Jefferson Nickel - 1938

The Jefferson nickel is a five-cent coin that was first minted in 1938 by the United States Mint. It features a portrait of Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States, on the obverse side and Monticello, Jefferson's famous Virginia estate, on the reverse side. Here's a brief history of the Jefferson nickel:

In the early 1930s, there was a push to replace the Buffalo nickel, which had been in circulation since 1913. Mint Director Nellie Tayloe Ross sought a new design to honor Thomas Jefferson, who played a significant role in the nation's early development. Felix Schlag, an immigrant from Germany, won a design competition for the new coin, and his artwork became the basis for the Jefferson nickel.

1938-2003: "Pre-War" Jefferson Nickel:

The Jefferson nickel was first introduced in 1938 and continued with the original design until 2003. The obverse features a left-facing portrait of Thomas Jefferson with the inscription "IN GOD WE TRUST" above and "LIBERTY" below. The reverse depicts Monticello, Jefferson's plantation, with the inscription "MONTICELLO" and "E PLURIBUS UNUM" (Latin for "Out of Many, One").

2004-Present: Westward Journey Series and Beyond:

In 2004, as part of the Westward Journey Nickel Series, the United States Mint released two new designs on the reverse side of the Jefferson nickel. The first design for that year depicted the Peace Medal given by Jefferson to Native American tribes. The second design portrayed the keelboat used by the Lewis and Clark expedition.

In 2005, two more designs were introduced as part of the Westward Journey Nickel Series. One design depicted the American bison, which symbolized the wildlife encountered by Lewis and Clark during their journey. The other design showcased an ocean view, representing the westward expansion and exploration.

Since 2006, the United States Mint has returned to using the original Monticello design on the reverse side, while the obverse design with Thomas Jefferson's portrait remains unchanged.

Special Editions and Collectible Varieties:

Throughout the years, the Jefferson nickel has seen various special editions, mint marks, and commemorative releases. These include proof coins, silver versions, uncirculated collector sets, and limited-edition designs.

In summary, the Jefferson nickel has been in circulation since 1938 and has featured Thomas Jefferson's portrait on the obverse side and Monticello on the reverse side. While the original design remained largely unchanged until 2003, the introduction of the Westward Journey Nickel Series brought new reverse designs from 2004 to 2005. Since 2006, the original Monticello design has been used again.

 Key Dates

1939-D: The 1939-D Jefferson nickel is considered a key date as it has a relatively low mintage of 3,514,000. It is sought after by collectors, especially in higher grades.

1942-P "War Nickel": During World War II, nickel was needed for the war effort, so the composition of the Jefferson nickel was changed from a 75% copper and 25% nickel alloy to a 56% copper, 35% silver, and 9% manganese composition. The "War Nickel" series includes the 1942-P, 1943-P, 1943-D, and 1943-S nickels. These coins contain silver and are often collected separately due to their metal content.

1950-D: The 1950-D Jefferson nickel is considered a semi-key date due to its lower mintage of 2,630,030. It can be more challenging to find in higher grades, making it desirable among collectors.

1950-D/S Overmintmark: Within the 1950-D Jefferson nickel series, there is a notable variety known as the 1950-D/S overmintmark. This occurs when the "D" mintmark is struck over an underlying "S" mintmark. It is a scarce variety and highly sought after by collectors.

1951-S: The 1951-S Jefferson nickel is another semi-key date with a mintage of 12,376,000. While not as rare as some of the earlier key dates, it is still relatively scarce and commands a premium in higher grades.

1954-S: The 1954-S Jefferson nickel is considered a key date due to its lower mintage of 13,167,000. It is particularly difficult to find in higher grades, making it highly sought after by collectors.

1964-D: The 1964-D Jefferson nickel is another key date, primarily because it was the last year silver was used in the composition of the coin. The mintage for this year is relatively low at 1,787,297, and its silver content adds to its desirability among collectors.