Rare 2004 Nickel Errors Worth Money (Full List)

Is the 2004 nickel worth anything? Is the 2004 Jefferson nickel rare and valuable? If you are considering collecting 2004 nickel errors, you’ve probably asked these questions. Given that Thomas Jefferson was our country’s 3^rd president, he is highly revered, making the nickel one of the most popular coins to collect.

In 2004, through to 2005, the United States Mint produced four versions of the Jefferson nickel in commemoration of the 200^th anniversary of the Lewis and Clark expedition and the Louisiana Purchase. Collectively, these coins were known as the Westward Journey Nickel series.

The first year, the Mint produced the Peace Medal nickel first, which was then followed by the Keelboat nickel. The obverse of these coins remained the same with Jefferson’s forward-facing image.

There is no doubt that the 2004 peace medal and Keelboat nickels are popular for the historical and sentimental value. These coins also have a great aesthetic appeal. That said, 2004 nickel are only worth their face value in circulated condition. Even uncirculated examples are only worth more or less their face value.

So are 2004 nickels worth collecting? With the right strategy, these iconic coins can be worth adding to your collection. Collecting errors is one of the most rewarding ways to build a high-value nickels set—as our 2004 nickel errors list will reveal, minting errors can be worth hundreds and even thousands if you know what to look for.

So, without further ado, let’s jump in and discover 2004 nickel errors worth money.

1. 2004-D MS64 Lewis and Clark Jefferson Nickel Clipped Planchet Error

An error your might come across when collecting 2004 nickels is the clipped planchet. As the name suggests, a clipped planchet is one in which part of the edge is missing or has been clipped off.

This error occurs when the blanking punch, which cuts planchets from the metal plate cuts into the empty circle left by the previous planchet while cutting the current planchet. This results in the present planchet having a portion of its edge clipped out.

There are different types of clipped planchet errors with the most common ones being the straight, jagged, and curved errors. The extent or size of the clip usually determines the coins value with larger clips generally being more valuable.

In 2007, a collector at a Heritage Auctions paid an impressive $715 for a 2004 Jefferson nickel with a straight clipped planchet error, making this an excellent addition to your collection.

Also read: Top 10 Most Valuable Nickels Worth Money

 

2. 2004-P MS65 Peace Nickel Broad-struck With Railroad Rim

Another interesting error that shows up in the 2004 nickels series is the broad-struck with a railroad rim. A broad-struck, also known as a broad-strike occurs when the planchet is struck outside the collar. Usually, the planchet sits squarely inside the collar, which defines the planchet’s diameter and edges.

Sometimes though the planchet may only partially sit in the collar, so when the die strikes, the part of the planchet sitting outside the collar expands abnormally and the edge also becomes thinner than usual. This results in a broad-struck error.

In addition to the broad-struck, your nickel may have another error known as a railroad rim. This error occurs when the planchet sits on its side inside the collar resulting in the collar forming a line along the rim of the planchet. On reeded edges, this line appears like a railroad, thus the name railroad rim error.

So how much is such a coin worth? Well, a coin with two well-known errors can fetch a premium as was the case with a 2004-P nickel graded MS65 with a broad-struck and railroad rim error, which an eBay collector paid for $1320 at a 2010 auction.

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3. 2004-P MS62 Keelboat Nickel Struck 30% Off-Center Strike Error

 The next one on our 2004 nickel errors list is the off-center strike. As the name implies, this is an error in which the design on the obverse or reverse is struck away from the center.

Ideally, the dies will strike their respective design at the center of the planchet. However, due to a misalignment between the die and planchet resulting from technical or human error, one or both dies might end up striking the planchet more toward the edge and further away from the center, resulting in an off-center strike.

The value of such an error depends on the extent to which the design has been struck away from the center. For example, a coin with a 30% off-center strike will generally be more valuable than one with a 5% off-center strike.

In 2008, a collector at a Great Collections auction paid an impressive $1090 for a 2004-P nickel graded MS62 with a 30% off-center strike error on the obverse.

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4. 2004-D MS64 Keelboat Jefferson Nickel Adjusted Die Error

Another error that comes up when collecting 2004 nickels is the adjusted die error.

As the name suggests, this error occurs when the die is adjusted during the striking process. It is normal for mint workers to adjust the die to ensure proper contact with the planchet. But, sometimes, the adjustment might not be done properly, resulting in only light contact between the die and planchet, which can cause a weak strike.

If you come across an uncirculated Jefferson nickel with a weak strike on the obverse or reverse, it is likely an adjusted die error. Circulated coins with a weak strike may not necessarily qualify as errors—the weak strike may be due to normal wear and tear.

In 2017, Heritage Auctions sold a 2004-D Keelboat nickel with an adjusted die error for a whopping $980, making this another excellent addition to your collection.

Also read: Top 17 Most Valuable Buffalo Nickel Worth Money

 

5. 2004-D MS66 Peace Medal Nickel With Rim Cud Error

When collecting 2004 nickels, you might encounter coins with eye-catching rim cud errors. A rim cud appears like a raised, lateral bump along the coin’s rim.

This error occurs when a piece breaks off from the die’s rim, leaving a gap. As the die is put to use, small metal chuffs fill the gap. Eventually, the metal-filled gap leaves its impression along the rim of one or more planchets, resulting in a rim cud error.

So, how much is a rim cud error worth? Well, this largely depends on the size of the cud—larger rim cuds are usually worth more than smaller ones. In 2011, a collector at an eBay auction paid a record $910 for a 2004-D MS66 nickel with a relatively large rim cud error.

 

6. 2004-P Louisiana Purchase Nickel Annealing Error With Copper Color

The next one on our 2004 nickel errors list is the annealing error. This error occurs due to improper annealing, resulting in the coin acquiring a different color than the norm.

During the planchet-making process, the blank coins are exposed to heat and cold to harden and soften the planchet. Sometimes, mint workers may expose the blanks to excessive heat or cold, causing the planchet to take on a different color—this is known as improper annealing.

In the case of a nickel, instead of the coin taking on its usual silver color, an improperly annealed may acquire a copper, reddish, grey, or even blackish color. So, if you come across a nickel with an odd-looking color, it is probably due to improper annealing.

In 2008, Heritage Auctions sold a 2004-P nickel graded MS65 with an annealing error (copper color) for an impressive $1115, making this an error worth pursuing when building your nickel collection.

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7. 2004-P MS63 Doubled Die Jefferson Nickel Error

One of the most common errors that come up in the 2004 nickels series is the doubled die. This error occurs when the die strikes the planchet at slightly different angles multiple times.

A doubled die errors appears like visible doubling on the devices or inscriptions on the obverse or reverse side of the coin. Anything from slight misalignment between the coin and planchet to the planchet shifting inside the collar can result in a doubled die error.

The value of a doubled die error usually depends on the intensity of doubling. Coins with intense doubling on the inscription or devices will generally be more valuable than coins with subtle doubling. Often, you will need a keen eye or the help of a professional grader to identify a double die error.

In 2021, a collector on eBay paid a record $1200 for a 2004-P Jefferson nickel graded MS63 with a doubled die error on the obverse and reverse.

Also read: Top 17 Most Valuable Jefferson Nickels Worth Money

 

8. 2004-D MS66 Peace Jefferson Nickel Brockage Error

A brockage is one of the most dramatic errors you might encounter when collecting 2004 Jefferson nickels. This error is actually a result of a related error known as a die cap.

A die cap error occurs when a planchet attaches itself to the die and becomes the new die face, striking the incoming planchets. When struck, the incoming planchets will acquire a weak strike from the attached planchet’s reverse side and a stronger strike from the reverse die, resulting in a brockage error coin.

A brockage error coin features the same design (usually the reverse) on both sides of the coin. However, the design on the obverse is typically weaker than the one on the obverse.

So, how much is a brockage error? Well, in the past, collectors have paid a premium for brockage error coins. For example, a collector at a Great Collections auction paid a whopping $1450 for a 2004-D nickel graded MS66 with a brockage error.

Also read: 14 Most Valuable Nickel Errors Worth Money

 

Summary

Jefferson nickels released in 2004 and 2005 can be quite valuable if you know what to look for. As our 2004 nickel errors list shows, collecting errors can be a profitable strategy for building your nickels collection. We recommend paying more attention to uncirculated examples as these usually offer the greatest value for money. Happy collecting!