1962 Jefferson Nickel Value (D, No Mint Mark & Errors Worth)

Have you found an old 1962 Jefferson Nickel in your coin jar? If yes, this guide is just for you. In a recent auction, this 5-cent coin from 1962 sold for an extraordinary price of over $21,000! Interesting, right?

But that doesn’t mean that all 1962 nickels are worth big bucks. So, how do you know if your coin is a hidden gem or not? Scroll down to learn which factors impact a 1962 nickel value and how to evaluate it.

How to Identify a Real 1962 Jefferson Nickel

The first step to determining a 1962 Jefferson nickel’s potential value is its authentication. Designed by Jamie Franki and Felix Schlag, the coin features unique designs and some specific physical features that will help you authenticate the coin.

Obverse Design by Jamie Franki:

• A left-facing profile portrait of Thomas Jefferson
• “LIBERTY” and “1962” along the right edge
• “IN GOD WE TRUST” appearing on the left edge
• The designer’s initials “FS” under Jefferson’s neck

Reverse Design:

• A detailed image of Monticello, Jefferson’s Virginia home
• “MONTICELLO” on a straight line below the building
• The motto “E PLURIBUS UNUM” on the top
• The denomination “FIVE CENTS” below “Monticello”
• “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” along the bottom edge
• A small mint mark (D) to the Monticello’s right

Coin Composition, Size & Weight

The 1962 Jefferson nickel followed the original composition of 75% copper and 25% set for the coin, along with specific physical features as given below.

How Much Is a 1962 Nickel Coin Worth? (3 Key Factors)

On average, most circulated 1962 Jefferson nickels are worth about 10 to 25 cents today, Uncirculated nickels can range from a few dollars to several thousand depending on the following factors:

1. Coin Grades & Condition

The grade, which signifies a coin’s condition, assigned to a 1962 Jefferson nickel significantly affects its value. Ranging from P-1 (Poor-1) to MS-70 (Mint State-70), higher grades hint at better quality and preservation and, hence, a higher value.

For example, a common MS-65 1962 Jefferson Nickel is generally worth $20-50, while the same coin can sell for up to $10,000 or more in high grades like MS67+ or more.

Full Step Designation

For Jefferson Nickels, the “Full Steps” designation is also an important feature that impacts its worth. This designation is given to the nickels which display a clearly visible separation in the steps leading to Monticello, indicating a strong strike.

2. 1962 Jefferson Nickel Mint Marks & Mintage

With a total mintage of 380,474,533 pieces, the 1962 Jefferson nickel is a commonly available coin.

However, the production across different mint facilities led to different mintage and mint marks, impacting each variety’s rarity and worth.

1962 Nickel No Mint Mark Value (Mintage – 110,602,019)

The Philadelphia Mint produced 1962 nickels without a mint mark. Due to a relatively lower mintage, the 1962 no-mint mark nickels are more valuable than the Denver variety, with the highest value of an MS67+ example reaching up to $690 on Heritage Auctions.

Here is the average value of a 1962 Jefferson Nickel no mint mark by grade:

• MS60: $1-$2
• MS63: $5-$8
• MS65: $10-$20
• MS66: $20-$65
• MS67: $150-$650

The Full Step variety of the 1962 No Mint Mark nickels can be slightly more valuable, with the MS65 example fetching $20-55 and the MS66 example reaching $100-600. The rarest MS67 and MS67+FS examples can command premium prices of $1,500-10,000 with the highest price reaching a whopping $21,150 realized on Heritage Auctions.

1962 D Jefferson Nickel Value (Mintage – 280,195,720)

The Denver mint, indicated by a “D” mint mark, produced the most 1962 nickels, making the most common variety. These coins are generally less valuable than their Philadelphia counterparts in common grades, with a rare MS67 1962 D Nickel selling for $2,995 on eBay!

Here is the average value of a 1962 D Jefferson Nickel by grade:

• MS60: $1-$2
• MS63: $5-$10
• MS65: $20-$35
• MS66: $50-$85
• MS67: $200-$300

On the other hand, 1962 Jefferson Nickel with Full Step designation can fetch up to $3,500 in common grades, like this MS65FS example realized $3,525 on Legend Rare Coin Auctions.

1962 Nickel Proof Value (Mintage – 3,218,019)

Apart from standard coins, the Philadelphia Mint produced over 3.2 million proof 1962 Jefferson Nickel coins. While these coins, too, did not bear any mint mark, they can be distinguished by a unique, reflective surface and sharp strike.

Proof coins also have three types (designations) impacting their values:

• Standard Proof: These proof coins feature a regular finish with a mirror-like surface and sharp devices. The value can range from $7 to $60 in PR60 to PR69 grades.
• Cameo Proof: These coins feature a subtle contrast between the reflective fields and frosted raised designs. Slightly more valuable, you can expect a 1962 CAM nickel to sell for $12-130 in PR65 to PR69 grades.
• Deep Cameo Proof: These coins display the strongest contrast between the background and frosted designs, making them the rarest. In PR69, a DCAM example can fetch up to $1,500 or more, like this example sold for $1,565 on Heritage Auctions.

3. Valuable 1962 Jefferson Nickel Errors

The last factor that can dramatically change a 1962 Jefferson Nickel value is mint errors, aka Production flaws. Here are some of the most valuable errors to spot:

Struck on Ethiopia 5 Cent

One of the rarest 1962 Jefferson nickel errors occurs when a U.S. nickel design is struck on a foreign planchet—specifically an Ethiopian 5-cent coin. The resulting coin typically shows unusual coloration and incorrect weight (less than genuine nickels).

Since only a handful of these errors are known to exist, you can expect a premium value between $1,000-$3,000, like this MS63 Brown example sold for $1,200 on Heritage Auctions.

Overstruck on a 1962 1C, Double Denomination

This error occurs when a 1962 Jefferson nickel is struck over a 1962 Lincoln cent, resulting in a rare coin showing characteristics of both coins. You can spot this error by the copper coloration, ghosted Lincoln features beneath the Nickel design, and weight of 3.11g (rather than 5.0g of nickel).

The value of a 1962 nickel overstruck on a 1962 cent can range from $500 to $2,000, depending on the condition. For example, an MS64 Brown specimen realized $1,050 on Heritage Auctions. Higher grades can command higher values.

Struck on a Defective Blank

This Jefferson nickel error happens when the design is struck on defective blanks. These can include clipped planchets, blank thickness errors, or improperly mixed metal composition.

For 1962 nickels, these errors are relatively common, with values ranging from $15 to $100 depending on the flaw’s visibility and the coin’s condition.

Struck on Cent Planchet

This is another off-metal error in which a Jefferson nickel design is struck on a Lincoln cent planchet. This error can be identified by its copper color and smaller size (19mm vs. 21.2mm). Besides, the nickel design is typically cut off around the edges.

An uncirculated 1962 Jefferson Nickel struck on a cent planchet typically sells for $100-$500 depending on condition and centering, like this MS62 example sold on Heritage Auctions for almost $370!

Obverse Planchet Lamination

Planchet lamination errors occur when the layer of the nickel coin separates or peels due to impurities in the metal. On the 1962 Jefferson nickel, this error appears as flaking or peeling areas on the obverse face. The value ranges of lamination errors can range from $25-$150.