Rare 2000 Nickel Errors Worth Money (Full List With Pictures)

A 2000-P Jefferson nickel struck with two obverse dies — Jefferson on both sides, no Monticello — sold in 2018 for $20,520. The complete 2000 nickel error list covers 11 distinct mint mistakes, with values running from $650 rim burrs to that five-figure mule error that turned a 5-cent coin into something worth more than most used cars. Philadelphia and Denver produced over 2.3 billion nickels that year, and the production volume created errors across every category — from grease fills to a coin that shouldn’t physically exist. Here’s every documented error, sorted by value, with auction records and identification details.

1. 2000 Nickel Rim Burr Error (Up to $650)

A rim burr forms during the planchet-punching process. When the blanking die cuts a planchet from the metal strip, small fragments of excess metal can remain attached to the edge. These are supposed to be removed during the upset mill process — but occasionally one survives.

On this 2000-P nickel, the burrs extended into Jefferson’s hair and the LIBERTY inscription on the obverse, creating an irregular, jagged edge that’s visible without magnification. The reverse rim was also affected. An eBay collector paid $650 in 2007 for this MS67 example. The combination of the gem grade and the dramatic burr intrusion into the design drove the price above typical rim-burr territory.

Value: In 2007, an eBay collector paid $650 for a 2000-P nickel graded MS67 with a rim burr error. Rim burrs on circulated Jefferson nickels trade for $30–$150. The MS67 grade and the burr’s intrusion into the obverse design — reaching into LIBERTY and Jefferson’s hair — pushed this example well above the norm.

How to Identify: Examine the coin’s rim carefully. A rim burr appears as raised, jagged metal protruding outward from the edge. It feels rough and sharp — distinctly different from a smooth rim.

The burr should be part of the coin’s metal, flowing continuously from the rim without any seam. Under magnification, the metal grain should match the surrounding edge.

Don’t confuse with post-mint damage from tools or impacts. A rim burr protrudes from an otherwise intact edge with a consistent metallic character. Post-mint dings create displaced metal with scratches. Fastest confirmation: raised, jagged metal extending from the rim, continuous with the coin’s edge metal.

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2. 2000 Nickel Retained Die Break Error (Up to $845)

A retained die break occurs when part of the die cracks but doesn’t fully separate. The cracked section stays in place — retained — but shifts slightly, creating a raised ridge on every coin it strikes.

On this 2000-D nickel, the break produced a crescent-shaped raised ridge running through Monticello on the reverse. Heritage Auctions sold it for $845 in 2012. Retained breaks are mechanically interesting because the broken die section is still doing its job, just imprecisely. If the section had separated completely, the result would be a cud. This coin documents the intermediate stage — cracked but holding.

Value: In 2012, Heritage Auctions sold a 2000-D nickel graded MS66 with a retained die break error for $845. Retained die breaks on circulated Jefferson nickels trade for $50–$200. Dramatic breaks with clear crescent-shaped ridges on uncirculated coins push $400–$845. The MS66 grade and the break’s prominent position across Monticello drove the Heritage price.

How to Identify: Look for a raised ridge or bump on the coin’s surface that follows a curved or irregular path. Unlike a die crack — which produces a thin line — a retained break creates a wider, more three-dimensional raised area because the broken section shifted slightly.

The raised area should have the same luster as the surrounding coin. Check whether the design beneath the ridge appears slightly distorted or doubled — the shifted die section strikes at a marginally different angle.

Don’t confuse with a cud, where the die section has fully separated leaving a flat-topped blob. A retained break keeps the design beneath it, just slightly raised. Fastest confirmation: curved raised ridge with design still visible underneath, matching the coin’s luster.

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3. 2000 Nickel Indented Strike Error (Up to $870)

An indented strike occurs when two planchets enter the striking chamber stacked, or a foreign object sits on top of the planchet during striking. The bottom coin gets a normal strike on its lower face, but its upper face is blocked where the second object overlapped.

On this 2000-D nickel, a piece of debris created a deep, oval-shaped indentation that obscured part of Jefferson’s portrait and the date on the obverse. The reverse remained fully intact. Heritage Auctions sold it for $870 in 2019. The clean oval boundary between the indented area and the normally struck design creates a distinctive half-and-half visual.

Value: In 2019, Heritage Auctions sold a 2000-D nickel graded MS65 with an indented strike error for $870. Indented strikes on Jefferson nickels generally range from $200–$900 depending on the size and location of the indentation. Larger indents covering more of the design bring higher prices. The Heritage provenance and MS65 grade drove the top of the range.

How to Identify: Look for a circular or oval-shaped depression on one side of the coin. The depressed area should be smooth and featureless — no design where the object blocked the die.

The boundary between the struck area and the indented area should be relatively sharp and curved. The opposite side should show a normal strike. Don’t confuse with post-mint damage from a vise, which creates irregular depressions with scratches.

Weigh it: should be 5.00 grams since only one planchet ended up in the holder. Fastest confirmation: smooth circular depression with a clean curved boundary on one face, normal strike on the other.

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4. 2000 Nickel Cud Error (Up to $910)

A cud forms when a piece of the die’s surface breaks away completely — not retained, but gone. Metal flows into the void during each subsequent strike, producing a raised, blob-like bump on the finished coin.

On this 2000-D nickel, the cud ran from Jefferson’s forehead to the rim — a large, prominent mass of extra metal that dramatically altered the obverse appearance. An eBay collector paid $910 in 2010. The cud’s position across Jefferson’s forehead creates a visual that’s impossible to miss, which is what separates a $910 cud from a $50 one sitting in empty rim space.

Value: In 2010, a 2000-D nickel graded MS65 with a large obverse cud error — running from Jefferson’s forehead to the rim — sold on eBay for $910. Small cuds on circulated Jefferson nickels trade for $20–$100. Large cuds that disrupt major design elements push $300–$910. The forehead-to-rim placement on this example maximized its visual impact.

How to Identify: Look for a raised, flat-topped mass of metal on the coin’s surface, typically connected to the rim. The cud should be smooth on top — it formed under full striking pressure.

Design elements beneath the cud will be absent or obscured. Post-mint damage looks rough and irregular. Check design elements near the cud for weakened details — the broken die couldn’t apply full pressure in the adjacent area.

Cuds must connect to the rim. A raised blob floating in the middle of the design is a die chip or interior die break, not a cud. Fastest confirmation: smooth flat-topped raised mass connected to the rim with missing design underneath.

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5. 2000 Nickel Off-Center Strike Error (Up to $920)

Off-center strikes happen when the planchet isn’t seated properly in the striking chamber. The die strikes off-position, leaving a crescent of blank metal.

On this 2000-D nickel, the design shifted 35% off-center — a dramatic displacement that left more than a third of the coin blank. Jefferson’s portrait pushed hard toward one edge, and portions of LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST disappeared into the blank crescent. An eBay collector paid $920 in 2011 for this MS65 example. The date remained readable despite the 35% displacement, which is the key factor that maintained the price above the $500 level.

Value: In 2011, an eBay collector paid $920 for a 2000-D nickel graded MS65 with a 35% off-center strike. Minor off-center strikes under 10% trade for $15–$75. Dramatic 30–50% off-centers with visible dates push $400–$920. Without a readable date, even a 50% off-center loses most of its value because buyers can’t confirm the year.

How to Identify: Look for a clean crescent of blank metal on one side. The design shifts toward the opposite edge with lettering cut off. Both obverse and reverse shift the same direction.

At 35%, the crescent is large and unmistakable. Don’t confuse with a Misaligned Die (MAD), which shows the complete design with uneven rim. An off-center always has blank planchet showing.

Post-mint damage from machinery creates uneven distortion with scratches. Fastest confirmation: clean blank crescent with design shifted and date readable.

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6. 2000 Nickel Die Clash Error (Up to $980)

A die clash happens when the obverse and reverse dies strike each other without a planchet between them. The force transfers a mirror image of each die’s design onto the opposing die face.

On this 2000-P nickel, the clash produced some of the strongest ghost images ever documented on a Jefferson nickel — Monticello’s columns and pediment clearly visible behind Jefferson’s portrait on the obverse. GreatCollections sold it for $980 in 2014. Multiple numismatic sources have described the 2000-P Jefferson nickel die clash as one of the boldest on record for this series — the ghost imagery is reportedly visible without magnification on strong examples.

Value: In 2014, GreatCollections auctioned a 2000-P nickel graded MS66 with a die clash error for $980. The therebelchick.com guide describes this as “one of the strongest known die clashes ever recorded” on a Jefferson nickel. Circulated examples with visible clash marks trade for $50–$300. Strong clashes on uncirculated coins push $500–$980.

How to Identify: Look for faint design elements that don’t belong on the obverse. Monticello’s columns, pediment, and architectural lines ghosting behind Jefferson are the tells. On strong 2000-P examples, these may be visible without magnification.

Ghost images are incuse (sunken), not raised. Use angled lighting and tilt slowly. The Monticello architecture creates straight, recognizable lines that stand out against Jefferson’s curved portrait.

Don’t confuse with strike-throughs, which create blank areas. A clash produces a recognizable reversed mirror image. Fastest confirmation: identifiable Monticello column lines ghosting on the obverse.

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7. 2000 Nickel Split Planchet Error (Up to $1,020)

A split planchet error occurs when the metal alloy develops internal weaknesses that cause the planchet to separate into layers during or after striking.

On Jefferson nickels, the solid 75/25 copper-nickel alloy can split when contaminants create planes of weakness within the metal during rolling. The coin may crack partially — with a visible seam — or separate completely into two thinner halves. On this 2000-P example, the split exposed the rough interior of the alloy on one face while the opposite side retained its normal struck design. GreatCollections sold this MS67 example for $1,020 in 2018.

Value: In 2018, GreatCollections auctioned a 2000-P nickel graded MS67 with a split planchet error for $1,020. Split planchet errors on circulated Jefferson nickels trade for $50–$300. Dramatic splits on uncirculated coins push $400–$1,020. The MS67 grade was the primary price driver on this example.

How to Identify: Look for a visible crack, seam, or separation in the coin’s surface or along the edge. In a complete split, the coin will be noticeably thinner and lighter than 5.00 grams.

The exposed interior should look rough and fibrous — the inside of the alloy was never meant to be a surface. Don’t confuse with a missing clad layer — nickels are solid alloy, not clad, so there’s no layer to miss. A split planchet cracks through the entire metal thickness.

Also distinguish from post-mint scraping, which shows directional tool marks. Fastest confirmation: visible crack or separation plus underweight coin with rough interior.

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8. 2000 Nickel Misaligned Die Error (Up to $1,120)

A misaligned die error happens when the dies aren’t properly centered. The design stays complete — nothing missing — but sits off-center within the rim.

On this 2000-D nickel, the misalignment shifted Jefferson’s portrait and inscriptions downward, creating an uneven rim visible to the naked eye. Stack’s Bowers sold this MS68 example for $1,120 in 2017. The MS68 grade — one point below perfect — inflated the price enormously. An MS68 Jefferson nickel is already scarce without any error; one with a visible misalignment at that grade is a statistical anomaly.

Value: In 2017, Stack’s Bowers auctioned a 2000-D nickel graded MS68 with a misaligned die error for $1,120. Minor misalignments on circulated nickels trade for $10–$50. Dramatic misalignments on uncirculated coins push $200–$600. The MS68 grade on this example inflated the price well beyond typical territory.

How to Identify: Examine the rim width around the circumference. A misaligned die coin shows one side wider and the opposite narrower. The full design is present — nothing missing.

This is the critical distinction from an off-center strike, which always has blank planchet showing. A misaligned die has everything, just shifted. The uneven rim should be consistent — wider on one side, narrower opposite. Fastest confirmation: complete design with obviously uneven rim width.

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9. 2000 Nickel Struck Through Grease Error (Up to $1,180)

A struck-through error happens when foreign material blocks the die during striking. Grease pooling in the die’s recesses is the most common culprit.

On this 2000-P nickel, the grease fill weakened Jefferson’s hair detail and portions of LIBERTY on the obverse, while blurring Monticello’s columns and windows on the reverse. Stack’s Bowers sold this MS68 example for $1,180 in 2016. The MS68 grade on a coin with visible design weakness seems contradictory — but the grading services assess surface preservation separately from strike quality, so a coin can have perfect surfaces and still show a struck-through defect.

Value: In 2016, Stack’s Bowers auctioned a 2000-P nickel graded MS68 with a struck-through grease error for $1,180. Minor grease fills on circulated nickels trade for $10–$50. Large fills on uncirculated coins push $200–$600. The MS68 grade drove this example well past the typical range.

How to Identify: Look for areas where the design appears weak, mushy, or absent — smooth blank zones surrounded by normal detail. The boundaries should be relatively sharp.

Grease fills are featureless and smooth. Don’t confuse with wear, which spreads evenly across high points. A grease fill affects specific areas while surrounding design stays sharp. On Jefferson nickels, check the hair above the ear and Monticello’s columns. Fastest confirmation: sharply defined smooth zones surrounded by normal strike quality.

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10. 2000 Nickel Multiple Strike Error (Up to $1,450)

A multiple strike occurs when the coin fails to eject and gets struck again — potentially several times. Each strike lands at a slightly different position, producing overlapping impressions.

On this 2000-D nickel, Jefferson’s portrait and Monticello overlap at rotated angles — his eye and nose appear doubled, creating a distorted, almost cubist image. Heritage Auctions sold this MS69 example for $1,450 in 2020 — the highest price for any standard 2000 nickel error at a major auction house. The MS69 grade is remarkable for a multi-struck coin. Maintaining near-perfect surfaces through multiple die impacts requires an unusual combination of clean planchet, precise secondary strikes, and careful post-mint handling.

Value: In 2020, Heritage Auctions sold a 2000-D nickel graded MS69 with a multiple strike error for $1,450. Double strikes on Jefferson nickels bring $300–$800. Multiple strikes with three or more impressions push $600–$1,450. The MS69 grade drove the premium to the top of the range.

How to Identify: Look for two or more distinct impressions of the design overlapping at different angles. Jefferson’s portrait will appear multiple times, and the lettering will show stacked, rotated characters.

Both obverse and reverse will show evidence of repeated strikes. Each successive impression is typically weaker. The coin may be slightly wider from repeated impact.

Don’t confuse with machine doubling, which creates flat shadows from a single strike. Multiple strikes show fully rounded, three-dimensional impressions at different positions. Fastest confirmation: multiple distinct rounded impressions at different angles on both sides.

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11. 2000 Nickel Two-Headed Mule Error (Up to $20,520)

A mule error occurs when two dies that were never meant to be paired are used together. On this 2000-P nickel, two obverse dies struck the same planchet — producing a coin with Jefferson’s portrait on both sides. No Monticello anywhere.

This shouldn’t be physically possible under normal operations. The Mint’s die-setting procedures are designed to prevent two same-sided dies from ever being installed on the same press. For a two-headed nickel to exist, multiple safety protocols had to fail simultaneously — the wrong die had to be selected, installed, and then used to strike coins before anyone noticed. The result is a coin that’s immediately, obviously wrong the moment you flip it over and find Jefferson staring back at you from both sides.

Value: In 2018, a 2000-P two-headed Jefferson nickel sold for $20,520 — more than 410,000 times its face value. This is the highest confirmed price for any Jefferson nickel error from any year. No comparable two-headed 2000 nickel exists at auction for market comparison. Mule errors on any modern U.S. coin are extraordinarily rare because the Mint’s quality control systems are specifically designed to prevent mismatched die pairs.

How to Identify: Flip the coin. Both sides show Jefferson’s portrait. There is no Monticello. That’s the entire test.

Check whether both obverse impressions are fully struck — a genuine mule shows complete, properly struck designs on both faces, not a brockage where one side is a weak reversed impression. A brockage creates an incuse (sunken) mirror image; a mule creates two normal, raised, forward-reading impressions.

Also rule out novelty coins and magic tricks. Machined two-headed coins exist as gag gifts — they’re made by cutting two coins apart and bonding the obverse halves together. A genuine mule has no seam at the edge. Examine the rim under magnification for any joint line. Fastest confirmation: Jefferson on both sides with no edge seam and both impressions fully struck and forward-reading.

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Conclusion

The 2000 nickel error spectrum runs from $650 rim burrs to a $20,520 two-headed mule that rewrote the record books for Jefferson nickels. Setting the mule aside, the conventional error range tops out at $1,450 for a multiple strike, with four more errors crossing $1,000. Stack’s Bowers, Heritage, and GreatCollections all contributed documented sales. The two-headed coin is a one-of-a-kind anomaly — the other 10 errors on this list are the ones you might realistically find.