1949 Nickel Coin Value (Errors List, “D”, “S” & No Mint Mark Worth)

Is the 1949 nickel worth anything? Will collecting 1949 nickels pay off? If you’re building a Jefferson nickels collection and are curious whether 1949 nickels are worth adding to your set, you’ve come to the right place!

Our 1949 nickel value guide breaks down everything you need to know including, the coin’s history, fascinating features, and tips for grading your nickels. We’ll also uncover errors that can significantly boost the value of your 1949 Jefferson nickel.

So, let’s jump in discover: what is a 1949 nickel worth?

1949 Nickel Value Chart
Mint Mark	Good	Fine	Extremely Fine	Uncirculated
1949-No Mint Mark Nickel Value	$0.10	$0.10	$0.25	$825
1949-D Nickel Value	$0.10	$0.10	$0.20	$800
1949-S Nickel Value	$0.10	$0.10	$0.20	$110

 

History of the 1949 Nickel

The 1949 nickel is part of the Jefferson nickels series, first minted in 1938, replacing the Buffalo nickel. By then, the United States Mint had already struck the Buffalo nickel for 25 years, making it possible to change the coin’s design without needing Congressional approval.

In late January 1938, the Mint announced a competition, inviting artists to propose designs for the new nickels. The winner would receive a $1,000 cash prize. The new nickel design was to feature Jefferson’s portrait on the obverse and his Monticello home on the reverse.

After reviewing entries, the Mint chose Felix Schlag as the winner. Schlag’s Jefferson’s portrait was inspired by that designed by sculptor Jean-Antoine Houdon. The Mint required a few changes to Schlag’s designs before submitting them to the Commission of Fine Arts for their recommendation. After the Commission gave its final nod, the Secretary of the Treasury, Henry Morgenthau gave his approval and coining of the new Jefferson nickels began.

Coining of the Jefferson nickels began in early October 1938. All three mints at Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco, produced the new Jefferson nickels. The Philadelphia Mint also released proof coins. After production and for much of the early 1940s, the Jefferson nickel was extensively hoarded and these coins were not commonly seen in circulation.

In 1939, the Mint sharpened the hub for the nickel, making the Monticello steps more visible. Since then, Jefferson nickels with all five or six steps visible—also known as “Full Step”, nickels—have been popular and sought-after by collector.

The 1949 isn’t considered a key date but it can still be a solid addition for anyone looking to complete their Jefferson nickels collection. All three Mints recorded relatively high mintages, making the 1949 nickel quite common, especially in circulated condition. Many coins have a weak strike due to the extensive use of worn dies, making Mint State or well-struck coins genuinely rare.

Also read: Top 10 Most Valuable Nickels Worth Money

 

Features of the 1949 Nickel

Let’s now look at some key details that will help you identify Jefferson nickels worth money.

Obverse of the 1949 Nickel

The frontside of the 1949 nickel features a left-facing profile of Thomas Jefferson.

The word “LIBERTY” and the date 1949, appear along the coin’s right edge while the motto, IN GOD WE TRUST, is etched along the left.

Reverse of the 1949 Nickel

On the reverse is Jefferson’s iconic home, known as the Monticello with the word “MONTICELLO” directly below it.  This is followed by the coin’s denomination spelled out as “FIVE CENTS.”

Above the building and along the coin’s edge is the Latin phrase, “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” which means, “Out of many, one.”

The words, “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” are etched along the bottom edge.

Other Features of the 1949 Nickel

Additional features of the 1949 nickel are:

• Diameter:2mm
• Weight:0 grams
• Metal composition: 75% Copper, 25% Nickel
• Edge: Plain

Also read: Top 17 Most Valuable Buffalo Nickel Worth Money

 

1949 Nickel Grading

Understanding how to grade your nickels can help you know what to expect in terms of value, whether you are selling or buying a 1949 Jefferson nickel. Key features to pay attention to are: luster, inscriptions, Jefferson’s portrait, and features of the Monticello.

Here’s a concise guide:

 Good: A 1949 nickel graded as Good (G-4) will be heavily worn. Features such as the Monticello’s dome, pillars and staircase, and Jefferson’s forehead and hair are flattened. The inscriptions may be readable but are largely flat and smooth.

Fine: In Fine (F-12) condition, your 1949 nickel will be moderately worn but some of the details will still be visible. Smaller details such as the stairs, doors and windows of the Monticello will be worn and flat. There will be an outline, albeit a weak one, around Jefferson’s profile and the Monticello.

Extremely Fine: An Extremely Fine (XF) 1949 nickel will have only slight wear and most of the details on the obverse and reverse will be intact. The wear is mostly noticeable on high points such as Jefferson’s hair and cheekbone, and Monticello’s dome and pillars.

Uncirculated: Uncirculated (MS60-MS70) 1949 Jefferson nickels will have sharp details on both sides of the coin, original mint luster, and no signs of contact marks or scratches. Those with full steps on the Monticello are highly sought-after and sell for a premium.

#	Grade
1	Basal State-1
2	Fair
3	Very Fair
4, 5, 6	Good
7, 8, 10	Very Good
12, 15	Fine
20, 30	Very Fine
40	Extremely Fine
50	About Uncirculated
60	Mint State
65	Mint State
70	Mint State

Please check our grading guides to know your coin scale, It’s the necessary step to know the exact value of your coin.

Check out now: How to Grade Jefferson Nickel?

 

1949 Nickel Value Guides

So, what is the value of a 1949 Jefferson nickel? This will depend on its mintage, rarity, mintmark, and coin’s condition.

We’ll look at the three varieties of the 1949 nickel, each of which has its own market value. The three are:

• 1949 No Mint Mark Nickel
• 1949-D Nickel
• 1949-S Nickel

Now, let’s explore how much each coin is worth.

1949 No-Mint mark Nickel Value

With a mintage of 60, 652,000 the Philadelphia Mint produced the most 1949 nickels. Despite the high mintage, well-truck no-mintmark nickels are surprisingly scarce. The majority of the coins show heavy signs of wear and a weak strike, which can be attributed to the use of worn dies at the Philadelphia mint.

Here’s a breakdown of the value of 1949 no-mintmark nickels:

• Circulated examples: These are plentiful and will fetch between $0.10 and $1.75, only slightly more than face value. Circulated examples, in this case are graded from Good (G) to About Uncirculated (AU58).
• Uncirculated examples: In lower grades, these nickels are equally affordable, with prices ranging between $2.25 and $7.50 for MS60-MS63, and up to $825 for an MS67.
• Auction record: In 2023, Legend Rare Coin Auctions sold an MS67 for an impressive $3,634. A rare “full steps” graded MS66+ was auctioned on eBay in 2021 for a whopping $7,695.

1949-D Nickel Value

Next, we’ll look at the 1949-D nickel, which had the second-highest mintage of 36,498,000. These coins, too, display a weak strike, attributable to the extensive use of worn dies throughout the entire coining process.

Higher-grade Mint State examples are scarce and full steps are genuinely rare. The 1949 D/S variety stands out in this series; this overmintmark variety is highly-sought after and often fetches premium prices.

So how much is a 1949-D nickel worth? Here’s what to expect:

• Circulated examples: Circulated 1949-D nickels are affordable across the entire spectrum, selling for between $0.10 and $1.75.
• Mint State: Uncirculated examples are rare in all grades but more so in higher Mint State. Between MS60 and MS63, expect $2.25 to $6.50. Gem-quality examples are truly rare, with an MS67 fetching as much as $800.
• Auction record: In 2006, Heritage Auctions sold an MS67 for a record-breaking $8,625.

1949-S Nickel Value

With 9, 716,00 coins produced, the San Francisco Mint had the lowest mintage of the 1949 regular-strike nickels. Collectors hoarded many of the 1949-S nickels, making Mint State examples more common than nickels from the other two Mints.

That said, 1949-S nickels with a full strike are scarce, once again due to the use of worn dies. The Mint did try to repolish the dies, as is evidenced by the luster, smooth fields, and isolated spots of over-polishing on these coins. Proof-like coins are exceptionally hard to come across.

Here are the values of circulated and uncirculated 1949 nickels:

• Circulated examples: These are easy to find and are equally affordable. From grades Good to About Uncirculated, expect prices of between $0.10 and $2.25.
• Uncirculated examples: Mint State examples are more common despite the low mintage. Coins graded MS60 to MS63 will fetch as much as $2.75 to $7.50 while an MS67 can sell for up to $110.
• Auction record: Heritage Auctions sold an MS67 “full steps” nickel in 2014 for an impressive $15,275. A regular 1949-S graded MS67 was auctioned on eBay in 2021 for a record-breaking $1,557.

Also read: Top 17 Most Valuable Jefferson Nickels Worth Money

 

Rare 1949 Nickel Errors List

Several noteworthy minting errors show up in the 1949 nickels series. These errors can significantly increase the value of your nickel and are therefore worth watching for.

1. 1949 D over S Nickel Error

The D over S overmintmark is the most popular error in the series. As the name suggests, this is an error in which the mintmark D is punched over an existing mintmark S. Usually, the mintmark that is punched first appears thinner and smaller than the one punched on top of it.

An overmintmark error occurs when Mint workers attempt to remove the first mintmark from the working die, replacing it with the second mintmark, perhaps due to a shortage of working dies or due to a genuine mistake by the engraver. Sometimes, this can leave traces of the original mintmark, an effect that can be seen on the final coin.

On some 1949-D nickels, you might notice traces of the S mintmark underneath the D mintmark. The most expensive 1949 D/S nickel variety graded MS67, was sold by Heritage Auctions for $2,585.

2. 1949 Rim Cud Nickel Error

Another error you might come across when collecting 1949 nickels is the rim cud. This error occurs when a piece breaks off along the die’s edge leaving a gap that’s gradually filled with metal as the die continues striking.

Eventually, the metal-filled gap along the edge leaves its impression on the coin’s rim, resulting in a raised bump along the rim, known as a rim cud.

Depending on its size or shape, a rim cud can increase your nickels value by $10 to $50.

3. 1949 Missing Clad Nickel Error

The next error to watch for is the missing clad error. This type of lamination error occurs when the upper copper layer peels off, exposing the underlying nickel.

Lamination errors occur due to the presence of impurities in the metal alloy or improper mixing of the alloy during the planchet-making process. This causes a weak upper layer that easily peels, bubbles, or lifts, resulting in a missing clad layer error on one or both sides of the coin.

A missing clad layer error can increase the value of your nickel by as much as $20 to $100 depending on how much of the layer is missing.

4. 1949 Full Steps Nickel Error

The Full Steps variety is not necessarily a minting error. But so rare and valuable is it that the numismatic community considers it a variety of its own worth finding. Most 1949 nickels will not show the full 6 or 5 steps leading up to the Monticello—you should consider yourself lucky if you spot such a nickel! A 1949 nickel of the “full steps” variety will fetch hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars—so this is an “error” worth looking out for.

Also read: 14 Most Valuable Nickel Errors Worth Money

 

Where to Sell Your 1949 Jefferson Nickel?

Now that you know the value of your coins, do you know where to sell those coins online easily? Don’t worry, I’ve compiled a list of these sites, including their introduction, pros, and cons. 

Check out now: Best Places To Sell Coins Online (Pros & Cons)

 

FAQs

Is the 1949 nickel rare?

No, the 1949 nickel is not rare, especially in circulated grades. However, Mint State or uncirculated examples, particularly those showing “full steps” are harder to come by and are valuable.

What are full steps on a 1949 nickel?

Collectors use the term “full steps” to refer to Jefferson nickels in which the Monticello staircase on the reverse of the coin is visible. On most nickels, the staircase is not fully visible, making “full step” nickels very collectible.

Is the 1949 nickel worth collecting?

If you are keen on building a complete Jefferson nickel set, then the 1949 nickel can be a valuable addition to your collection. Mint State examples are rare and often sell for a premium; these will offer more value for money.