1962 Nickel Coin Value: Errors List, “D” & No Mint Mark Worth

1962 Nickel value ranges from $0.05 face value to $21,150. Heritage Auctions sold a Grade 67 example for that record price in August 2013. Curious what yours might fetch — use the photo tool below to get your value range fast. You can also scroll down to see the latest 1962 Nickel sales on eBay.

 

1962 Nickel Value By Variety

Philadelphia and Denver both struck Jefferson nickels in 1962. What your coin is worth comes down to the mint mark, condition, and whether it has any special strike qualities or errors.

If you know the grade of your coin, you can find the exact price below in the Value Guides section.

Also Read: Top 100 Most Valuable Jefferson Nickels Worth Money List (1938-Present)

 

Top 10 Most Valuable 1962 Nickel Worth Money

The #1 coin on this list is a 1962 Full Steps graded MS67+ that hammered for $21,150 at Heritage Auctions in August 2013. It’s the only example PCGS has ever slabbed at that grade. One coin, one holder, no competition — that’s what drove the price.

Here’s the twist: that same coin resold through Stack’s Bowers in 2021 for $9,600. Still serious money, but a reminder that even top-pop coins aren’t immune to market swings. The second-highest sale is a 1962-D MS65 Full Steps at $3,525, with another MS65 FS Denver piece pulling $1,500 at Heritage.

Even without Full Steps, high-grade Philly coins do well. A 1962 MS66 brought $1,955 at Bowers & Merena. On the proof side, a PR69 DCAM hit $1,650 at Heritage in 2022. The Full Steps designation is the real multiplier here — a non-FS coin at MS67 guides around $3,750 through PCGS, but an FS coin at the same grade? Ten times that.

 

History Of The 1962 Nickel

By 1962, the Jefferson nickel had been in production for 24 years. The series launched in 1938 after the Buffalo Nickel’s mandatory 25-year design run expired.

President Roosevelt pushed for the change during his second term in 1937, using the 25-year rule to skip Congressional approval. He wanted to honor Thomas Jefferson. The Mint held an open competition, and over 390 artists submitted designs.

Felix Schlag, a German-born sculptor, won and took home a $1,000 prize. He based his obverse portrait on Jean-Antoine Houdon’s famous bust of Jefferson. But the Mint rejected his original three-quarter view of Monticello and made him redo it as the straight-on front elevation you see today.

The 1962 nickel is 75% copper and 25% nickel. No silver. Silver only appeared in “War Nickels” from 1942 to 1945. By 1962, the standard alloy had been back for nearly 17 years.

Two mints handled production that year. Philadelphia struck 97,384,000 coins with no mint mark. Denver cranked out 280,195,720 bearing a “D” on the reverse. The Mint also produced 3,218,019 Proof nickels at Philadelphia, sold to collectors in annual proof sets.

One fun detail: Schlag’s initials “FS” didn’t appear on the coin in 1962. The Mint didn’t add them below Jefferson’s portrait until 1966 — almost three decades after his design debuted.

Also Read: Top 60+ Most Valuable Buffalo Nickels Worth Money

 

Is Your 1962 Nickel Rare?

Here’s what catches people off guard: the Denver coin had nearly three times the mintage of Philadelphia, yet it’s actually harder to find in top grades. Denver’s dies were run hard, so clean, well-struck survivors are scarce. Full Steps Denver coins above MS65 are genuinely rare — only about 400 certified by PCGS. And Deep Cameo proofs? Barely 10% of the original proof run qualifies. That makes DCAM the scarcest 1962 variety by survival rate, even though proofs were babied from day one. For a detailed evaluation of your coin’s rarity and potential value, use our Coin Identifier and Value App.

 

Key Features Of The 1962 Nickel

The 1962 Jefferson nickel uses Felix Schlag’s original 1938 design with the standard cupronickel specs. Here’s what to look for when you’re examining one.

The Obverse Of The 1962 Nickel

Jefferson faces left. Schlag modeled the portrait after Jean-Antoine Houdon’s bust, which Jefferson himself commissioned while serving as U.S. Minister to France.

“LIBERTY” arches along the right side. “IN GOD WE TRUST” sits on the left. The date 1962 appears to the right of Jefferson’s portrait, with a small five-pointed star separating it from “LIBERTY.”

You won’t find Schlag’s initials on this coin. The Mint didn’t add his “FS” below Jefferson’s portrait until 1966. That makes pre-1966 nickels look slightly different from later issues — something worth noting if you’re comparing coins side by side.

The Reverse Of The 1962 Nickel

Flip it over and you’ll see Monticello, Jefferson’s Virginia estate near Charlottesville. Schlag originally drew a three-quarter view with trees, but the Mint rejected it and demanded the straight-on architectural view used today.

“MONTICELLO” appears below the building. “E PLURIBUS UNUM” arcs across the top, “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” curves along the bottom rim, and “FIVE CENTS” sits between them.

Look to the right of Monticello for the mint mark — a “D” means Denver. Now look at the steps leading up to the entrance. That’s the money zone. Five or six fully separated steps earn the coin a Full Steps (FS) designation. Weak steps are extremely common on 1962 Denver coins, which is why FS examples carry such a premium.

Other Features Of The 1962 Nickel

No silver here. The 1962 nickel is 75% copper and 25% nickel, weighing 5.0 grams with a diameter of 21.21 millimeters. Unlike dimes or quarters, it has a plain, smooth edge — no reeding. You can identify it by feel alone in a pocket full of change.

Also Read: Top 100 Rarest Nickels Worth Money (Most Expensive)

 

1962 Nickel Mintage & Survival Data

Over 380 million 1962 nickels were struck across all varieties. Denver produced 280,195,720 — roughly 74% of all business strikes. Philadelphia added 97,384,000 circulation coins plus 3,218,019 proofs.

PCGS estimates about 78 million Philadelphia nickels still exist. For Denver, roughly 225 million survive in all grades. That sounds like a lot, but only about 155,000 are Mint State, and just 30,000 of those qualify as Full Steps. To put that in perspective, for every 9,300 Denver nickels originally struck, only one survives today as an uncirculated Full Steps coin.

PCGS has certified just one 1962-D at MS67 in standard grade — valued at $5,000 in their price guide. At MS65 Full Steps, only about 400 Denver coins are known. That’s officially rare.

Proof survival tells a different story. Standard proofs survive at about 49.72% of original mintage, roughly 1,720,000 coins. Cameo proofs drop to 18.6% survival. Deep Cameo? Just over 10%. That makes DCAM the scarcest 1962 nickel variety by survival percentage.

Also Read: Jefferson Nickel Value (1938-Present)

 

The Easy Way to Know Your 1962 Nickel Value

Grading a 1962 nickel yourself can be difficult. Professionals look for tiny details, like the fullness of the steps on Monticello, that can change the value from five cents to hundreds of dollars. To simplify this complex evaluation and understand your coin’s grade, use our guided Coin Identifier and Value App.

 

1962 Nickel Value Guides

Below you’ll find detailed values for all five 1962 nickel varieties. Circulating coins (No Mint Mark and D-Mint) trade on a different scale than collector-grade Proofs, and the Cameo and Deep Cameo designations carry the biggest premiums of all.

A quick note on grading services: PCGS (Professional Coin Grading Service) and NGC (Numismatic Guaranty Company) are the two most trusted names in the hobby. A slabbed coin from either service comes in a tamper-evident holder showing the grade on a 1-to-70 scale. MS means Mint State — zero wear.

 

1962 No Mint Mark Nickel Value

Most people assume the Philadelphia coin is the common one. In circulated grades, they’re right — 97,384,000 were struck and worn examples are worth face value. But at the top of the grading scale, Philly coins actually hold the biggest auction records of any 1962 nickel.

PCGS estimates about 78 million survive today across all grades. That still leaves plenty of raw coins in junk boxes. The real action starts in gem uncirculated territory with sharp strikes.

The all-time record was set at Heritage Auctions on August 8, 2013, when an MS67+ Full Steps example sold for $21,150. It’s the only coin PCGS has certified at that grade. That same coin resurfaced at Stack’s Bowers and brought $9,600 in 2021 — still strong, but a good example of how even top-pop coins can fluctuate. A non-FS MS66 also reached $1,955 at Bowers & Merena, proving you don’t always need Full Steps to get a serious price.

This auction record chart further demonstrates the high values collectors will pay for the finest-known specimens.

The coin’s market activity, in turn, shows how frequently it is traded among collectors today.

Market activity score: 50/100 as of Oct 2026 — up 6 points from Jul 2026. 12-month peak: 53 (Jan 2026).

 

1962-D Nickel Value

Can you find a gem 1962-D with Full Steps? Good luck. With 280,195,720 struck, this is the most plentiful 1962 nickel by a wide margin — but Denver’s dies were run hard and struck weak. Well-defined reverse detail is genuinely uncommon on these coins.

NGC separates 5 Full Steps from 6 Full Steps (a distinction added in 2004), and 6FS coins carry an extra premium. PCGS estimates about 30,000 Full Steps specimens survive in Mint State. At MS65 FS, only about 400 are known. That’s a completely different kind of rare compared to the raw mintage number.

Only one 1962-D has been certified at MS67 by PCGS in standard grade. Price guide value: $5,000. The auction record for a Full Steps Denver coin is $3,525 for an MS65 FS, and a 1962-D MS66 reached $1,500 at Heritage Auctions. Some MS65 Full Steps Denver coins even show semi-proof-like reflectivity in the fields — an unusual trait you don’t expect from Denver’s production line.

The following auction chart illustrates the significant price jump for high-grade examples.

This market activity data reveals the coin’s current trading popularity and volume.

Market activity score: 50/100 as of Oct 2026 — up 3 points from Jul 2026. Currently at its 12-month peak.

 

1962 Proof Nickel Value

A single hairline scratch can cost you hundreds of dollars on one of these. That’s the reality with proof nickels — they were struck on polished dies with carefully prepared planchets, giving them mirror-like fields and razor-sharp detail. But that same mirror surface shows every flaw.

1962 CAM Nickel Value

If you’re cherrypicking raw proof sets from 1962, Cameo coins are what you’re hunting. The CAM designation goes to proofs showing a frosted, satiny finish on the raised devices — Jefferson’s portrait, Monticello — contrasting against the mirror-like fields.

That frost only shows up on coins struck early in a die’s life. Once the die has been used a while, the frosty texture wears off and you get a standard proof. That’s why only about 18.6% of the original 1962 proof mintage survives at Cameo quality.

The auction record for a 1962 CAM nickel is $550, achieved in 2019 for a PR69 CAM specimen. Not huge money compared to DCAM, but a nice bump over standard proofs.

The table of recent auction results demonstrates a clear trend: as the certified grade increases, so does the coin’s value.

This market activity chart reveals fluctuating sales volume, showing how collector demand for this coin varies from month to month.

Market activity score: 40/100 as of Oct 2026 — unchanged since Jul 2026. 12-month peak: 50 (Aug 2026).

 

1962 DCAM Nickel Value

I think the 1962 DCAM is the sleeper of this entire year. Deep Cameo means heavy, snow-white frost on the devices against jet-black mirror fields. The contrast is dramatic — you know it when you see it.

This effect only happened on the very first strikes from brand-new dies. After a handful of coins, the frost faded and you got Cameo or plain proof finishes instead. Only about 10% of the original 1962 proof mintage reaches Deep Cameo quality. That makes it the scarcest 1962 nickel variety by survival percentage.

The auction record is $1,650, set at Heritage Auctions in 2022 for a PR69 DCAM. A second PR69 DCAM brought $1,560 at Heritage in June 2022. Earlier results include $1,020 for a PR69 DCAM in 2020. If you find one raw in an old proof set, get it slabbed.

This auction data illustrates the sharp increase in value for top-grade Deep Cameo specimens.

This market activity data plots the sales frequency, showing the month-to-month changes in collector demand.

Market activity score: 35/100 as of Oct 2026 — unchanged since Jul 2026. Currently at its 12-month peak.

Also Read: 22 Rare Nickel Errors List with Pictures (By Year)

 

Rare 1962 Nickel Error List

No major cataloged varieties exist for the 1962 nickel, but several error types can push values past $1,600. These are minting mistakes — and they’re worth looking for.

1. Doubled Die (DDO or DDR)

A doubled die happens when the die receives the design impression more than once with a slight shift between strikes. Every coin from that die then shows doubling on the affected area.

On 1962 nickels, check the date, “IN GOD WE TRUST,” and the reverse inscriptions. A Doubled Die Reverse (DDR) showing doubling on “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” “FIVE CENTS,” or “E PLURIBUS UNUM” can bring $50 for a minor example up to $200 or more for a strongly spread variety. The best-spread reverse doubled dies — sometimes called “Best Of” varieties — command the highest premiums, especially above MS63.

2. 1962 Nickel Struck on Wrong Planchet (Off-Metal Error)

This is the big one. A wrong planchet error happens when a blank disc meant for another denomination accidentally enters the nickel press and gets struck with nickel dies.

A 1962-D Jefferson nickel struck on a Lincoln cent planchet (copper-alloy, weighing about 3.1 grams instead of the normal 5 grams) sold for $1,610 in MS64 RB at Heritage Auctions in 2010. That same coin resold for $1,560 at Heritage in 2021. A separate 1962 nickel on a cent planchet graded MS64 Brown brought $1,050 at Heritage Auctions in 2020.

You can spot this error immediately. The coin looks copper-colored, feels lighter than normal, and measures slightly smaller in diameter.

3. Repunched Mint Mark (RPM)

Before 1990, mint marks were punched into each die by hand. If the worker didn’t nail the placement on the first try, they’d punch it again — sometimes at a slightly different angle or position. That’s a Repunched Mint Mark, or RPM.

On a 1962-D nickel, look to the right of Monticello for a split, doubled, or secondary “D.” You’ll usually need a 5x to 10x loupe to see it clearly. RPM varieties range from $25 for minor examples to over $100 for dramatic repunchings with strong secondary images.

4. Off-Center Strike

When the planchet doesn’t seat properly in the press before striking, the design shifts to one side. You get a blank, unstruck crescent of metal on the opposite edge.

The key for value: can you still read the full date and mint mark? If yes, collectors pay more. A 1962 nickel struck 20-30% off-center with a visible date typically brings $75 to $150 in mid-grades. More dramatic shifts can bring several hundred dollars.

5. Lamination Error (Split Planchet)

Impurities in the metal alloy can cause the coin’s surface to crack, peel, or split during or after striking. You might see flaking, a large void where metal separated, or in extreme cases a coin that split into two thin wafers.

These show up more often on solid alloy coins like nickels and cents. A set of four 1962 Jefferson nickels with obverse and/or reverse lamination errors sold for $161 at Heritage Auctions in 2010. Individual examples with significant lamination bring $40 to $70 or more depending on size and visual impact.

6. Die Breaks and Cuds

Dies crack under repeated high-pressure strikes. Those cracks show up as raised, irregular lines on every coin struck afterward. When a piece of the die breaks off entirely — usually at the rim — you get a raised blob of metal called a “cud” on the finished coin.

Cuds are the more dramatic and collectible form. Bigger cuds that eat into the design bring more money. Minor die cracks on 1962 nickels add modest premiums, while prominent cuds touching the rim can bring $50 to $150 or more.

 

Where To Sell Your 1962 Nickel?

Once you’ve assessed your coins’ value, the next question is where to sell them online with ease. I’ve gathered information on the top selling sites, including their features, strengths, and weaknesses.

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

 

1962 Nickel Market Trend

Market interest: 18,970 collectors tracking this coin as of Oct 2026 — up 1,000 from Mar 2026. 12-month peak: 19,240 (Jan 2026).

*Market Trend Chart showing the number of people paying attention to this coin.

 

FAQ About The 1962 Nickel Value

1. Is a 1962 nickel worth anything?

Most circulated examples are worth five cents. Mintages were huge. But condition changes everything — a 1962 MS67+ Full Steps sold for $21,150 at Heritage Auctions in 2013. Proofs and error coins also carry real premiums.

2. How much is a 1962 nickel worth in 2026?

A worn one? Face value. Uncirculated examples (MS60-MS64) run about $2 to $15. Gem MS65 coins without special designations bring $15 to $55. Full Steps specimens at MS65 command $55 to several hundred dollars depending on the mint, and the finest known MS67+ FS has an auction history of $21,150 (2013) and $9,600 (2021).

3. What does “Full Steps” mean on a 1962 nickel?

Full Steps (FS) means five or six of the steps at the base of Monticello are fully separated, sharply defined, and unbroken by contact marks or weak strike. NGC has separately distinguished 5FS and 6FS since 2004.

Getting FS requires a strong original strike. Denver coins from 1962 are notoriously mushy in the step area, making FS examples much rarer and more valuable than non-FS at the same grade.

4. Where is the mint mark on a 1962 nickel?

On the reverse, to the right of Monticello near the rim. A “D” means Denver. No mark means Philadelphia — Philly didn’t use a “P” on nickels during this era.

5. How do I tell a 1962 proof nickel from a regular one?

Hold it at an angle. A proof has deeply mirrored fields — you can see your reflection. Business strikes look duller and more satin-like. Proofs also have sharper, frosted-looking design details and squared-off lettering edges.

Never rub or clean a proof. Even light contact causes hairline scratches that tank the grade and value.

6. What 1962 nickel errors are most valuable?

The wrong planchet error leads the pack. A 1962-D nickel struck on a Lincoln cent planchet sold for $1,610 at Heritage Auctions in 2010 and reappeared for $1,560 in 2021. Doubled Die Reverse (DDR) errors range from $50 to $200+. Off-center strikes with full dates visible bring $75 to $150+. Repunched Mint Marks (RPM) on the Denver coin are worth $25 to $100+.

7. Why are 1962-D nickels harder to find in top grades than Philadelphia coins?

Denver ran heavily worn dies across massive production runs in 1962. The result: weaker strikes, more bag marks, and poorly defined Monticello steps. That’s why 1962-D coins above MS65 are extremely scarce — PCGS has certified only one at MS67 — and why Full Steps Denver coins above MS65 are classified as rare, with only about 400 certified examples known at MS65 FS.

8. Is a 1962 nickel silver?

No. It’s 75% copper and 25% nickel. Silver only appeared in “War Nickels” from 1942-1945. By 1962, the standard copper-nickel alloy had been back for 17 years. You can verify by weight: a genuine 1962 nickel weighs exactly 5.0 grams.

9. What is a 1962 Proof Deep Cameo (DCAM) nickel worth?

A DCAM proof shows heavy, dramatic frosting on the design against mirror-like fields. Only about 10% of the proof mintage qualifies. The confirmed auction record is $1,650 for a PR69 DCAM, sold at Heritage Auctions in 2022. Lower DCAM grades (PR64-PR67) are much more affordable, typically selling for $20 to $100.

10. Did Felix Schlag sign the 1962 nickel?

No. His initials (“FS”) didn’t appear on any Jefferson nickel until 1966, when the Mint added them below Jefferson’s portrait. All 1962 nickels lack Schlag’s signature regardless of mint.

Here’s a common mix-up: beginners sometimes confuse the designer’s “FS” initials on post-1966 coins with the “Full Steps” grading designation. Completely different things. The initials are on the obverse; Full Steps refers to the reverse.