United States

5 Cents "Jefferson Nickel" · “Jefferson Nickel”

United States · 1938–2023 · Copper

The coin

The story

The Jefferson Nickel: A Public Contest, a War, and a Coin Still in Your Pocket

In 1938 the U.S. Mint did something unusual — it threw the design of a circulating coin open to the public, took 390 entries, and let a German-born sculptor win. The coin he made is probably in your car's cupholder right now.

Read the full story

Designer

Felix Schlag

Meet the designer

Era

The Great Depression & the New Deal

Explore the era

Catalogue

Issuer: United States
Years: 1938–2023
Metal: Copper

All United States series

NFull history on Numista

Issues — by date & mint

3 listed · each its own page

1979-S1 live · from $140.00 1981-S2 live · from $109.00 2002-S2 live · from $11.00

Find it on eBay

Date19812 20022 19791

MintS5

Grade693 702

GraderPCGS5

Variant (VAM, DMPL, CAC) and the exact subgrade live on each listing — that’s where they matter, once you’re looking at a specific coin.

Live on eBay — 1979 · grade 69 · PCGS

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