Modern Jefferson Nickel
2,095+ LuckyCoin collectors track this series
Spanning 2006 to the present day, the Modern Jefferson Nickel catalog contains 65 year-and-mintmark variants. Across the series, the key date is the 2020-W Modern Jefferson Nickel at just 313,184 struck and the highest-value variant is the 2011-D Modern Jefferson Nickel at up to $1,600 in top grade.
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Modern Jefferson Nickel · All Strikes Mintage by Year
Peak 1.6BCombined mintage per year across every strike type (circulated, proof, and specimen) and all mintmarks.
About the Modern Jefferson Nickel
Today, the Jefferson Nickel has been a part of United States coinage since 1938 when it first debuted as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s National Coinage Act. This popular series is named after Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States. As one of the country’s most beloved figures, it is only fitting that the latest iteration of modern Jefferson Nickels retain a symbol of Jefferson’s legacy.
The modern-day Jefferson Nickel features the profiles of both Thomas Jefferson and the iconic Monticello, his beloved Virginia home. The obverse of the coin contains a left-facing profile portrait of Jefferson and was designed by Felix Schlag, an American sculptor. The reverse displays the red-domed building known as Monticello, and was designed by John R. Sinnock.
The modern Jefferson Nickel is minted from a composition of 75% copper and 25% nickel. It measures 21.2 millimeters in diameter and weighs 5 grams. Its edge is flat and further contains the inscription of “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” which is Latin for “Out of many, one.”
The first Jefferson Nickels were struck in 1938, but since then there have been a few changes to the series. Between 1977 and 1981, the United States Mint was owned by the Department of the Treasury and issued special mint-marked editions on the reverse side of the nickel. These commemorative Nickels featured the bison, bicentennial Liberty Bell, Olympic Torch, and American Flag, respectively.
Today, collectors value modern Jefferson Nickels immensely, and these coins are still in circulation. They are especially popular because of their historical context, their relatively low cost, and the variety of designs that have been produced. When purchasing Jefferson Nickels, collectors may want to focus on the most valuable dates, such as the 1939-D and the 1943-S. Additionally, any of the special mint-marked editions from the 1977-1981 period are worth quite a bit more than the standard Nickels.
Overall, the modern Jefferson Nickel is a proud part of United States coinage and remains widely popular among collectors of all levels. With its beautiful design and historical significance, the Jefferson Nickel is an attractive coin that is still found in circulation today.
Most-collected Modern Jefferson Nickel coins on LuckyCoin
Looking for coins from a specific year across every denomination? Browse US coin values by year →
Which Modern Jefferson Nickel coins do collectors actually own? See the 2026 rarity & ownership report →
Frequently Asked Questions
- When was the Modern Jefferson Nickel minted?
- The Modern Jefferson Nickel was minted by United States from 2006 to the present day.
- How many Modern Jefferson Nickel coins were minted?
- Across every year and mintmark, approximately 21,480,713,237 Modern Jefferson Nickel coins were struck.
- What mintmarks exist for the Modern Jefferson Nickel?
- Modern Jefferson Nickel coins were struck with the following mintmarks: D, P, S, W. Some years were also produced without a mintmark.
- What is the Modern Jefferson Nickel made of?
- The Modern Jefferson Nickel is made of copper-nickel (75% copper, 25% nickel), weighs 5 grams, and measures 21.21 mm in diameter.
- How much is a Modern Jefferson Nickel worth?
- Value depends on year, mintmark, and condition. Common dates in average circulated condition trade for near face value, while the rarest varieties in top grade can fetch up to $1,600. See individual year pages for grade-by-grade estimates.