2000 Nickel Value Checker: Errors List, “D”, “S” & “P” Mint Mark Worth

2000 Nickel value ranges from $0.05 face value to $6,000. That record was a Grade 67 example sold through EA Auctions in April 2021 — a sharp, high-grade coin that collectors paid a strong premium for just a few years ago. Upload a photo of yours below to get a quick value range on your coin. Then scroll down to check what 2000 Nickels are selling for on eBay right now.

 

2000 Nickel Value By Variety

Your 2000 nickel’s value comes down to mint mark, condition, and whether Monticello’s staircase earned the Full Steps (FS) designation. If you already know the grade, jump to the Value Guides section for exact pricing.

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

 

Top 10 Most Valuable 2000 Nickel Worth Money

The price gap here is staggering. A 2000-P graded MS67 commands around $6,000, while an MS64 trades closer to $138. That’s a 40x difference based purely on condition.

The millennium date adds some sentimental appeal, but only flawless coins pull serious money. One extra bag mark can drop you from a $3,000 grade to a $50 grade. That’s why getting your coin slabbed by PCGS (Professional Coin Grading Service) or NGC (Numismatic Guaranty Company) matters so much if you think you’re sitting on something special.

 

History of the 2000 Nickel

Felix Schlag won the Mint’s 1938 design competition, beating 390 other artists for a $1,000 prize. His left-facing Jefferson portrait and Monticello reverse stuck around for over eight decades.

Nothing changed design-wise for 2000. But millennium fever was real. Coins with “2000” on them became instant keepsakes.

The Mint leaned into the hype, releasing the 2000 United States Millennium Coinage & Currency Set, which sold out fast. Dealers put together their own sets pairing 2000-dated coins with pieces from 1900 or 1999.

Here’s a fun detail: most 2000 nickels didn’t show up in pocket change until after Valentine’s Day. Early supplies got scooped up by collectors and dealers before the public ever saw them.

The 2000 nickel also marked the last hurrah for Schlag’s original design before the Westward Journey series temporarily replaced Jefferson’s portrait in 2004–2005 for the Lewis and Clark Expedition bicentennial.

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

 

Is Your 2000 Nickel Rare?

In circulated grades, no. Billions were struck and most survived. Rarity only shows up at the very top of the grading scale — MS meaning the coin never saw commerce and shows zero wear.

PCGS CoinFacts calls both the 2000-P and 2000-D “really tough to find” in MS67. Fewer than a couple dozen are known for each. Nobody has graded either one MS68 or higher at PCGS.

The 2000-S Deep Cameo (DCAM) proof — “S” for San Francisco — is plentiful from PR67 through PR69 but genuinely rare at PR70, the highest possible grade. DCAM means the frosted design elements pop against mirror-like fields, the hallmark of a premium proof.

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

 

Key Features of the 2000 Nickel

Here’s what to look for on your 2000 Jefferson nickel — a coin that crossed into the new millennium carrying Felix Schlag’s classic 1938 design.

The Obverse of the 2000 Nickel

Jefferson’s left-facing portrait fills the obverse. Look beneath his shoulder for the designer’s initials “FS” — added in 1966 to finally credit Schlag after nearly 30 years without recognition.

“IN GOD WE TRUST” sits to the left of the portrait. “LIBERTY” runs along the right rim above the date. Flip the coin to check the mint mark just below the date: “P” for Philadelphia, “D” for Denver, or “S” for San Francisco proof editions. This obverse placement has been standard since 1968.

The Reverse of the 2000 Nickel

Monticello — Jefferson’s estate in Albemarle County, Virginia — dominates the reverse in a straight-on frontal view. The staircase at the base is what you really want to examine.

Look for “Full Steps” (FS): five or six crisp, unbroken horizontal lines across Monticello’s entrance portico. PCGS awards the FS designation when those steps are sharp and complete. NGC has further distinguished between 5FS and 6FS since 2004, with 6FS being the more desirable designation.

“E PLURIBUS UNUM” (Out of Many, One) crowns the top. “MONTICELLO” appears below the building, with “FIVE CENTS” and “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” completing the rim.

Other Features of the 2000 Nickel

The 2000 nickel measures 21.21 mm in diameter, weighs exactly 5.00 grams, and is 1.95 mm thick, with a smooth, plain edge. Its composition is 75% copper and 25% nickel — the standard cupronickel formula restored after World War II, when a temporary 35% silver alloy was used from 1942–1945 to conserve nickel for the war effort.

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

 

2000 Nickel Mintage & Survival Data

Denver cranked out over 1.5 billion coins. Philadelphia added 846 million, and San Francisco produced just over 3 million Deep Cameo proofs for collector sets — roughly 72% of which are believed to survive in collectible condition.

Nearly 2.4 billion coins combined. That’s why your circulated example is worth a nickel. High-grade survivors are scarce not because few were made, but because coins bouncing through counting machines and cash registers pick up bag marks fast.

One more thing: because 2000 nickels use a solid cupronickel alloy (not clad layers), split planchet errors — where the blank splits before or after striking — do occasionally turn up. Worth checking for.

Also Read: Jefferson Nickel Value (1938-Present)

 

The Easy Way to Know Your 2000 Nickel Value

2000 Nickel Value Guides

2000-P Nickel Value

Most people assume a coin with 846 million minted can’t be hard to find. They’re right — until you start looking in MS66 and above. PCGS CoinFacts calls MS66 “somewhat challenging to locate” and MS67 genuinely “difficult to find.”

Fewer than a few dozen 2000-P nickels have graded MS67 at PCGS. None have gone higher. The finest recorded MS66 Full Steps example sold for $2,530 in 2003. Even at lower uncirculated grades, Full Steps pieces regularly top $48.

Why so tough? When a mint is hammering out hundreds of millions of coins, die maintenance suffers. Striking pressure gets inconsistent. Those Monticello steps are the first casualty.

Here’s the recent auction performance for 2000-P nickels:

Market activity shows consistent collector interest throughout 2025:

 

2000-D Nickel Value

Here’s something that surprises people: the Denver mint struck nearly twice as many nickels as Philadelphia in 2000, yet Denver coins tend to bring more money for Full Steps examples. Denver’s dies just produced sharper step detail that year.

Up through MS65, the 2000-D is easy to find — you can still pull them from circulation. PCGS describes MS66 as scarce but “still easily obtainable as there are hundreds if not thousands of examples in existence.” MS67 is a completely different story. Fewer than a couple of dozen are known, and none have graded higher.

The finest recorded 2000-D example graded MS67 Full Steps sold for $1,898 in 2004 at auction — beating the 2000-P record at that time by over $600. If you’re cherrypicking rolls for Full Steps, I think Denver rolls are the better bet.

2000-D nickels maintain steady collector momentum throughout the year:

 

2000-S DCAM Nickel Value

Can a proof coin with 3,082,483 struck really be rare? At PR70, absolutely. That’s the catch with modern proofs — most grade between PR67 and PR69 thanks to careful Mint handling, but even the tiniest flaw keeps a coin from perfect grade.

The 2000-S was struck only as a proof at San Francisco and sold exclusively in proof sets. Never circulated. The Deep Cameo (DCAM) designation means mirror-like fields contrasting against frosted, white design elements — achieved through specially polished dies and multiple strikes.

The finest recorded PR70 Deep Cameo sold for $374 in 2006. We think PR70 examples are undervalued compared to top-pop circulation strikes, but the registry set crowd hasn’t pushed them hard yet.

Recent auction records demonstrate stable pricing for premium specimens:

2000-S DCAM nickels show consistent collector engagement across the year:

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

 

Rare 2000 Nickel Error List

Most 2000 nickels are worth a nickel. But a handful left the Mint with genuine striking errors that make them worth serious money. These mistakes happen during planchet prep, die production, or the strike itself. Here are the documented error types for 2000 nickels with confirmed auction results.

1. Two-Headed Die Mule Error (The Holy Grail)

This is the king. Two obverse dies accidentally struck the same planchet, putting Jefferson’s portrait on both sides — no Monticello at all.

Error coin specialist Fred Weinberg authenticated the piece and called it the only known U.S. coin struck with two obverse dies, describing it as a “unique and spectacular major mint error.” PCGS certified it MS65, and it made the cover of Mint Error News Magazine Issue 40. In 2018, this coin sold for an extraordinary $20,520 — over 410,000 times face value.

2. Wrong Planchet / Off-Metal Error

These happen when nickel dies accidentally strike a blank meant for a different denomination. Several 2000-P nickels struck on Lincoln cent planchets have been documented.

One famous example — a 2000-P nickel struck on a 1978 Lincoln cent planchet — sold for $12,075 in 2008. It weighs about 2.5 grams instead of the normal 5 grams and shows copper coloring throughout. A second piece, a 2000-P nickel struck on a 2000 cent planchet, was graded MS67 Red by NGC at Heritage Auctions.

3. Off-Center Strike Error

When the planchet doesn’t line up with the dies, you get a blank crescent on one side. The bigger the shift, the bigger the premium — especially if the date stays fully visible.

In 2011, a 2000-D nickel graded MS65 with a 35% off-center strike sold for $920. Jefferson’s portrait was pushed to one side, with parts of Monticello missing on the reverse. Pieces showing 40%+ off-center with a full date can bring even more.

4. Die Clash Error

A die clash happens when both dies smack together with no planchet between them. Ghost impressions transfer to each die and then show up on the next coins struck.

The 2000-P has one of the strongest documented die clashes in the modern Jefferson series — virtually every design element crossed over to the opposite die face. In 2014, GreatCollections Auction sold a 2000-P nickel graded MS66 with a die clash error for $980. You could see faint Monticello impressions behind Jefferson on the obverse.

5. Struck-Through Grease Error

Excess grease fills the recessed areas of the die, blocking full metal contact. The result is a coin with faint, ghostly, or missing details — especially visible in Jefferson’s hair and Monticello’s architecture.

In 2016, a 2000-P nickel graded MS68 with a dramatic struck-through grease error sold for $1,180 at Stack’s Bowers Auctions. Lower-grade examples with visible grease strikes typically sell for $100–$400 depending on severity.

6. Retained Die Break Error

When part of a die cracks under stress but stays attached, the cracked section leaves a raised, irregular bump on the coin’s surface.

In 2012, a 2000-D nickel graded MS66 with a retained die break on Monticello’s reverse sold for $845 at Heritage Auctions. The raised crescent-shaped break ran through the lower portion of the building.

7. Multiple Strike Error

The coin doesn’t eject after the first strike and gets hit again in a slightly different position. You end up with overlapping impressions.

In 2020, a 2000-D nickel graded MS69 with a multiple strike error sold for $1,450 at Heritage Auctions. Jefferson’s portrait and Monticello appeared rotated and overlapping — a dramatic look that collectors love.

8. Indented Strike Error

A foreign object — usually another blank planchet — gets pressed into the coin during striking, leaving a recessed area with raised edges.

In 2019, a 2000-D indented strike nickel graded MS65 sold at Heritage Auctions for $870. The oval-shaped indentation obscured part of Jefferson’s portrait and the date, while the reverse stayed fully intact.

9. Misaligned Die Error

One die sits off-center, shifting the design toward the coin’s edge. The rim comes out uneven, and inscriptions or the portrait may get cut off on one side.

In 2017, Stack’s Bowers sold a 2000-D nickel graded MS68 with a misaligned die error for $1,120. Jefferson’s profile and inscriptions shifted downward while the reverse stayed perfectly centered.

10. Improperly Annealed / Sintered Planchet Error

Annealing heats planchets to soften the metal before striking. When the process goes wrong — too hot, too cold, or uneven — the metal turns brittle, discolored, or grainy. GreatCollections has auctioned a 2000-D Jefferson nickel on an improperly annealed sintered planchet, certified by PCGS MS64, confirming these planchet prep errors exist for this date.

 

Where to Sell Your 2000 Nickel

With your coin’s value established, finding the right selling platform is the next step. I’ve put together a full overview of trusted sites with their pros and cons.

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

 

2000 Nickel Market Trend

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

 

FAQ About 2000 Nickel Value

1. What is a 2000 nickel worth in circulated condition?

Five cents. Both the P and D mint marks are extremely common in circulated grades. Only professionally certified Mint State (uncirculated) examples earn a premium above face value.

2. What makes a 2000 nickel valuable?

Three things: a high Mint State grade (MS65 or above), the Full Steps (FS) designation on Monticello’s staircase, and documented minting errors. A 2000-P graded MS67 can reach around $6,000, while the two-headed mule error sold for $20,520 in 2018.

3. What is the “Full Steps” designation and why does it matter?

Full Steps (FS) is awarded by PCGS or NGC when five or six complete, unbroken horizontal lines are visible at the base of Monticello on the reverse. High-volume striking pressure usually weakens these lines, so sharp examples are scarce. NGC further distinguishes 5FS from 6FS — the six-step variety being the more desirable of the two since NGC formalized the distinction in 2004. Full Steps coins can be worth many times more than non-FS coins of the same grade.

4. What is the rarest 2000 nickel?

The 2000-P two-headed mule error. It’s a unique coin struck with two obverse dies, so Jefferson’s portrait appears on both sides. Authenticated by PCGS as MS65 and confirmed as the only known example, it sold for $20,520 in 2018.

5. How much is the 2000-S proof nickel worth?

Around $3.08 in standard proof condition. In Deep Cameo (DCAM) grades PR69, expect $10–$20. The finest recorded PR70 DCAM example sold for $374 in 2006 — perfect-grade coins of any type are extremely hard to come by.

6. How do I tell the difference between a 2000-P and 2000-D nickel?

Check just below the date on the obverse. A small “P” means Philadelphia, “D” means Denver, and “S” means San Francisco proof. All three mint marks have been on the obverse since 1968.

7. What is a 2000 nickel struck on the wrong planchet worth?

Big money. A 2000-P nickel struck on a 1978 Lincoln cent planchet sold for $12,075 in 2008. These coins weigh about 2.5 grams instead of the normal 5 grams, have a copper color, and are smaller in diameter — about 19mm vs. the normal 21.2mm. Professional authentication from PCGS or NGC is essential before selling.

8. Why are MS67 examples of the 2000 nickel so rare if billions were made?

Massive production actually works against condition rarity. Coins struck by the billions get bounced through counting machines, bags, and registers, picking up bag marks fast. PCGS confirms fewer than a couple dozen 2000-P and 2000-D nickels have reached MS67, and none higher — making top-grade survivors genuinely scarce despite the enormous original mintage.

9. What is the Deep Cameo (DCAM) designation on the 2000-S proof nickel?

Deep Cameo — abbreviated DCAM — describes a proof coin where the design elements appear bright white and frosted against mirror-like, reflective fields. San Francisco achieves this with specially polished dies and multiple strikes per coin. DCAM examples command higher prices than standard proofs. CAM (Cameo) is a lesser designation showing some contrast, while DCAM shows the strongest possible contrast.

10. Is the 2000 nickel made of silver?

No. It’s 75% copper and 25% nickel — the standard cupronickel composition used since 1946. The only Jefferson nickels containing silver were the wartime issues from 1942–1945, which used a 35% silver alloy to conserve nickel for military needs. You can spot wartime silver nickels by the large mint mark above Monticello’s dome on the reverse — the only U.S. nickel ever to carry its mint mark in that position.