1995 Nickel Value (Errors List, “P”, “D” & “S” Mint Mark Worth)

Despite a combined production exceeding 1.6 billion pieces in 1995, understanding 1995 nickel value requires recognizing that condition, grading, and unique characteristics dramatically affect collector appeal beyond mere mintage numbers.

Market data reveals standard circulated examples trade between $0.08 and $0.67, while premium uncirculated specimens with Full Steps designation can reach $12.00 in top grades. Coins achieving MS67 or higher grades, particularly those with Full Steps detail or identifiable minting errors, represent genuine condition rarities that transform ordinary nickels into valuable numismatic assets worth many times their face value.

 

1995 Nickel Value By Variety

The 1995 nickel demonstrates circulated examples trading near face value while pristine mint state and proof specimens can fetch prices many times higher. 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 1995 Nickel Worth Money

The chart demonstrates that top-tier specimens in MS67 and PR70 grades command premiums, with a 1995-D graded MS67 achieving $1,495—nearly three times the value of its Philadelphia counterpart in the same grade. This disparity reflects the Denver mint’s particular difficulty in producing flawless strikes that year.

Professional grading distinctions of just one or two points create value gaps, as evidenced by the 1995-P nickel ranging from $77 in MS66 to $546 in MS67.

San Francisco proof specimens also demonstrate strong performance, particularly in near-perfect PR69 and PR70 grades, where deep cameo contrast and pristine surfaces appeal to quality-focused collectors.

 

History of The 1995 Nickel

The 1995 nickel emerged during a pivotal period in American history, struck during President Bill Clinton’s administration as the nation experienced robust economic expansion. The five-cent coins produced that year circulated through an economy on the cusp of the dot-com era’s technological transformation.

In 1995, three U.S. Mint facilities actively produced Jefferson nickels using established production methods that had been refined over decades. The Philadelphia and Denver Mints struck circulation coins for everyday commerce, operating high-speed presses capable of producing 750 coins per minute. Meanwhile, the San Francisco Mint focused exclusively on proof specimens for collectors, employing specially polished dies and meticulous striking techniques to create coins with mirror-like surfaces and sharp detail.

The manufacturing process began with cupronickel blanks—flat metal discs composed of 75% copper and 25% nickel. These blanks underwent washing to restore their original color, then passed through an upsetting mill that formed raised rims around their edges, transforming them into planchets ready for striking.

By 1995, the Jefferson nickel had been in continuous production for 57 years with only minor design refinements. The 1982 and 1987 modifications sharpened various design elements, including the steps and Jefferson’s hair details, making well-struck “Full Steps” examples more common in later years. A 1993 enhancement further refined Jefferson’s hair details.

The 1995 nickel thus represents a mature phase of the series, produced with improved die technology and striking techniques that had evolved over nearly six decades of production.

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

 

Is Your 1995 Nickel Rare?

Rare 1995 nickels with pristine preservation or Full Steps details represent only a tiny fraction of surviving examples. Install the CoinValueChecker App to evaluate your coin’s rarity score and find out if you own one of the scarce specimens collectors actively pursue.

 

Key Features of The 1995 Nickel

The 1995 Jefferson nickel represents a mature iteration of Felix Schlag’s enduring design, featuring refined striking characteristics that evolved from decades of production improvements.

The Obverse Of The 1995 Nickel

The obverse presents Thomas Jefferson’s left-facing profile, modeled after Jean-Antoine Houdon’s classical 1789 bust, capturing his dignified statesmanlike appearance with period-appropriate attire.

The word “LIBERTY” appears along the right periphery, separated from the date “1995” by a small five-pointed star, while the national motto “IN GOD WE TRUST” is positioned to the left of Jefferson’s portrait.

Below Jefferson’s truncated bust appear the designer’s initials “FS” (Felix Schlag), added in 1966 to honor the artist’s contribution to American coinage. The mintmark, when present, is located on the obverse to the right of Jefferson’s ponytail, just below the date’s final digit.

The Reverse Of The 1995 Nickel

The reverse features a frontal elevation view of Monticello, Jefferson’s neoclassical plantation home in Charlottesville, Virginia, displaying the building’s iconic dome, columns, and architectural details.

The word “MONTICELLO” appears directly below the building, with “FIVE CENTS” inscribed in an arc beneath it. The Latin motto “E PLURIBUS UNUM” (Out of Many, One) crowns the top of the coin, while “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” curves along the bottom periphery.

The six steps leading to Monticello’s entrance serve as a critical quality indicator, with “Full Steps” designation awarded to coins exhibiting complete, unbroken definition across all steps.

Other Features Of The 1995 Nickel

The 1995 nickel features a plain, smooth edge without reeding or decorative elements, a characteristic of base-metal coins that distinguishes it from precious metal denominations.

This plain edge reflects the coin’s copper-nickel composition, as reeding was historically used on silver and gold coins to prevent metal clipping—a concern unnecessary for base-metal currency.

The coin’s thickness measures 1.95 millimeters, creating sufficient relief to showcase design details while maintaining durability for circulation. The cupronickel alloy produces a distinctive silvery appearance that resists tarnishing better than pure copper, though circulated examples may develop a darker patina over time.

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

 

1995 Nickel Mintage & Survival Data

The 1995 mintage data reveal a substantial production year exceeding 1.6 billion nickels across all facilities, reflecting robust demand during the mid-1990s economic expansion. Denver led production with 888,112,000 pieces, surpassing Philadelphia’s 774,156,000 coins, demonstrating the increased output capacity at the Colorado facility during this period.

The San Francisco Mint produced 2,797,481 proof specimens exclusively for collectors, representing a dramatically smaller volume compared to circulation strikes. The survival rate for these Deep Cameo proofs stands at an impressive 95%, with 2,657,606 coins accounted for in the numismatic marketplace. This exceptionally high preservation rate reflects the careful handling typical of proof coins, which were sold directly to collectors in protective packaging rather than entering commercial circulation.

The survival distribution chart illustrates the overwhelming dominance of San Francisco proofs in the collector market, despite their minimal mintage compared to business strikes. While survival data for Philadelphia and Denver issues remains unknown due to their circulation status, the vast majority were likely worn through everyday use or lost over three decades.

Also Read: Jefferson Nickel Value (1938-Present)

 

The Easy Way to Know Your 1995 Nickel Value

Determining your 1995 nickel’s value requires just three simple steps: examine the mintmark location (P, D, or S below the date), assess the coin’s condition by checking Jefferson’s hair details and Monticello’s steps for wear, and compare your findings to current market values.

Professional grading follows the Sheldon 1-70 scale, where factors like strike quality, surface preservation, luster, and eye appeal determine the grade. For Jefferson nickels, the key distinction lies between circulated pieces showing wear on high points versus Mint State examples retaining original luster.

Download the CoinValueChecker App for instant access to grading guides, real-time pricing data, and professional authentication tools that simplify the valuation process with step-by-step visual comparisons.

 

1995 Nickel Value Guides

The 1995 Jefferson nickel was struck at three U.S. Mint facilities, each producing coins with unique market values. Philadelphia and Denver created business strikes for everyday circulation, while San Francisco produced Deep Cameo proof coins with mirror-like surfaces exclusively for collector sets, establishing three distinct collecting categories.

1995 Nickel Varieties:

• 1995-P Nickel (Philadelphia)
• 1995-D Nickel (Denver)
• 1995-S DCAM  Nickel (San Francisco)

 

1995-P Nickel Value

The 1995-P Jefferson nickel was struck at the Philadelphia Mint with a substantial production of 774,156,000 pieces, making it readily available in circulated grades.

The market demonstrates moderate premiums across most grades, with MS60 examples valued around $1 and MS64 specimens at approximately $8. Value escalation becomes dramatic at MS67, where professional grading services price specimens near $85.

The most coveted 1995-P nickels carry the Full Steps designation, where all architectural details on Monticello’s entrance remain completely defined without weakness. Census data reveals extreme rarity at the MS67+ Full Steps level, with auction records showing these specimens value $5,000 according to the guide price. Only 13 handfuls of MS67+ Full Steps examples exist, making this variety a genuine condition rarity despite the coin’s enormous original mintage.

Historical auction results provide valuable insights into how premium-grade Philadelphia nickels perform in the collector marketplace.

Current market activity reflects ongoing collector interest from this high-mintage issue.

 

1995-D Nickel Value

The 1995-D Jefferson nickel achieved the highest production volume among all 1995 varieties. This production surge represented the Denver facility’s response to increased circulation demand during a period of economic expansion.

The defining characteristic that separates common 1995-D nickels from valuable specimens is striking quality. The copper-nickel composition inherently resists achieving sharp strikes, particularly on the complex architectural details of Monticello’s entrance steps, making Full Steps designation especially challenging for high-volume production runs like the 1995-D.

Market values demonstrate dramatic Full Steps sensitivity; the auction record for a 1995-D nickel stands at $1,495 for an MS67 Full Steps example sold in 2005, while one MS66 sold at $89 in 2018. This premium differential underscores the Denver Mint’s particular difficulty in producing flawless strikes during 1995, when prolonged die use and high production quotas compromised quality consistency.

Auction records demonstrate the price for Denver Mint nickels in different grades.

Market trends indicate sustained collector engagement for this variety.

 

1995-S DCAM Nickel Value

The 1995-S Jefferson nickel represents the San Francisco Mint’s exclusive proof production for collectors, using specialized manufacturing techniques that distinguish these coins from their circulation-strike counterparts.

Modern proof Jefferson nickels struck since the late 1970s consistently achieve high grades ranging from PR67 to PR70 with crisp deep cameo characteristics, reflecting improved manufacturing processes and quality control at the San Francisco facility.

Population data demonstrates the quality consistency of this issue, with certifying 9,066 examples at the PR69 Deep Cameo level and 1,350 specimens achieving perfect PR70 Deep Cameo grades.

The auction record of $690 for a PR70 example sold at Heritage Auctions in August 2003 represents peak valuations during an earlier market cycle, though current market prices remain modest due to adequate supply.

Past auction performance illustrates the pricing patterns for proof specimens across different grade levels.

The market remains actively engaged with these collector-focused coins.

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

 

Rare 1995 Nickel Error List

These 1995 nickels minting anomalies range from dramatic visual defects to subtle striking irregularities, transforming ordinary five-cent pieces into numismatic curiosities worth significantly more than face value.

1. Broadstrike Errors

Broadstrike errors occur when the collar die—the circular restraining ring surrounding the lower die—malfunctions or fails to engage properly during striking. Without the collar’s containment, the metal flows outward beyond normal dimensions, creating a coin that appears larger in diameter than standard specifications.

The error results from mechanical failures in the coining press, such as a jammed collar mechanism or misaligned planchet feeding. Some 1995-P nickels show dramatic broadstrike characteristics, occasionally combined with multiple strike impressions. Values typically range from $15 to $75 depending on the degree of expansion and overall eye appeal, with more extreme examples commanding premium prices.

2. Die Crack and Die Break Errors

Die cracks develop during extensive use of the striking dies, creating jagged raised lines on subsequently struck coins as metal flows into the fractured areas of the die surface. These linear features can appear anywhere on the coin, ranging from minor hairline cracks to major breaks that traverse the entire design.

Minor die cracks add minimal value ($1-$5), as they’re relatively common in high-volume production years like 1995. However, major die breaks—particularly “cud” errors where a chunk of the die has separated, leaving a raised blob of metal on the coin—can command $25-$100. The size, location, and dramatic visual impact of the break determine collector interest and market value.

3. Lamination Errors

Lamination errors occur when impurities such as gas, dirt, or grease become trapped beneath the metal’s surface during planchet preparation, creating weakness or separation defects in the alloy. The error manifests as missing metal patches, surface peeling, or complete delamination where layers separate.

Laminations can occur before or after striking, with “split before strike” examples showing design on both exposed surfaces and typically exhibiting weak striking characteristics.

Values range from $5 for minor surface flaking to $50-$100 for dramatic splits or large missing metal areas that don’t obscure major design elements.

 

Where to Sell Your 1995 Nickel?

Whether you’re selling a single premium specimen or an entire collection, selecting the appropriate venue maximizes returns and minimizes hassles.

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

 

1995 Nickel Market Trend

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

 

FAQ about The 1995 Nickel

1. How much is a 1995 nickel worth?

Most circulated 1995 nickels are worth between $0.08 and $0.67, barely above face value due to the high mintage.

However, value increases dramatically with condition—coins graded MS67 or PR67 and above, or those with identifiable errors, can be considered rare and command significantly higher prices. Proof specimens from San Francisco typically start around $5.70 in mint state, while top-graded examples have sold for hundreds of dollars at auction.

2. Is the 1995 nickel rare?

Despite the high mintage of over 1.6 billion coins, the 1995 Jefferson nickel itself is not rare in general circulation.

However, coins with higher grades (MS67 or above) or identifiable errors could be considered rare, and San Francisco proofs in perfect PR70 Deep Cameo condition remain very affordable due to sufficient supply meeting collector demand. Rarity in this issue is driven by condition and special characteristics rather than absolute scarcity.

3. Can I find valuable 1995 nickels in circulation today?

While possible, finding valuable 1995 nickels in circulation is extremely unlikely due to three decades of handling and wear. Most circulated examples show significant deterioration that limits value to face value or slightly above.

Your best chance involves examining uncirculated rolls from banks or searching through inherited collections where coins may have been preserved. Focus on identifying Full Steps examples or obvious minting errors, as these represent the only circulation finds with meaningful premiums above face value.