
1954-D | 117,183,060
1954-S | 29,384,000
1955 | 7,888,000
1955-D | 74,464,100
1956 | 35,216,000
1956-D | 67,222,940
1957 | 38,408,000
1957-D | 136,828,900
1958 | 17,088,000
1958-D | 168,249,120
1959 | 27,248,000
1959-D | 160,738,240
1960 | 55,416,000
1960-D | 192,582,180
1961 | 73,640,100
1961-D | 229,342,760
1962 | 97,384,000
1962-D | 280,195,720
1963 | 178,851,645
1963-D | 276,829,460
1964 | 1,028,622,762
1964-D | 1,787,297,160
Type 3, Original Modern Design
1965 | 136,131,380
1966 | 156,208,283
1967 | 107,325,800
1968-D | 91,227,880
1968-S | 100,396,004
1969-D | 202,807,500
1969-S | 120,075,000
1970-D | 515,485,380
1970-S | 238,832,004
1971 | 106,884,000
1971-D | 316,144,800
1972 | 202,036,000
1972-D | 351,694,600
1973 | 384,396,000
1973-D | 361,405,000
1974 | 601,752,000
1974-D | 277,373,000
1975 | 181,772,000
1975-D | 401,875,300
1976 | 367,124,000
1976-D | 563,964,147
1977 | 585,376,000
1977-D | 297,313,422
1978 | 391,308,000
1978-D | 313,092,780
1979 | 463,188,000
1979-D | 325,867,672
1980-P | 593,004,000
1980-D | 502,323,448
1981-P | 657,504,000
1981-D | 364,801,843
1982-P | 292,355,000
1982-D | 373,726,544
1983-P | 561,615,000
1983-D | 536,726,276
1984-P | 746,769,000
1984-D | 517,675,146
1985-P | 647,114,962
1985-D | 459,747,446
1986-P | 536,883,483
1986-D | 361,819,140
1987-P | 371,499,481
1987-D | 410,590,604
1988-P | 771,360,000
1988-D | 663,771,652
1989-P | 898,812,000
1989-D | 570,842,474
1990-P | 661,636,000
1990-D | 663,938,503
1991-P | 614,104,000
1991-D | 436,496,678
1992-P | 399,552,000
1992-D | 450,565,113
1993-P | 412,076,000
1993-D | 406,084,135
1994-P | 722,160,000
1994-D | 715,762,110
1995-P | 774,156,000
1995-D | 888,112,000
1996-P | 829,332,000
1996-D | 817,736,000
1997-P | 470,972,000
1997-D | 466,640,000
1998-P | 688,292,000
1998-D | 635,380,000
1999-P | 1,212,000,000
1999-D | 1,066,720,000
2000-P | 846,240,000
2000-D | 1,509,520,000
2001-P | 675,704,000
2001-D | 627,680,000
2002-P | 539,280,000
2002-D | 691,200,000
2003-P | 441,840,000
2003-D | 383,040,000
Proof Strikes
Type 1, Original Vintage Design
1938 Proof | 19,365
1939 Proof | 12,535
1940 Proof | 14,158
1941 Proof | 18,720
1942 Proof | 29,600
1950 Proof | 51,386
1951 Proof | 57,500
1952 Proof | 81,980
1953 Proof | 128,800
1954 Proof | 233,300
1955 Proof | 378,200
1956 Proof | 669,384
1957 Proof | 1,247,952
1958 Proof | 875,652
1959 Proof | 1,149,291
1960 Proof | 1,691,602
1961 Proof | 3,028,144
1962 Proof | 3,218,019
1963 Proof | 3,075,645
1964 Proof | 3,950,762
Type 2, Silver Alloy
1942-P Silver Proof | 27,600
Type 3, Original Modern Design
1965 SMS | 2,360,000
1966 SMS | 2,261,583
1967 SMS | 1,863,344
1968-S Proof | 3,041,506
1969-S Proof | 2,934,631
1970-S Proof | 2,632,810
1971-S Proof | 3,220,733
1972-S Proof | 3,260,996
1973-S Proof | 2,760,339
1974-S Proof | 2,612,568
1975-S Proof | 2,845,450
1976-S Proof | 4,149,730
1977-S Proof | 3,251,152
1978-S Proof | 3,127,781
1979-S Proof | 3,677,175
1980-S Proof | 3,554,806
1981-S Proof | 4,063,083
1982-S Proof | 3,857,479
1983-S Proof | 3,279,126
1984-S Proof | 3,065,110
1985-S Proof | 3,362,821
1986-S Proof | 3,010,497
1987-S Proof | 4,227,728
1988-S Proof | 3,262,948
1989-S Proof | 3,220,194
1990-S Proof | 3,299,559
1991-S Proof | 2,867,787
1992-S Proof | 4,176,560
1993-S Proof | 3,394,792
1994-S Proof | 3,269,923
1995-S Proof | 2,797,481
1996-S Proof | 2,525,265
1997-S Proof | 2,769,678
1998-S Proof | 2,086,507
1999-S Proof | 3,347,966
2000-S Proof | 4,047,993
2001-S Proof | 3,184,606
2002-S Proof | 3,211,995
2003-S Proof | 3,298,439
If You Collect Five-Cent Nickels, Check Out The ‘Silver Alloy War Nickels’ Type Set!
‘Coin Collecting Tools’ is Going Mobile
Included with your Membership:
Access to hundreds of digital U.S. coin checklists
Custom lists for specialty collections and type sets
Private, secure cloud storage for your collection data
New checklists and features added regularly
Track the coins you own by uploading images, grades, and values
Precious metals stack tracking: bullion, coins, bars, jewelry & more
Important insights about your stack & your collections
Whether you’re new to the hobby or a seasoned collector, StackHub keeps your entire collection organized and accessible — anytime, anywhere.
Start your membership today and experience smarter collecting.
StackHub is an excellent tool for coin collectors & precious metals enthusiasts of all levels. Your app subscription will come complete with:
100+ prebuilt collection checklists to choose from
Collect graded or ungraded coins, your choice
Upload images of your own set to take on the go
Precious Metals stack tracking
Every coin collecting guide at your fingertips
Compatible with mobile & desktop
Click HERE to learn more*During checkout, please use the email address that you’d like associated with your StackHub account. You will receive an invitation to that email address directly from the platform when your account is ready. Account creation may take up to 12 hours from the time of checkout*
Understanding Proof Coins - The Essential Guide
Proof coins are some of the most beautiful coins ever made. Learn the difference between proof, cameo, and deep cameo coins — and why collectors value them.
Click here for the full guide
How to Avoid Buying Fake Coins Online
Not every coin listed online is the real deal. Discover the key steps to spotting counterfeits, protecting your collection, and buying with confidence.
Read MoreThis site and all of its content was built by collectors for collectors. Join thousands who already trust CoinCollectingTools.com for reliable & accurate information, expert tips, and a connected community on social media. Follow us on YouTube & TikTok @CentsMakeDollars to make sure you never miss a new online resource designed to sharpen your knowledge and collecting strategies.