1964 Nickel Value Checker: Errors List, “D” & No Mint Mark Worth

1964 Nickel value ranges from $0.05 face value to $32,900. A Grade 68 Special Mint Set example hammered that price at Heritage Auctions in January 2016. If you think yours could be a high-grade specimen, drop a photo below for a quick value range. Then scroll down to see recent 1964 Nickel sales on eBay.

 

1964 Nickel Value By Variety

Here’s how the 1964 nickel breaks down by mint mark, condition, and special designation. If you already know your coin’s grade, jump to the **Value Guides** section below for exact pricing.

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

 

Top 10 Most Valuable 1964 Nickel Worth Money

The king of the 1964 nickels is an SMS SP68 FS that sold for $32,900 at Heritage Auctions in January 2016. That same coin had changed hands in 2009 for $8,625 — a 280% jump in just seven years. Whoever bought it in 2009 made out like a bandit.

Second place goes to a 1964 SMS SP67 FS at $22,800. The Repunched Mint Mark (D/D RPM) FS-501 error in MS66 grabbed $19,800 in July 2022. Regular-issue 1964 nickels without special designations range from $3,840 to $14,100 depending on grade and mint mark. One grade point can mean thousands of dollars on these top coins.

 

History of the 1964 Nickel

The Jefferson nickel debuted on October 3, 1938, replacing the Buffalo Nickel after its mandatory 25-year run. Designer Felix Schlag — born in Frankfurt, Germany, in 1891 and trained at the Munich University of Fine Arts — came to the U.S. in 1929 and beat out 390 other entries to win the design competition and a $1,000 prize.

His original reverse showed a three-quarter view of Monticello. The Federal Commission of Fine Arts nixed that and demanded a straight-on frontal view, giving us the design we know today. Schlag never put his initials on the coin. The tiny “FS” below Jefferson’s portrait didn’t appear until 1966 — nearly three decades later.

Here’s a fun detail: at the ANA Convention in Cleveland in August 1964, Schlag himself addressed the Educational Forum while record numbers of coins bearing his design were rolling off presses across the country.

By 1964, the country was running out of coins. Vending machines, toll booths, and a booming economy were eating small change faster than the Mint could make it. Mint Director Eva Adams blamed collectors and hoarders publicly, though numismatic historians later showed she had it wrong.

Congress fought back with a “date freeze.” Nickels dated 1964 could be struck into 1965 and even 1966. Roughly 60% of all “1964” nickels were actually made in 1965. Of Denver’s massive total, only about 455 million were struck during calendar year 1964 — the remaining 1.33 billion came off the presses the following year.

Adams also pulled mint marks from all coins produced 1965 through 1967, so collectors couldn’t tell where coins came from. Mint marks returned in 1968. That makes the 1964 Jefferson nickel the last nickel to carry a mint mark for four years.

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

 

Is Your 1964 Nickel Rare?

Use the Coin Identifier and Value App to instantly identify your 1964 nickel’s rarity and current market value with just a quick photo scan.

 

Key Features of the 1964 Nickel

The 1964 Jefferson Nickel came out of one of the wildest periods in U.S. Mint history. Presses ran around the clock trying to keep up with demand for small change. Felix Schlag’s 1938 design was on every one of them.

The Obverse of the 1964 Nickel

Flip the coin to the heads side and you’ll see a left-facing profile of Thomas Jefferson, modeled after Jean-Antoine Houdon’s famous 1789 bust — a cast of which sits in Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts. His hair is tied back in a colonial pigtail, with his head nearly touching the upper rim.

“IN GOD WE TRUST” curves clockwise along the left rim, starting near Jefferson’s chest. On the right side, “LIBERTY” and the date “1964” run clockwise behind his portrait, separated by a small five-pointed star.

The Reverse of the 1964 Nickel

Turn it over and you get a straight-on frontal view of Monticello, Jefferson’s Virginia estate. This replaced Schlag’s original three-quarter angle after the Fine Arts Commission demanded the change.

Above the building sits “E PLURIBUS UNUM.” Below, “MONTICELLO” runs in a straight line, with “FIVE CENTS” and the arc of “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” underneath. Look to the right of Monticello for the mint mark — that same spot later became the home of Schlag’s “FS” initials starting in 1966.

Other Features of the 1964 Nickel

The 1964 Jefferson nickel is a round coin with a plain (smooth) edge. It weighs 5 grams and is composed of a copper-nickel alloy (75% copper and 25% nickel) — the same composition used since 1946. The coin measures 21.20 mm in diameter with a thickness of approximately 1.95 mm.

Don’t confuse it with the silver War Nickels struck from 1942 to 1945, which contained 35% silver. The 1964 nickel has no precious metal at all. Melt value is basically zero.

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

 

1964 Nickel Mintage & Survival Data

The 1964 Jefferson nickel holds the all-time mintage record for the series: nearly 2.8 billion coins between Philadelphia and Denver. Philadelphia struck 1,024,672,000 for circulation plus 3,950,762 proofs. Denver cranked out 1,787,297,160 — the highest single-year output for any nickel from any mint in U.S. history.

Here’s the twist. Of Denver’s total, only about 455 million were actually struck during 1964. The remaining 1.33 billion rolled off the presses in 1965 but carry the 1964 date thanks to the Congressional date freeze.

Survival rates sit around 80% for both regular strikes, so hundreds of millions still exist. Proofs tell a different story. Only about 42% survive in true proof condition. Cameo survivors drop to 23%. Deep Cameo? Just 14% of the original proof output.

The SMS Special Strikes are a completely different kind of rare. PCGS has certified just 19 examples, and Heritage Auctions estimates fewer than two dozen total are known across all grades. That’s it — maybe 24 coins in the whole world.

Also Read: Jefferson Nickel Value (1938-Present)

 

The Easy Way to Know Your 1964 Nickel Value

Start at the back of the coin. Count the steps at Monticello’s base — if you can see five or six completely unbroken, fully separated steps, you might have a “Full Steps” (FS) coin. That designation can multiply your value dramatically.

Sharp details, original luster, and minimal bag marks point to higher grades. Also check for off-center strikes, copper-colored planchets (wrong planchet error), or doubled lettering. Those errors can bring hundreds to thousands of dollars.

Get an instant, accurate grade assessment using our Coin Identifier and Value App.

 

1964 Nickel Value Guides

Here are the varieties collectors chase. The price gaps between them can be enormous.

• • 1964 No Mint Mark Nickel
  • 1964-D Nickel

• 1964 Proof Nickel
• 1964 CAM Nickel
• 1964 DCAM Nickel
• 1964 SMS Special Strike Nickel

Business strikes from Philadelphia and Denver were made for circulation. Proofs and special strikes were made for collectors with enhanced detail and finish. Values range from face value to over $32,000, so knowing exactly what you have matters.

 

1964 No Mint Mark Nickel Value

A billion nickels from one mint in one year. That’s what Philadelphia did in 1964 — 1,024,672,000 coins, a first for any denomination. Yet PCGS estimates only about 150,000 survive in MS60 or better, and roughly 42,500 in MS65 or better. The rest got chewed up in circulation.

Finding well-struck Philly nickels is tougher than you’d think. The coin shortage had presses running at max speed with worn-out dies, so a huge percentage came out soft and mushy. The Full Steps (FS) designation requires five or six clearly defined, completely unbroken steps on Monticello’s base — a standard most Philadelphia coins fail because the hub detail was already weak.

Full Steps examples in MS64 run about $65. At MS67 FS, you’re looking at roughly $5,000. The auction record? A 1964 no-mint-mark nickel with Full Steps graded MS67 hit $14,100 in 2014.

The auction records below show how these coins have performed at major sales over the years.

Recent eBay and auction house sales show what collectors are actually paying right now.

 

1964-D Nickel Value

Which grading service slabbed your coin? For the 1964-D, that question matters more than almost any other Jefferson nickel. Denver produced 1,787,297,160 nickels — the highest single-mint total for any U.S. nickel ever — but the real story is the grading gap.

PCGS has certified only 7 examples at MS67 and just 2 at MS67+. NGC lists 175 coins at MS67. That’s a huge population difference, and it means PCGS MS67 values can exceed NGC MS67 values by more than 20 times. If you’re buying or selling at the MS67 level, always check the holder.

Full Steps makes the 1964-D even tougher. PCGS has certified only 1 specimen at MS67 FS — the finest known. That coin brought $9,900 in May 2025, showing strong demand even while the broader market for common-date Jeffersons stays soft.

Here’s how this Denver issue has performed across different quality levels at auction.

Current market activity for the 1964-D nickel:

 

1964 Proof Nickel Value

If you collect proof Jefferson nickels, the 1964 is the end of an era. Philadelphia struck 3,950,762 proof nickels that year using hand-polished blanks hit at least twice by polished dies. Then Mint Director Eva Adams shut down proof production from 1965 through 1967 as part of her coin shortage response. That makes 1964 the last proof set for four years.

Standard proofs are easy to find up through PR69, so they fit most budgets. PCGS shows only 7 coins at PR70, and the all-time record for that grade is $949 from 2004. I think most of the real action today is in the Cameo and Deep Cameo tiers rather than standard proofs.

Auction results for this proof issue over the years:

Here’s what the market looks like for 1964 proof nickels right now:

 

1964 CAM Nickel Value

Ever wonder why some proofs have that frosty “floating” look and others don’t? It comes down to die life. In the 1960s, the Mint couldn’t maintain die frost consistently. Only the first few dozen coins off a fresh die got that frosted cameo effect on the raised devices. After that, friction wore the frost away.

That makes cameo specimens a natural rarity within the proof mintage. You’re looking at early strikes from fresh dies — everything had to go right.

The top sale for a 1964 CAM nickel is $141, achieved by a PR69 example in 2012. Cameos look better than standard proofs and carry a real premium, but they’re still far more affordable than Deep Cameo coins.

Past auction prices for this cameo variety:

Current collector interest in 1964 CAM nickels:

 

1964 DCAM Nickel Value

Deep Cameo is the top tier. NGC calls it Ultra Cameo (UCAM). Either way, you need strong, unbroken, deeply frosted devices on both sides with dramatic contrast against mirror fields — consistent across the entire design. No weak spots allowed.

Here’s the population drop-off that matters: thousands of standard PR69 proofs exist, but PCGS shows just under 300 coins at PR69 DCAM. Not impossibly rare, but a completely different league from standard proofs.

A 1964 nickel graded PR69 DCAM sold for $475 in an eBay sale in October 2021. At PR67 DCAM, prices have hit around $2,750. We think DCAM coins from this era are still underappreciated compared to later issues where the Mint figured out how to maintain frost.

Auction history for these deep contrast specimens:

Market activity for 1964 DCAM nickels:

 

1964 SMS Special Strike Nickel Value

Nobody knew these existed for almost 30 years. The 1964 SMS Special Strike Nickel has a distinctive satin finish with sharp, squared-off rims and exceptionally clean fields — nothing like a business strike or a mirror proof.

The first one surfaced at Stack’s Public Auction Sale in January 1993, consigned by numismatist Lester Merkin as lot 693. Merkin reportedly got the pieces directly from Eva Adams, the Mint Director from 1961 to 1969. The catalog described them as possible experimental strikes “to determine the sort of finish the Mint would use from 1965 to 1967.”

PCGS has certified just 19 SMS nickels, with another 5 at NGC. PCGS expert Jaime Hernandez estimates roughly one or two dozen total across all grades. The SP68 FS example sold for $32,900 at Heritage Auctions in January 2016 — up from $8,625 when the same coin sold in 2009, a 280% appreciation. Another SP68 FS brought $31,200 at Stack’s Bowers ANA auction in 2021. These are trophy coins.

Auction performance across different market periods:

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

 

Rare 1964 Nickel Error List

The rushed, high-volume production of 1964 was a recipe for errors. Presses running overtime with overworked dies meant more mistakes slipping through quality control than usual. Here are the ones worth hunting for.

1. 1964-D/D RPM FS-501 (Repunched Mint Mark)

This is the cherrypicking prize of the 1964 nickel series. The “D” mint mark got punched into the die twice with slight misalignment, leaving a visible secondary “D” offset to the southeast of the primary mark. You’ll need magnification to confirm it, but once you see it, it’s unmistakable.

It’s the most sought-after die variety for this date and one of the top-valued Jefferson nickel RPM errors overall. An MS66 specimen hit $19,800 in July 2022. An MS65+ brought $9,000 in 2021. An MS65 set a previous record of $4,015 in 2014. The trend line keeps climbing.

2. 1964 TDR FS-801 (Tripled Die Reverse)

Three hub impressions, each slightly off from the last, permanently etched tripled design elements into the die. Look for tripling on “MONTICELLO,” “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” and “FIVE CENTS” on the reverse.

This one shows up almost exclusively on proof strikes, not business strikes, making it a specialty item for proof collectors. A PR67 specimen brought $855 at auction in July 2021.

3. 1964 Nickel Wrong Planchet Error (Struck on Cent Planchet)

This is the one that makes people do a double-take. A nickel design stamped onto a bronze Lincoln cent planchet comes out copper-colored — like a weird penny-nickel hybrid. The cent planchet weighs about 3.1 grams versus the normal 5-gram nickel blank, and the smaller diameter means the full design can’t strike up properly, leaving soft edges.

Both Philadelphia and Denver versions exist. Slabbed examples have sold for approximately $400 or more at auction. If you find a raw one in a roll, get it authenticated immediately.

4. 1964 Nickel Off-Center Strike

When the planchet isn’t seated right between the dies, you get a coin with part of the design missing and a blank crescent on one side. The value depends on how far off-center it is and whether the date and mint mark are still visible.

A 50% or greater off-center 1964 nickel with a readable date can bring $100 to $500 or more. Off-center errors that also show Full Steps on whatever remains of the reverse? Those are especially rare and command strong premiums.

5. 1964 Doubled Die Obverse (DDO)

The DDO happens when the obverse die picks up two slightly misaligned hub impressions. On 1964 nickels, check “IN GOD WE TRUST,” “LIBERTY,” and the date numerals for doubling.

Most 1964 DDO varieties show modest machine-doubling-style displacement. Strong, clearly separated doubling is the scarcer and more valuable type. Confirmed DDO examples range from $50 to over $500 depending on doubling strength and overall condition.

 

Where to Sell Your 1964 Nickel?

Having assessed your 1964 nickels, you might wonder where to sell them for the best return. I’ve created a detailed guide covering reputable online marketplaces, including their key features, strengths, and potential drawbacks to inform your choice.

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

 

1964 Nickel Market Trend

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

 

FAQ about the 1964 Nickel

1. What Makes a 1964 Nickel So Valuable?

Most circulated examples are worth face value — $0.05 to $0.10. The money is in uncirculated coins, especially those with the Full Steps (FS) designation. An MS67 Full Steps example sold for $14,100 in 2014, and an MS67 FS Denver nickel brought $9,900 in May 2025.

2. How Can You Tell If a 1964 Nickel Is a Special Strike (SMS)?

Look for three things: a satin-like finish (not mirror-like), extremely sharp squared-off rims, and a crisper strike than normal business coins. Only about 19 to 24 examples are known. Get any suspected SMS coin authenticated by PCGS or NGC before selling — counterfeits and altered coins exist.

3. How Do I Know If My 1964-D Nickel Is Worth Anything?

Flip it over and count the steps at Monticello’s base. Five or six completely unbroken, fully separated steps could mean a Full Steps designation, which can multiply value by 10 to 20 times over the same grade without FS. The finest known PCGS example — MS67 FS — sold for $9,900 in May 2025.

4. Is There a Difference Between the PCGS MS67 and NGC MS67 Value for the 1964-D Nickel?

A huge one. PCGS has certified only 7 examples at MS67 and 2 at MS67+. NGC lists 175 at MS67. That means PCGS MS67 examples can sell for more than 20 times the price of an NGC MS67. Always check the holder before buying or selling.

5. Is a 1964 Nickel Silver?

No. It’s 75% copper and 25% nickel — no silver. The only silver Jefferson nickels are the War Nickels from 1942 to 1945 (35% silver), identifiable by the large mint mark above Monticello on the reverse. Melt value on a 1964 nickel is negligible.

6. What Is the All-Time Auction Record for a 1964 Nickel?

$32,900, set at Heritage Auctions in January 2016 for a 1964 SMS nickel graded PCGS SP68 Full Steps. That same coin sold in 2009 for $8,625 — a 280% gain in seven years. Second place is $31,200 for another SP68 FS at Stack’s Bowers during the ANA convention in 2021.

7. Who Designed the Jefferson Nickel and When Were His Initials Added?

Felix Schlag, born in Frankfurt, Germany in 1891 and trained at the Munich University of Fine Arts, won a 390-entry competition in 1938. His original three-quarter Monticello view was changed to a frontal view by the Federal Commission of Fine Arts. Despite winning, his initials didn’t appear on the coin until 1966 — almost 28 years later.

8. What Is a 1964 Nickel Struck on a Cent Planchet Worth?

These wrong-planchet errors are copper-colored, weigh approximately 3.1 grams (versus the normal 5 grams), and are smaller than a standard nickel. Both Philadelphia and Denver versions exist. Slabbed examples have sold for around $400 or more, with better-grade pieces bringing higher prices.

9. Why Were So Many 1964 Nickels Weakly Struck?

The coin shortage pushed presses to maximum capacity. Dies were used way past their normal service life, and quantity trumped quality. Most 1964 nickels came off the press with soft, mushy detail. That’s exactly why Full Steps coins are so much rarer and more valuable — sharp strikes were the exception, not the rule.

10. Were Any 1964 Nickels Struck After 1964?

Most of them were. Congress authorized a date freeze, so the Mint kept striking 1964-dated coins into 1965 and beyond. Of Denver’s 1,787,297,160 “1964-D” nickels, approximately 455 million were struck in calendar year 1964 itself. The remaining 1.33 billion were struck in 1965. Philadelphia also struck about 683,700 coins in 1965 with the 1964 date.