Rare 2016 Nickel Errors Worth Money (Full List With Pictures)

A 2016-P Jefferson nickel with a lamination error sold at GreatCollections in 2020 for $435. The complete 2016 nickel error list covers nine distinct mint mistakes, with values running from $20 clipped planchets to three-figure lamination peels. Philadelphia and Denver produced over 2.3 billion nickels that year, and 2016 turns out to be one of the richest modern dates for die varieties — with 20-plus confirmed doubled die reverses and the popular “Scarface” and “Black Beauty” nickname coins. Here’s every documented error, sorted by value, with auction records and identification details.

1. 2016 Nickel Clipped Planchet Error (Up to $100)

Clipped planchet errors start at the blanking press. When the metal strip feeds incorrectly, the punch overlaps a previously cut hole or catches the strip’s edge, producing an incomplete blank with a missing section.

Three types exist. Curved clips have a smooth arc-shaped edge from overlapping a previous punch. Straight clips show a flat linear edge where the punch hit the strip’s border. Ragged clips have torn, rough edges from damaged strip metal. On 2016 nickels, curved clips are the most commonly documented variety. The 75% copper / 25% nickel alloy is harder than zinc penny stock, so clips tend to produce cleaner separations.

Value: No specific 2016 nickel clipped planchet has sold as a major auction headline lot. Documented examples with confirmed Blakesley Effect trade for $20–$100 depending on clip size, type, and grade. Small curved clips under 5% bring the low end. Dramatic ragged clips with 15%+ missing metal push toward $100. Without the Blakesley Effect, proving the clip is pre-strike rather than post-mint damage is difficult, which suppresses the price.

How to Identify: Look for a section of missing metal along the coin’s edge. Curved clips show a smooth arc; straight clips show a flat line; ragged clips show a rough, torn edge.

Check for the Blakesley Effect — a weakening of the rim on the opposite side of the coin from the clip. This occurs because the incomplete planchet can’t receive full striking pressure 180 degrees from the missing section. The Blakesley Effect is your strongest evidence that the clip happened before striking.

Weigh it — clipped planchets come in under 5.00 grams. Post-mint damage from pliers or tools shows scratches, sharp edges, and no opposite-side rim weakness. Fastest confirmation: missing edge section plus Blakesley Effect on the opposite rim.

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2. 2016 Nickel Struck Through Grease Error (Up to $105)

A struck-through error happens when foreign material gets trapped between the die and planchet during striking. Grease — press lubricant pooling in the die’s recessed areas — is the most common culprit on modern nickels.

The result is a smooth, blank patch where design detail should be. On 2016 nickels, grease fills most often affect Jefferson’s hair detail on the obverse or the Monticello columns and windows on the reverse. Small grease fills are extremely common. What separates a $5 coin from a $105 coin is the size and placement of the affected area — wiping out half of Jefferson’s face is a different conversation from a tiny soft spot near the rim.

Value: In 2020, Heritage Auctions sold a 2016-P nickel graded MS64 with a struck-through grease error for $105. Minor fills on circulated nickels trade for $5–$25. Moderate fills covering a prominent design element push $30–$75 in uncirculated grades. Only dramatic fills affecting a large area of the design reach the $100+ range. The Heritage example had enough coverage to justify the price.

How to Identify: Look for a localized area where the design appears weak, mushy, or entirely absent — a smooth blank zone surrounded by otherwise normal detail. The boundaries should be relatively sharp, not a gradual fade.

Grease fills produce featureless, smooth patches. Don’t confuse with circulation wear, which spreads evenly across all high points. On 2016 nickels, check Jefferson’s hair above the ear and the Monticello columns — these are the most common grease fill locations because the die recesses are deepest there.

A struck-through creates a specific localized weakness. If the entire coin looks weak or mushy, you may be looking at an improperly annealed error instead — a different category covered later in this article. Fastest confirmation: sharply defined smooth zone surrounded by normal strike quality.

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3. 2016 Nickel “Scarface” Die Crack Error (Up to $105)

Die cracks form when the steel die fractures from repeated stress. Metal fills the fracture and transfers onto each coin as a thin raised line. Most die cracks are generic and barely worth a premium.

This one is different. On certain 2016-D nickels, a die crack runs across Jefferson’s cheek in a position that mimics the facial scar from the 1983 film Scarface. The pop-culture resemblance gave the variety its nickname and a built-in collector audience. Like the “Cat on the Roof” on 2016 Harpers Ferry quarters, the visual association transforms an ordinary die crack into a named collectible. The crack needs to cross the cheek in the right position — not every 2016-D die crack qualifies.

Value: In 2020, Heritage Auctions sold a 2016-D nickel graded MS62 with the “Scarface” die crack for $105. Generic die cracks on 2016 nickels without the Scarface positioning trade for $10–$40. The nickname drives the premium — a crack of identical size in a less interesting location would bring a fraction of that price. Scarface examples in higher MS grades push past $105.

How to Identify: Flip to the obverse of a 2016-D nickel and examine Jefferson’s right cheek under a loupe. The crack should run diagonally across the cheek area — roughly where Al Pacino’s character Tony Montana carries his scar.

The line should be raised, not recessed. Run your fingernail across it — a genuine die crack catches upward. Compare against known Scarface examples online, because positioning matters. A crack through Jefferson’s forehead or jawline doesn’t qualify.

Don’t confuse with a scratch, which cuts into the metal and shows displacement. The Scarface crack is raised with clean edges and consistent width. Fastest confirmation: raised diagonal line across Jefferson’s cheek on a 2016-D nickel, matching the known Scarface position.

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4. 2016 Nickel Die Chip Error (Up to $110)

Die chips form when small fragments break off the striking die’s surface. Metal fills the void during each strike, producing a raised blob on the finished coin — a lump of extra metal sitting on top of the design where it doesn’t belong.

On 2016 nickels, chips on Jefferson’s face or inside the letters of LIBERTY attract the most attention. Chips near Monticello’s columns on the reverse can also be collectible if they distort the architecture in a visually interesting way. Size and placement together determine value. A chip that plugs the loop of a letter or sits squarely on Jefferson’s nose gets more attention than one hiding near the rim.

Value: In 2017, a 2016-P nickel graded MS60 with a die chip error sold on eBay for $110. Small chips on circulated coins trade for $10–$40. Larger chips on prominent design elements push $40–$80 in uncirculated grades. Chips that create a recognizable shape or distort a major design feature — like one that gives Jefferson a “wart” on his nose — command the top end of the range.

How to Identify: Use a 5x loupe and scan for raised, irregular metal blobs that don’t belong to the original design. Die chips look like smooth, rounded bumps on top of the portrait, letters, or field.

Compare to a normal 2016 nickel side by side. The blob should be raised with smooth, rounded edges — it formed under striking pressure. Contact marks from other coins look scratched, gouged, or flat.

Run your fingernail across the suspect area. If it catches upward, that’s raised metal from the die. If it catches downward, it’s a ding. Fastest confirmation: smooth raised blob with the same luster as the surrounding coin.

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5. 2016 Nickel Indented Strike Error (Up to $115)

An indented strike occurs when two planchets enter the striking chamber simultaneously, stacked on top of each other. The bottom planchet receives a normal strike on its lower face, but its upper face gets blocked by the second planchet sitting on top.

Where the second planchet overlaps, the bottom coin shows a circular indentation — a dish-shaped depression with no design detail. The size of the indent depends on how much of the second planchet overlapped. On this 2016-D example, the indent covered a significant portion of one side, creating a dramatic half-blank-half-struck appearance. These are visually unusual errors because the circular depression has a clean boundary where the overlap ended.

Value: In 2017, Heritage Auctions sold a 2016-D nickel graded MS63 with an indented strike error for $115. Indented strikes on Jefferson nickels generally range from $50–$200 depending on the size of the indentation and overall grade. Larger indents covering more of the coin’s surface bring higher prices. The circular shape of the indented area is distinctive and photographs well, which helps at auction.

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

The boundary between the struck area and the indented area should be relatively sharp and curved, following the edge of the overlapping planchet. The opposite side of the coin should show a normal strike.

Don’t confuse with post-mint damage from a vise or tool, which creates irregular, non-circular depressions with scratches. An indented strike depression is smooth, circular, and shows no tooling marks. Weigh the coin — 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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6. 2016 Nickel Doubled Die Reverse Error (Up to $200)

A doubled die occurs when the hub impresses its design onto the working die at slightly different positions during manufacturing. Every coin struck by that die inherits the same overlapping design.

The 2016-P nickel is one of the most prolific modern dates for DDR varieties — over 20 confirmed WDDR listings exist in the Wexler files, numbered WDDR-001 through WDDR-022. The doubling concentrates on the reverse inscriptions: MONTICELLO, FIVE CENTS, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, and E PLURIBUS UNUM. The WDDR-002 “Best Of” variety shows the strongest, most visible doubling and commands the highest premiums. This cluster of varieties makes 2016-P the go-to date for DDR collectors in the modern Jefferson series.

Value: No specific 2016 DDR has sold as a major auction headline lot with a confirmed five-figure hammer price. Attributed and graded examples of common WDDR varieties (001–022) trade for $20–$200 depending on the specific variety and grade. The WDDR-002 “Best Of” variety is estimated at $100–$500+ when properly attributed by a major grading service. Raw, unattributed examples bring significantly less — proper WDDR attribution is what unlocks the value.

How to Identify: Use at least 10x magnification and focus on the reverse inscriptions. Check MONTICELLO letter by letter — the doubling appears as split serifs or notching at the tops and bottoms of individual letters. Also examine FIVE CENTS, E PLURIBUS UNUM, and UNITED STATES for secondary outlines.

True DDR doubling shows rounded, separated secondary images with depth. The critical trap is machine doubling, which is rampant on 2016 nickels and worth nothing. Machine doubling creates a flat, shelf-like shadow pushed uniformly to one side of all raised lettering.

The difference: DDR notching is rounded and appears at specific diagnostic points only. Machine doubling is flat and affects everything uniformly. Cross-reference your coin against Wexler WDDR listings at doubleddie.com. Fastest confirmation: rounded split serifs on MONTICELLO letters matching a known WDDR variety position.

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7. 2016 Nickel Off-Center Strike with Partial Collar Error (Up to $220)

This coin carries two errors from a single malfunctioning press. The planchet wasn’t properly seated, so the die struck off-center — leaving a crescent of blank metal. Simultaneously, the collar was mispositioned, adding a partial collar ridge along part of the edge.

Each error alone would be collectible. Together, they document a press that failed in multiple ways at once. The off-center portion shows unstruck planchet where design should be, while the collar misalignment left an irregular edge profile — compressed on one section, expanded on another. Since nickels have a plain edge, the partial collar manifests as a raised ridge or step rather than the reeded-to-smooth transition seen on dimes.

Value: In 2018, a 2016-P nickel graded MS65 with an off-center strike and partial collar combination error sold on eBay for $220. Standalone off-center nickels under 10% trade for $20–$50. Standalone partial collars bring $30–$75. The combination of both on a single coin pushed this example above either category’s typical range. The MS65 grade and visible date helped as well.

How to Identify: Look for two features on one coin. First, a crescent of blank metal where the design should be — that’s the off-center component. Second, an irregular edge profile with a raised step or ridge — that’s the partial collar.

Since nickels have a plain edge, the partial collar won’t show the reeded-to-smooth transition you’d see on a dime. Instead, look for a raised lip or step visible from the side — an uneven edge profile that changes as you rotate the coin.

Don’t confuse with a simple off-center, which has no edge anomaly, or a standalone partial collar, which has no blank crescent. This error shows both simultaneously. Fastest confirmation: blank planchet crescent plus a visible edge step on the same coin.

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8. 2016 Nickel Improperly Annealed Error (Up to $255)

Before striking, metal planchets go through annealing — a heat treatment that softens them for proper die impression. When the temperature or duration is wrong, the planchet’s surface chemistry changes, producing unusual colors and a disrupted metallic structure.

On 2016 nickels, improperly annealed examples range from mild discoloration to the dramatic “Black Beauty” variety — coins that come out nearly charcoal black from severe annealing failure. Denver-minted 2016 nickels are the primary source for Black Beauties. The most extreme version is a “sintered” planchet, where the annealing went so wrong that the metal partially fused or decomposed, creating a dark, rough, almost porous surface. Jefferson nickels are particularly prone to annealing errors because the 75/25 copper-nickel alloy is sensitive to temperature fluctuations.

Value: In 2018, a 2016-P nickel graded MS60 with an improperly annealed sintered planchet error sold on eBay for $255. A milder improperly annealed example sold online in 2020 for $130. “Black Beauty” specimens — the charcoal-colored Denver variety — trade for $5–$20 raw and $20–$100+ certified. The sintered version commands the highest prices because the visual difference from a normal nickel is dramatic and unmistakable.

How to Identify: Check the overall color. Improperly annealed nickels display unusual hues: gray, black, purple, yellow, or reddish tones instead of the standard silver-gray. Black Beauties are the most recognizable — the entire coin looks like it was dipped in charcoal.

The surface texture often differs from a normal nickel. Annealed errors may appear matte, grainy, or rough under magnification rather than showing normal mint luster. On sintered examples, the surface can look almost porous — tiny voids or roughness visible under 10x.

Weigh it: should still be 5.00 grams since the planchet is correct, just improperly heated. Don’t confuse with environmental toning or chemical damage, which typically shows uneven coloration with a natural patina. Annealing errors produce uniform discoloration from the manufacturing process. Fastest confirmation: uniform unusual color across the entire coin with abnormal surface texture, at correct weight.

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9. 2016 Nickel Lamination Error (Up to $435)

Lamination errors originate in the planchet itself. When impurities, gas pockets, or moisture contaminate the metal during strip manufacturing, the planchet develops internal weaknesses that cause the surface to crack, peel, or flake.

On nickels, the solid 75/25 copper-nickel alloy can develop lamination faults when contaminants get trapped during the rolling process. Unlike zinc pennies — where moisture between the copper plating and zinc core accelerates failure — nickel laminations come from structural defects within the alloy itself. The result is visible peeling, bubbling, or missing flakes on the coin’s surface. On this 2016-P example, the lamination affected a large portion of the obverse, with metal visibly separating in layers — dramatic enough to justify the highest price any 2016 nickel error has achieved at auction.

Value: In 2020, GreatCollections auctioned a 2016-P nickel graded MS63 with an obverse lamination error for $435 — the highest confirmed price for any 2016 nickel error. Single-side lamination on circulated nickels trades for $30–$100. Large peels on uncirculated coins push $100–$435. The more dramatic the separation and the higher the grade, the more the coin brings. Retained flaps — where the metal is still attached but lifting — photograph well and attract competitive bidding.

How to Identify: Look for areas where the surface appears to be peeling, bubbling, or flaking away. The affected area may show a thin metal flap lifting from the surface, or a bare patch where material has already separated.

Examine the exposed area underneath. On a genuine lamination, the interior looks rough and fibrous — the inside of the alloy was never meant to be a surface. The separation follows the metal’s internal structure, not a clean geometric line.

Don’t confuse with environmental corrosion, which creates uniform surface degradation. Lamination peels are localized and follow the planchet’s internal grain. Also distinguish from post-mint damage — intentional scraping shows tool marks and directional scratches. Lamination separations are organic in shape with rough, fibrous exposed layers. Fastest confirmation: metal actively peeling or separated in a flap, with rough fibrous interior visible underneath.

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Conclusion

The 2016 nickel error spectrum runs from $20 clipped planchets at the low end to a $435 lamination that tops the year’s auction records. The middle tier — Scarface die cracks, Black Beauty annealing errors, and the 20-plus DDR varieties — gives this date more personality than most modern nickels. The DDR story alone makes 2016-P worth checking with a loupe. A 10x magnifier covers the variety checks, and a digital scale handles the weight-based errors.