1987 Nickel Coin Value (Errors List, “D”, “S” & “P” Mint Mark Worth)

The 1987 nickel remains one of the most accessible Jefferson nickels for collectors. Most circulated 1987 nickels are worth only their face value of five cents, uncirculated specimens can command prices ranging from 10 cents to several thousand dollars depending on their condition and strike quality.

That year marked a significant improvement in production quality, as the U.S. Mint strengthened the dies used to produce these coins, resulting in sharper hair details on Jefferson’s portrait and stronger features on the Monticello building. This enhancement makes Full Steps examples—coins showing five or six complete, unbroken steps at the base of Monticello—more readily available than in previous years.

Whether you’re examining a 1987-P nickel from Philadelphia, a 1987-D from Denver, or the proof 1987-S from San Francisco, understanding the nuances of 1987 Nickel Value can help you identify which coins deserve a closer look and which might be worth significantly more than a simple five cents.

 

1987 Nickel Value By Variety

The 1987 nickel was minted at three facilities—Philadelphia (P), Denver (D), and San Francisco (S)—with each variety having distinct characteristics and values based on condition and strike quality. 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 1987 Nickel Worth Money

Based on the 1987 nickel market data, a clear value hierarchy emerges that reflects fundamental numismatic principles. Proof coins consistently command premium prices, with the 1987-S PR 70 Deep Cameo reaching $3,220—the highest value in the series.

The Full Steps designation dramatically impacts value across all mint marks. High-grade Full Steps examples (MS-67 to MS-68) fetch between $1,800 and $2,291, while standard strikes in similar grades drop to just $138-$329. This price differential underscores strike quality matters as much as preservation. The sharp, complete steps on Monticello’s base are notoriously difficult to achieve, making these coins genuinely scarce despite high mintages.

Meanwhile, the precipitous value decline from MS-67 to MS-64 grades illustrates the “condition census” effect—each incremental grade improvement at the top tier represents exponentially fewer surviving examples, driving prices upward in what numismatists call the “grade rarity premium.”

 

History of The 1987 Nickel

After decades of inconsistent strike quality that plagued the series, the U.S. Mint implemented significant improvements to address longstanding collector complaints about weak details, particularly on Monticello’s steps.

In 1987, the Mint strengthened the dies used to produce nickels, resulting in notably sharper strikes across all three facilities. This enhancement came after years of collector frustration with poorly defined architectural features and Jefferson’s portrait details. The strengthened dies would remain in use through 1991, creating a brief golden era for strike quality in the Jefferson nickel series.

This technical improvement didn’t occur in isolation. By the mid-1980s, the U.S. Mint was modernizing its operations and responding more actively to numismatic community feedback. The coin collecting hobby was experiencing renewed interest, and the Mint recognized that producing higher-quality circulation strikes could satisfy both collectors and the general public.

The improved dies meant that 1987 nickels had a significantly higher percentage of Full Steps examples than earlier years, making this date more accessible to collectors seeking well-struck specimens. This accessibility, combined with strong technical quality, established the 1987 nickel as a benchmark year that demonstrated what the Mint could achieve when proper attention was paid to die strength and production standards.

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

 

Is Your 1987 Nickel Rare?

For detailed information about your coin’s specific variety and current market value, our CoinValueChecker App provides the accurate rarity and value assessment for your coins.

 

Key Features of The 1987 Nickel

Recognizing the diagnostic elements of 1987 Jefferson nickels is essential for collectors seeking premium specimens from this technically improved production year.

The Obverse Of The 1987 Nickel

Felix Schlag’s portrait of Thomas Jefferson anchors the obverse design, maintaining the artistic vision established in 1938. The president’s profile demonstrates enhanced clarity thanks to the strengthened dies introduced this year, with sharper definition visible in Jefferson’s hair strands and facial contours. Schlag’s initials “FS” appear subtly beneath Jefferson’s bust, a feature added in 1966 to properly credit the designer.

The inscriptions follow the traditional arrangement: LIBERTY arcs prominently along the right side, while IN GOD WE TRUST sits to the left of Jefferson’s profile. The date 1987 anchors the bottom of the design. The mint mark location—positioned on the obverse just below the date since 1968—displays either “P” for Philadelphia or “D” for Denver on circulation strikes. San Francisco proof coins bear an “S” mint mark in this same position.

The Reverse Of The 1987 Nickel

Monticello, Jefferson’s architectural masterpiece in Albemarle County, Virginia, dominates the reverse. The 1987 strikes benefited significantly from die improvements, producing clearer architectural details than many earlier dates. The building’s columns, windows, and triangular pediment show enhanced sharpness.

E PLURIBUS UNUM crowns the design, translating to “out of many, one”. MONTICELLO identifies the structure, while FIVE CENTS centers below the building. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA completes the semicircular border inscription at the base.

Other Features Of The 1987 Nickel

The 1987 nickel maintains standard Jefferson nickel dimensions: 21.21 millimeters in diameter, 5 grams in weight, and 1.95 millimeters in thickness, with a smooth plain edge. The composition consists of 75% copper and 25% nickel, creating the characteristic silver-like appearance without containing precious metals. This copper-nickel alloy has remained unchanged since production resumed after the wartime silver alloy period (1942-1945).

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

 

1987 Nickel Mintage & Survival Data

The 1987 nickel production exemplifies mid-1980s coin manufacturing at scale, with nearly 786 million pieces struck across three facilities. Philadelphia and Denver each produced over 370 million circulation strikes, reflecting robust economic activity during the Reagan era’s consumer expansion.

While survival rates for Philadelphia and Denver issues remain undocumented—typical for modern circulation coinage where most pieces enter commerce and sustain wear. With over 4.2 million proofs minted and an impressive 85.5% survival rate. Proof coins sold in sealed sets largely avoided circulation, remaining preserved in their original government packaging.

The unknown circulation strike survival rates actually work in collectors’ favor—decades of commercial use have eliminated countless examples, making gem uncirculated specimens with Full Steps designation surprisingly elusive despite their enormous original production figures. This attrition transforms common mintage figures into genuine grade rarity.

Also Read: Jefferson Nickel Value (1938-Present)

 

The Easy Way to Know Your 1987 Nickel Value

1987 Nickel Value Guides

1987-P Nickel Value

The 1987-P nickel stands as a technical milestone in Jefferson nickel production, benefiting from strengthened dies that delivered enhanced hair detail on Jefferson’s portrait and sharper architectural features on Monticello—improvements that would remain in effect through 1991. This die enhancement program specifically targeted the chronic strike weakness that had plagued the series since 1938.

Philadelphia’s minting process during this period utilized advanced technology to ensure precision striking, with coins produced from high-quality planchets and finely tuned dies that achieved sharp, clear details. The result was a noticeably higher percentage of Full Steps specimens compared to earlier years—a critical distinction that elevates this date above its immediate predecessors in terms of strike quality consistency.

The rarity structure reveals a pyramid: while examples in circulated grades through MS-66 condition remain very common, specimens grading MS-67 become scarce, and anything achieving MS-68 or higher enters the very scarce to rare category. The finest known 1987-P nickel—an MS-68 Full Steps specimen certified by NGC—realized $1,800 at a 2021 auction, demonstrating the substantial premium commanded by technically perfect survivors despite the issue’s enormous production scale.

Auction records for the 1987-P nickel demonstrate how grade sensitivity create dramatic price disparities across specimens.

Market activity indicates steady demand within the Jefferson nickel marketplace.

 

1987-D Nickel Value

The 1987-D nickel emerged as a particularly clean strike among Denver productions, benefiting from the same strengthened dies that improved the entire 1987 series, making Full Steps specimens notably easier to locate compared to earlier Denver issues.

The Denver mint’s record-breaking production volume paradoxically works against gem survival—more coins entered circulation channels where environmental exposure and handling wear eliminated potential high-grade survivors at accelerated rates. The finest certified 1987-D nickel—graded MS-67 Full Steps by PCGS—realized $2,291.25 at a 2013 auction, establishing a price point that actually exceeds comparable Philadelphia specimens and reflects the Denver issue’s superior rarity in top-tier preservation levels despite its larger original output.

Auction history illustrates the 1987-D nickel’s performance across different grade levels and market conditions.

Market activity demonstrates steady collector engagement with notable seasonal variations.

 

1987-S DCAM Nickel Value

The 1987-S Deep Cameo nickel represents the apex of collector-grade production within the 1987 series, struck exclusively at San Francisco for inclusion in annual proof sets rather than general circulation. Unlike its Philadelphia and Denver counterparts, every 1987-S specimen underwent specialized manufacturing protocols including hand-selected planchets, multiple striking pressures, and carefully polished dies that created the dramatic visual contrast defining the Deep Cameo designation—frosted design elements rising from mirror-like fields with exceptional clarity.

The 1987-S Proof Jefferson Nickel qualifies as a common issue through PR-69 Deep Cameo grades, but specimens achieving perfect PR-70 Deep Cameo status become notably scarcer and command premiums over their PR-69 counterparts. This grade sensitivity distinguishes the 1987-S from both contemporary proof issues and earlier San Francisco productions. The auction record for the 1987-S nickel stands at $3,220—achieved by a flawless PR-70 Deep Cameo specimen that sold through Heritage Auctions in November 2007.

Historical sales demonstrate how proof grade perfection commands exponential pricing premiums.

Collector engagement remains consistently active with pronounced acceleration during autumn periods.

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

 

Rare 1987 Nickel Error List

Minting errors from 1987 create valuable collecting opportunities when production flaws escape quality control detection.

1. Off-Center Strike Error

Off-center strikes occur when the planchet fails to align properly between the dies during striking, resulting in a coin where the design appears partially off the edge with a blank crescent visible on the opposite side. The value of off-center 1987 nickels correlates directly to the percentage of displacement—specimens showing 5-10% misalignment command modest premiums, while dramatic examples with 50% or greater displacement can fetch hundreds of dollars.

The most desirable off-center errors retain a complete, legible date, as this definitively establishes the coin’s identity and enhances collectibility. Authenticated off-center 1987 nickels in uncirculated condition attract specialist collectors who appreciate the mechanical drama captured in metal.

2. Struck on Clad Quarter Stock Error

The 1987-P nickel struck on copper-nickel clad quarter stock represents one of the most spectacular wrong planchet errors in modern numismatics, with affected specimens weighing approximately 4.2 grams due to the thinner cross-sectional profile of quarter strip. This error occurs when nickel dies strike planchets intended for quarter production, creating coins with nickel designs on undersized, thinner stock.

An estimated 10 examples are known for this date, making it genuinely rare, with most specimens grading AU-53 due to circulation wear. The most valuable 1987 error nickel—struck on clad stock—sold for $1,754 in a 2010 auction. The distinctly reduced diameter and thinner profile make identification straightforward when compared to normal nickels.

These errors typically escaped detection due to similar metallic composition between nickels and quarters, allowing them to pass through automated sorting equipment unnoticed until reaching circulation channels where collectors discovered them.

3. Die Cracks and Cuds

Die cracks manifest as raised lines on finished coins, forming when stress fractures develop in working dies from repeated striking pressure and metal fatigue. As dies continue striking coins beyond their optimal lifespan, these cracks expand, eventually breaking away entirely to create cuds—raised, irregular blobs of metal appearing where die material separated.

The 1987 nickel production’s massive scale accelerated die wear, producing numerous crack and cud varieties throughout the year. Minor die cracks add minimal value, typically $1-5 over face value, while major retained cuds—particularly those affecting central design elements like Jefferson’s portrait or Monticello—command substantially higher premiums.

 

Where to Sell Your 1987 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)

 

FAQ about 1987 Nickel

1. Why does my 1987-D nickel feel slightly different from my 1987-P?

Both coins share identical specifications—5 grams, 21.21mm diameter, 75% copper and 25% nickel composition. Any perceived difference stems from wear patterns or toning rather than intentional manufacturing variations. However, Denver produced about 39 million more nickels than Philadelphia in 1987, meaning you’re statistically more likely to encounter circulated 1987-D coins showing heavier wear. The only guaranteed difference is the mint mark below the date: “D” for Denver versus “P” for Philadelphia.

2. Are proof 1987-S nickels from vending machines valuable?

If you found a 1987-S nickel in circulation or change, it’s worth examining closely. All San Francisco nickels from 1987 were proof coins sold in collector sets, not released for circulation. Someone likely broke the coin from its original packaging and spent it. While circulated proof nickels lose the premium commanded by pristine PR69-PR70 examples, they still possess the characteristic mirror fields and frosted details that distinguish them from business strikes, making them worth $3-10 depending on remaining quality.

3. Can a 1987 nickel stuck on a magnet be valuable?

Standard 1987 nickels shouldn’t attract magnets due to their copper-nickel composition. If your nickel shows magnetic properties, you’ve likely discovered a significant error—possibly struck on steel planchet stock intended for foreign coinage or a plated error. Before getting excited, rule out post-mint alterations: some damaged nickels acquire magnetic properties from environmental contamination or deliberate plating. Authentic magnetic errors are extraordinarily rare and worth professional authentication through PCGS or NGC, as they can command four-figure prices if genuine.