If you have an old 1943 Jefferson Nickel in your old coin jar, you just hit the jackpot because this 5-cent coin could sell for astonishing prices today. For example, a Full Step 1943 Nickel sold for a mind-boggling price of $14,700 in an auction!
So, if you want to know whether your old 1943 nickel is worth a fortune, scroll below to understand which factors affect its worth and which signs to look for!
How to Identify a Real 1943 Nickel (Design & Physical Attributes)
To verify the authenticity of an old 1943 Jefferson Nickel, you must examine the design details on both sides, designed by engravers Jamie Franki and Felix Schlag.
1943 Jefferson Nickel Obverse:
- A left-facing profile portrait of Thomas Jefferson
- “LIBERTY” and “1943” along the right edge of the coin
- “IN GOD WE TRUST” appearing on the left edge
- The designer’s initials “FS” appear under Jefferson’s neck
1943 Jefferson Nickel Reverse:
- A detailed rendering of Monticello, Jefferson’s self-designed Virginia home
- The inscription “MONTICELLO” appearing on a straight line below the building
- The motto “E PLURIBUS UNUM” on the top
- The denomination “FIVE CENTS” at the bottom rim
- The country name “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” at the bottom
- A large mint mark (P, D, or S) positioned above Monticello’s dome
1943 Jefferson Nickel Composition, Weight & Size
The 1943 Jefferson Nickel’s composition marks a significant deviation from the standard five-cent pieces, containing 56% copper, 35% silver (approximately 0.0563 troy ounces), and 9% manganese. Below are the coin’s other physical details.
| 1943 Jefferson Nickel | Key Features |
| Material (Composition) | 56% Copper, 35% Silver, 9% Manganese |
| Minting Location | Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco |
| Minting Year | 1943 |
| Weight | 5 grams |
| Diameter | 21.2 mm |
| Thickness | 1.95 mm |
| Designer – Engraver | Jamie Franki, Felix Schlag |
| Face Value | $0.05 |
| Mint Marks | No Mint Mark – Philadelphia D – Denver mint S – San Francisco |
| Total Mintage (All Facilities) | 390,519,000 coins |
3 Factors to Assess a 1943 Jefferson Nickel Value
The estimated value of a typical 1943 Jefferson Nickel in average, circulated condition is around $3 to $5, primarily due to its silver content. However, high-grade coins or those with rare mint errors can fetch premium values of up to $15,000 or more!
Let’s understand what factors impact the value of an old 1943 nickel coin!
1. Coin Grading & Condition
Just like all old coins, the value of an old 1943 Jefferson five-cent coin depends majorly on its condition. This condition is professionally assessed on a grading scale ranging from P-1 to MS-70, with higher grades meaning a well-preserved nickel.
For 1943 Jefferson Nickels, the coins ranging from MS-65 to MS-70 are considered the most valuable ones, while low-grade and average-condition coins are worth only as much as the face value or slightly more.
Another feature that directly influences a 1943 nickel value is the Full Step designation, which is assigned to coins showing detailed, full steps on the Monticello building on the reverse. The FS-graded nickels are way more valuable than regular coins.
For example, a 1943-P Nickel in MS68 grade generally sells for $600 to $2,000, while the same grade with FS designation can fetch up to $15,000, as this example sold for $14,687 on Legend Rare Coin Auctions!
2. 1943 Nickel Mint Marks & Mintages
The total mintage for 1943 Jefferson Nickels was around 271,165,000 coins across three mint facilities, each marked with the distinctive large mint mark above Monticello’s dome!
1943-P Jefferson Nickel Value
The Philadelphia Mint produced about 271,165,000 nickels in 1943, marked with a large “P” on the reverse. This coin is notable because it was the first time Philadelphia used a mint mark on regular-issue coins.
Here are the average values of 1943-P nickel based on grades:
- MS60-63: $3-7
- MS64: $10-15
- MS65: $15-20
- MS66: $20-40
- MS67: $60-300
- MS68: $500-$1,600+
The Full Step variety of 1943-P Jefferson nickel can range from $2,000 to $15,000 in MS68 grade, like this example sold for $14,688 on Legend Rare Coin Auctions! MS67 examples can fetch $200 to $1,500, while MS65FS specimens sell for $30-55!
1943-D Jefferson Nickel Value
The Denver Mint struck 1943 Jefferson nickels are identified by the large “D” mint mark above Monticello. Despite a lower mintage of 15,294,000, these coins are worth only as much as their Philadelphia counterparts.
Here are the average values of 1943-D nickel based on grades:
- MS60-63: $3-7
- MS64: $7-10
- MS65: $10-15
- MS66: $20-35
- MS67: $55-150
- MS68: $500-1,500+
As for the Full Step 1943-D nickels, the value can range from $10-55 in MS64 to MS66 grades. MS67 examples typically sell for $100-350, while MS68 specimens can reach $1,500 to $6,500, like this example bought for $6,600 on Stack’s Bowers!
1943-S Jefferson Nickel Value
The San Francisco Mint produced over 104 million 1943 Jefferson nickels, identified by the large “S” mint mark above. Despite a higher mintage than the Denver mint, the 1943-S nickels are slightly more valuable than 1943-D nickels.
Here are the average values of 1943-S Jefferson nickel based on grades:
- MS60-63: $3-7
- MS64: $10-15
- MS65: $15-25
- MS66: $30-40
- MS67: $65-250
- MS68: $450-1,500+
The average value of 1943-S Full Step nickels can range from $20 to $1,500 in MS65 to MS67 grades, while MS68 examples can fetch $1,500 to $5,600 or more. The most expensive 1943-S MS68FS example sold for $9,000 on eBay as per PCGS!
3. Valuable 1943 Jefferson Nickel Errors
The 1943 Jefferson nickels are known for bearing some extraordinary minting errors that significantly impact their values. Here are the most notable 1943 nickel errors to look for:
1943/2 Double Date Error
The double date is the most famous error found on the 1943 nickel. It occurred when a 1942-dated die was repunched with a 1943 date, leaving remnants of a “2” digit underneath the “3” in the date. You can identify genuine examples with magnification.
The value of a 943/2-P (3 Over 2) Overdate nickel depends on the visibility of the date and the coin’s condition, ranging from $50-100 for heavily circulated examples and $4,000-15,000 or more for uncirculated examples. The most expensive 1943/2 Nickel sold for a whopping $16,675 on Heritage Auctions!
Double Die Obverse
The most notable doubled die variety of 1943 nickels shows doubling on Jefferson’s eye, giving him an unusual appearance. To spot this error, look for distinctive doubling visible on Jefferson’s eye, sometimes extending to nearby facial features.
A 1943 DDO nickel can be valued at $50-100 for lower-grade examples with visible doubling to $500-12,000 for mint state specimens with dramatic doubling. The finest known example of this error is an MS67Full Step coin that sold for $11,500 on Heritage Auctions.
Struck on a Type One Steel Cent Planchet
One of the rarest 1943 nickel errors, this one results when a steel cent blank accidentally makes its way into production and is struck with nickel design. You can spot these rare coins by their significantly smaller size than normal nickels (19mm vs. 21.2mm).
These coins are also magnetic due to their steel content and weigh approximately 2.7 grams (versus 5.0 grams for a nickel) with a distinctive silver-gray appearance.
Fewer than a dozen examples of this error are known, making it highly collectible with values ranging from $5,000 to $10,000, like this MS64 example sold for $9,775 on Heritage Auctions!
Struck on Copper-Nickel Planchet
These rare errors were produced during wartime composition when a few 1943 nickels were mistakenly struck on standard copper-nickel planchets rather than the authorized silver-manganese copper alloy.
You can identify this error by the standard color and standard weight (5.0 grams versus the wartime 5.0 grams). The value of verified examples of a 1943 nickel struck on a copper-nickel planchet can range from $2,000-8,000, depending on the condition and mint mark. For example, an XF40-grade coin sold for $7,800 on Heritage Auctions!
