1993 Nickel Value (Errors List, “D”, “S” & “P” Mint Mark Worth)

That year, U.S. mints struck over 821 million Jefferson nickels, flooding circulation with coins that most Americans handled without a second thought. Today, typical circulated examples trade for around $0.28 to $1.13, barely above face value, while mint state specimens range from a few dollars to potentially much more depending on their grade and features.

The real intrigue lies in understanding what separates a common nickel from a valuable one—factors like mint marks, strike quality, and that elusive Full Steps designation can multiply a coin’s worth many times over. Knowing how to evaluate 1993 Nickel Value means recognizing the subtle details that matter to collectors and determining if what you have is worth keeping or spending.

 

1993 Nickel Value By Variety

The value of a 1993 nickel depends largely on which mint produced it and whether it displays the Full Steps feature, with coins from Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco each commanding different prices based on their condition and rarity. 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 1993 Nickel Worth Money

The dramatic jump from a $74 coin to a $6,900 specimen—both from Philadelphia’s mint—reveals what numismatists call the “grade ceiling effect.” Once a coin crosses into MS67 territory with Full Steps, you’re no longer competing with thousands of well-preserved examples.

The proof coins from San Francisco tell a different story entirely, commanding premiums not for circulation quality but for their mirror-like surfaces and deliberate craftsmanship.

What’s particularly telling is how Denver mint coins, despite similar mintage numbers to Philadelphia, consistently sell for less at comparable grades. This reflects collector psychology more than actual scarcity—Philadelphia nickels historically draw more attention from serious collectors, creating a self-reinforcing premium.

 

History of The 1993 Nickel

The 1993 Jefferson nickel marked the beginning of what would become the longest economic expansion in U.S. history at the time, as the country emerged from the early 1990s recession. The economy was transitioning from the “jobless recovery” that had plagued 1991-1992, with unemployment finally beginning to decline from its 1992 peak.

The Jefferson nickel series itself had been in continuous production since 1938, designed by Felix Schlag after winning a competition against 390 other artists. By 1993, the design had remained largely unchanged for over five decades, representing one of America’s most enduring coin series. According to law, coin designs could only be changed after at least 25 years, and the Jefferson nickel had long surpassed that threshold, yet its iconic imagery of Jefferson and Monticello persisted.

The early 1990s also saw America entering a new technological era. Against this backdrop of economic uncertainty turning toward optimism, the 1993 nickel circulated as everyday currency, largely unnoticed except by the collectors who recognized that even common coins could become valuable with the right combination of condition and characteristics.

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

 

Is Your 1993 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 1993 Nickel

Let’s understand the design elements of 1993 Jefferson nickels.

The Obverse Of The 1993 Nickel

The 1993 nickel features notably improved hair detail on Jefferson’s portrait, part of the Mint’s ongoing refinement efforts that also occurred in 1987 and 1991. Felix Schlag’s left-facing profile shows enhanced definition in Jefferson’s facial contours and hair strands, making well-struck examples particularly desirable. The designer’s initials “FS” appear below Jefferson’s shoulder, added to the design in 1966.

IN GOD WE TRUST appears left of the portrait, with LIBERTY curving along the right edge. The date 1993 anchors the bottom of date. Since 1968, mint marks have appeared on the obverse below the date: “P” for Philadelphia, “D” for Denver, or “S” for San Francisco proofs.

The Reverse Of The 1993 Nickel

Monticello dominates the reverse in a frontal elevation view, showcasing Jefferson’s Virginia estate. Premium specimens display “Full Steps”—five or six distinct horizontal lines visible on Monticello’s entrance—a key grading criterion that separates common strikes from valuable examples.

E PLURIBUS UNUM crowns the design, with MONTICELLO labeled below the building. FIVE CENTS and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA complete the inscriptions around the rim, maintaining the layout established in 1938.

Other Features Of The 1993 Nickel

The 1993 nickel measures 21.20 millimeters in diameter, weighs 5.00 grams, and features a plain edge. Its composition of 75% copper and 25% nickel creates a silver-like appearance without precious metal content—the standard formula used except during World War II (1942-1945) when silver temporarily replaced nickel.

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

 

1993 Nickel Mintage & Survival Data

Philadelphia and Denver mints operated at nearly identical capacity, each producing over 400 million pieces—a testament to the robust demand for circulating coinage as vending machines proliferated and cash transactions remained king in the pre-digital economy. While billions of business strikes vanished into the economic machinery of daily commerce, the San Francisco proof coins show a remarkable 95% survival rate, preserved by collectors who recognized their numismatic significance.

This creates what collectors call “selective scarcity”—not in absolute numbers, but in condition. The unknowable survival rates for P and D mint coins underscore a truth about modern coinage: abundance at minting doesn’t guarantee availability in premium grades decades later. Most circulated pieces survive somewhere, but finding specimens with sharp strikes and original luster becomes increasingly difficult as time passes.

Also Read: Jefferson Nickel Value (1938-Present)

 

The Easy Way to Know Your 1993 Nickel Value

1993 Nickel Value Guides

1993-P Nickel Value

While the Philadelphia Mint produced over 412 million examples, creating widespread availability in circulation, the 1993-P nickel’s true collecting challenge lies in condition and strike quality rather than absolute rarity. This abundance paradox defines its market position—commonplace in pocket change, yet genuinely scarce in premium grades.

The coin exhibits an unusually steep grade rarity curve that distinguishes it from typical common-date Jefferson nickels. At MS65, specimens become noticeably more difficult to locate, though they remain accessible at modest premiums. The scarcity intensifies sharply at MS66, particularly for examples bearing the Full Steps designation.

MS67 Full Steps examples are exceptionally difficult to locate, with only a handful known to exist. This conditional rarity produces a dramatic value disparity—circulated pieces trade at face value, while the finest known specimen commanded $6,900 at auction in September 2010 (NGC MS67). The thousand-fold price difference between common and exceptional grades underscores how strike quality and preservation, rather than mintage figures, determine value for this deceptively challenging Philadelphia issue.

Auction records demonstrate the dramatic price premiums commanded by high-grade 1993-P nickels, with MS67 specimens reaching $6,900 while lower grades trade for under $150.

Market activity for 1993-P nickels has remained relatively steady throughout 2024-2025, with a notable spike in March 2025.

 

1993-D Nickel Value

The 1993-D Jefferson Nickel presents a markedly different value proposition compared to its Philadelphia counterpart. Even in MS66 with Full Steps it is very affordable, a characteristic that separates it fundamentally from the 1993-P issue where MS66 Full Steps examples command significant premiums.

The auction record stands at $646.25 for a PCGS MS67 Full Steps specimen sold in January 2016—approximately ten times less than the $6,900 record for the comparable 1993-P grade. Several 1993-D nickels graded MS67 FS have come up for auction over the past two years, and they typically garner around $100, demonstrating consistent market availability that contrasts sharply with the extreme scarcity of comparable Philadelphia specimens.

Market activity for the 1993-D nickel over the past year:

 

1993-S DCAM Nickel Value

The 1993-S DCAM (Deep Cameo) Jefferson Nickel represents exceptional quality within the proof nickel series, with most examples exhibiting remarkable strikes ranging from PR67 to PR70 Deep Cameo condition. The coin’s unbroken and robust frosted finish on all devices—both obverse and reverse—creating intense visual contrast against deeply mirrored fields, where even the slightest brilliance or fade in recessed design areas would disqualify it from this premium classification.

By 1993, the U.S. Mint had perfected cameo production techniques following the 1973 transition from acid pickling to sandblasting methods, and had resolved earlier packaging issues by adopting inert casing materials in the 1990s, ensuring that nearly all proof coins from this era achieved Ultra Cameo or Deep Cameo designations without the toning and spotting problems that plagued earlier proof issues.

In the auction market, 1993-S nickels graded PR70 Deep Cameo have appeared in Heritage Auctions as part of multi-coin lots, while general pricing for 1993-S proof nickels typically ranges around $4 to $5, though perfect PR70 DCAM specimens command premiums.

The recorded sales demonstrate the coin’s accessibility across both PR69 and PR70 grades.

Market activity data spanning from late 2024 through October 2025 illustrates the frequency for 1993-S DCAM Jefferson Nickels.

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

 

Rare 1993 Nickel Error List

While 1993 Jefferson Nickels are common circulation coins with over 821 million produced across all mints, error specimens present exciting opportunities for collectors.

1. Double Strike and Flip-Over Errors

Double strike errors occur when a coin receives multiple impressions from the dies, with the second strike often off-center or rotated from the first. A particularly spectacular 1993-P example features a flipover double strike with the second strike off-center, certified MS66 by NGC through Heritage Auctions.

In flipover errors, the coin rotates 180 degrees between strikes, creating overlapping images from both obverse and reverse dies on each side. These errors demonstrate multiple manufacturing failures—the coin wasn’t properly ejected after the first strike and remained in or returned to the striking chamber for a second impression. Values for double strikes vary dramatically based on separation visibility and overall drama, ranging from $50 for subtle examples to $300-$600 for spectacular flipover varieties.

The more distinct and separated the two strikes appear, the more valuable the error becomes, with mint state specimens commanding significant premiums over circulated examples.

2. Wrong Planchet Errors

Wrong planchet errors rank among the most valuable 1993 nickel mistakes, occurring when a Jefferson nickel die strikes a planchet intended for a different denomination. Heritage Auctions documented a 1993-P nickel struck on a cent planchet, graded MS66 Red by NGC, representing this rare error type.

These specimens weigh approximately 2.5 grams instead of the standard 5.0 grams and display the copper color of cent planchets rather than the typical nickel-copper silvery appearance. Wrong planchet errors are exceptionally scarce because modern quality control systems typically prevent such mistakes from entering circulation.

Values for these dramatic errors typically start around $200-$300 for common examples but can exceed $500-$1,000 for high-grade specimens with strong strikes and attractive eye appeal.

3. Struck Through Grease Errors

Struck through grease errors result when grease, oil, or debris accumulates in die recesses, preventing complete design transfer during striking. On 1993 nickels, this commonly manifests as weak or missing details on the date, “LIBERTY,” or Jefferson’s hair, creating a smudged or ghostly appearance. The foreign material acts as a barrier between the die and planchet, producing areas with diminished strike definition while surrounding elements remain sharp.

These errors demonstrate varying severity—light grease strikes show subtle detail loss, while heavy accumulations can completely obliterate design elements. Struck through grease errors are relatively common among Jefferson nickels but still attract collector interest, typically valued between $8 and $20 depending on the extent of the strike-through effect and overall coin condition. Specimens with dramatic missing elements in prominent locations command higher premiums, especially when certified by major grading services.

 

Where to Sell Your 1993 Nickel?

After determining what your coins are worth, you’re probably wondering about convenient online selling options. I’ve researched and compiled a guide to the best platforms, outlining their services, pros, and cons.

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

 

FAQ about 1993 Nickel

1. What makes a 1993 nickel valuable compared to face value?

Most 1993 nickels are worth only 5 cents, but certain factors dramatically increase value. The “Full Steps” feature—showing five or six clear horizontal lines on Monticello’s entrance—is crucial for premium pricing. Coins in exceptional condition (MS67 or higher) with Full Steps can sell for hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

The 1993-P is particularly valuable in top grades, with the finest example selling for $6,900. Proof coins from San Francisco (1993-S DCAM) are also collectible, though more affordable at $4-$5 for typical grades.

2. Should I keep 1993-D or 1993-P nickels I find in change?

Keep any 1993 nickels showing sharp details and no wear. Philadelphia (1993-P) coins are more valuable than Denver (1993-D) in top grades—the P mint record is $6,900 versus $646 for D mint. However, finding either in truly uncirculated condition from circulation is unlikely.

If your coin shows bright luster, sharp details, and full steps on Monticello, consider professional grading. Otherwise, circulated examples are worth keeping only if you’re building a date/mint set.

3. Why do 1993-P nickels sell for more than 1993-D at the same grade?

Despite similar production numbers (412 million P versus 406 million D), Philadelphia coins command higher premiums due to collector preference rather than actual scarcity. The 1993-P exhibits a steeper rarity curve in top grades—MS67 Full Steps examples are exceptionally rare for P mint but more available for D mint. This collector psychology creates a self-reinforcing price difference. A 1993-P MS67 FS sold for $6,900, while a comparable 1993-D brought only $646.