2004 Nickel Value Checker: Errors List, “D”, “S” & “P” Mint Mark Worth

2004 Nickel value ranges from $0.05 face value to $4,230. That record was a Grade 68 Peace Medal example sold through Heritage Auctions in January 2016 — a special design year that draws strong collector interest in top condition. Upload a photo of yours below to get a quick value range. Then scroll down to check what 2004 Nickels are selling for on eBay right now.

 

2004 Nickel Value By Variety

Use this chart to find collector values for each 2004 nickel type across condition grades. For exact pricing by grade, jump to the Value Guides section below.

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

 

Top 10 Most Valuable 2004 Nickel Worth Money

The king of the 2004 nickel world is a 2004-P Peace Medal graded MS68. It hammered for $4,230 at Heritage Auctions in January 2016, setting the all-time record for the series. That was peak-market money, though. Later MS68 sales came in at $3,055 in 2017 and $1,920 in 2021 per PCGS auction data. The market cooled, but MS68 Peace Medals still carry real weight.

Proofs hold their own too — a 2004-S Peace Medal PR70 brought $1,725 as part of a matched set at Heritage Auctions in June 2005. On the Keel Boat side, the 2004-D MS68 from the Steven Strom collection hit $940, and the 2004-P MS68 reached $895, both sold in 2016. Error collectors have a seat at the table as well: a 2004-P Peace Medal doubled die obverse (FS-101) in MS65 can pull $395 or more.

 

History of the 2004 Nickel

For 66 years, the Jefferson nickel barely changed. Then 2004 blew the doors open. The U.S. Mint launched the Westward Journey Nickel Series to mark the 200th anniversary of the Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

Congress authorized the redesign through the American 5-Cent Coin Design Continuity Act of 2003 (H.R. 258), signed by President George W. Bush on April 23, 2003. The House passed it 412-to-5 on February 26, 2003. The Senate followed on April 11, 2003. Not exactly controversial.

Here’s a fun backstory: Representative Eric Cantor (R-Virginia) originally worried about removing Monticello — it’s in his home state, after all. He only backed the bill after getting a guarantee written into law that both Jefferson’s portrait and Monticello would return to the nickel starting in 2006.

The Act also required the Secretary of the Treasury to consult the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) and the Commission of Fine Arts before finalizing designs. Lots of hoops to jump through for a five-cent coin.

The first 2004 design hit circulation on March 1, 2004 — the Peace Medal reverse. Norman E. Nemeth, a U.S. Mint sculptor-engraver, created it based on the original 1801 Jefferson Peace Medal that Lewis and Clark actually handed out to Native American tribal chiefs along the route. The historical medal’s original designer, John Reich, sometimes gets a credit too.

Later that year came the Keel Boat reverse by Al Maletsky, another Mint sculptor-engraver. That 55-foot keelboat could be sailed, rowed, poled like a raft, or towed from the riverbank. Pretty versatile for 1804 technology.

The program continued into 2005 with two more designs — the American Bison (Jamie Franki) and Ocean in View (Joe Fitzgerald, inspired by Captain William Clark’s famous November 7, 1805 journal entry). By 2006, the nickel went back to its traditional Jefferson-Monticello look with a new forward-facing portrait.

These were the first major Jefferson nickel redesigns since the series debuted in 1938. That one-year-only status keeps collectors interested, even though circulated examples are everywhere.

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

 

Is Your 2004 Nickel Rare?

Check your 2004 nickel’s rarity instantly with the Coin Identifier and Value App by scanning your coin to discover if you have a valuable variety or common piece.

 

Key Features of the 2004 Nickel

The 2004 nickel is a landmark year — two brand-new commemorative reverses replaced Monticello for the first time since 1938.

The Obverse of the 2004 Nickel

You’ll see the same left-facing Jefferson portrait Felix Schlag designed back in 1938. It’s based on Jean-Antoine Houdon’s famous 1789 bust — note the colonial-era pigtail hairstyle.

“IN GOD WE TRUST” runs along the left rim. “LIBERTY” sits on the right side with “2004” below it. Look just to the right of Jefferson’s ponytail, below the date — that’s where you’ll find the mint mark (P, D, or S).

The Reverse of the 2004 Nickel

Flip it over and you’ll find one of two designs, depending on when the coin was struck that year.

Peace Medal reverse shows clasped hands — one wearing a military-style cuff for the U.S. Government, the other with a silver band decorated with beads and an American eagle for Native American tribes. Above the handshake you’ll see “LOUISIANA PURCHASE” and “1803.” “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” runs along the outer rim with “FIVE CENTS” at the bottom.

Keel Boat reverse features the expedition’s keelboat under full sail, shown from an angled side view with detailed rigging. “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” arcs along the top, “E PLURIBUS UNUM” appears above the boat, and “LEWIS & CLARK” sits near the vessel. “FIVE CENTS” is at the bottom.

Other Features of the 2004 Nickel

Standard Jefferson nickel specs here: smooth edge, 75% copper and 25% nickel, 5 grams, 21.20 mm diameter, 1.95 mm thick.

One important note — the “Full Steps” (FS) designation does NOT apply to 2004 nickels. That grading bonus is only for nickels with the Monticello reverse, where fully struck staircase steps signal a premium strike. No Monticello in 2004 means no FS coins. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

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

 

2004 Nickel Mintage & Survival Data

Philadelphia cranked out 361,440,000 Peace Medal coins and 366,720,000 Keel Boat coins. Denver was right there with 372,000,000 Peace Medal pieces and 366,000,000 Keel Boat pieces. Production was nearly even between the two mints.

San Francisco made proof coins only — 2,992,069 Peace Medal sets and 2,965,422 Keel Boat sets, all with deep cameo (DCAM) finishes. That’s less than 1% of total 2004 nickel production. To put it another way, for every single proof struck, roughly 245 business strikes rolled off the presses.

Here’s a quirky detail: it cost the government just 3.46 cents to make and distribute each nickel in fiscal year 2003. Today, the metal in a 2004 nickel is worth about $0.0594 — roughly 19% above face value. Not that you can legally melt them; federal law (31 C.F.R. § 82) prohibits melting or mass export of nickels and cents.

Both Philadelphia and Denver issues show an 80% survival rate. Proofs? A remarkable 98.12%. Collectors baby those things.

Also Read: Jefferson Nickel Value (1938-Present)

 

The Easy Way to Know Your 2004 Nickel Value

Your 2004 nickel’s value comes down to its grade on the Sheldon Scale — Poor (P-1) all the way up to Perfect Uncirculated (MS-70). First, check the mint mark on the obverse: “P” for Philadelphia, “D” for Denver, or “S” for San Francisco proofs. Each has its own value curve.

Look at Jefferson’s cheekbone and the coin’s overall luster. Bag marks and wear there tell you a lot about grade.

The Coin Identifier and Value App provides instant identification and grading results by simply scanning your coin, eliminating guesswork about condition and potential value.

 

2004 Nickel Value Guides

Three mints, two designs each. Here’s what you need to know about every variety.

• 2004-P Nickel
• 2004-D Nickel
• 2004-S DCAM Nickel

You’ll find P and D mint marks in pocket change all the time. S proofs stay in collector hands almost exclusively.

 

2004-P Nickel Value

How many 2004-P nickels did Philadelphia make? Over 728 million across both designs. Yet finding one that grades MS68 is like finding a needle in a haystack made of other needles.

The Peace Medal variety had a mintage of 361,440,000, and the Keel Boat followed with 366,720,000 pieces. PCGS reports about 2,750 certified examples of the Peace Medal at MS68 — sounds like a lot, but registry set builders keep snapping them up and prices stay elevated.

2004-P Peace Medal

From MS60 through MS65, these are everywhere. Easy coins to find raw or slabbed. Once you hit MS66, they start thinning out. MS67 gets tough. MS68 is the top pop.

The auction record sits at $4,230 for an MS68 sold by Heritage Auctions on January 6, 2016. That was peak-bubble pricing, though. Later MS68 sales came in at $3,055 in 2017 and $1,920 in 2021. As of late 2025, a more typical MS68 value hovers around $494.

2004-P Keel Boat

Same story on availability — plenty of coins in lower mint state grades, then a cliff at the top. PCGS CoinFacts shows only about 30 examples in MS68. None higher.

The record sale is an MS68 that brought $895 in April 2021 through Heritage Auctions. That’s well below the Peace Medal record, but still serious money for a modern circulation strike. If you just want a nice example for your collection, attractive MS65 to MS66 coins run under $20.

The chart below documents auction results for 2004-P nickel.

Collector engagement with 2004-P nickels reflects their historical significance and grade-based rarity among modern Jefferson issues.

 

2004-D Nickel Value

Did you know the Denver Mint’s combined 2004 output nearly matched Philadelphia’s coin for coin? Yet the two facilities produced subtly different results at the top of the grading scale. Look for the “D” mint mark below the date.

Most surviving MS67+ examples probably came from original bank-wrapped rolls, not pocket change. That’s the reality with modern coins — condition rarity is all about how they were stored, not how many were made.

2004-D Peace Medal

Circulated and lower uncirculated grades? Common as dirt. MS66 is still findable without too much effort. MS67 gets genuinely scarce from circulation finds.

The auction record is an MS68 that sold for $900 in March 2021. PCGS CoinFacts confirms MS68 is the ceiling — no higher-graded examples exist. Mid-grade uncirculated pieces remain cheap and cheerful for most collectors.

2004-D Keel Boat

Here’s where it gets interesting. The Denver Keel Boat is actually a bit tougher to find in MS68 than the Philadelphia version, even though both have roughly 30 known examples at that grade per PCGS CoinFacts.

The top sale is an MS68 from the Steven Strom collection — $940 at Heritage Auctions in January 2016. The current NGC guide value is $400, and aggregated market data as of late 2025 puts more typical values around $119. That’s a big correction from the 2015-2016 new-issue bubble, but still impressive for a coin that cost a nickel to buy.

Historical auction data for Denver specimens appears below.

Trading patterns for 2004-D nickels show how collectors value these commemorative issues.

 

2004-S DCAM Nickel Value

If you’ve never held a Deep Cameo proof nickel, you’re missing out. The contrast between the frosty raised design and the mirror-like fields is stunning — especially on the Peace Medal’s clasped hands.

The “S” mint mark tells you it’s from San Francisco. Deep Cameo (DCAM) means the frost-to-mirror contrast is strong and even across the entire coin. These were struck on polished planchets with specially prepared dies, and the careful handling shows in their survival rates.

2004-S DCAM Peace Medal

Most examples sell for $4.95 to $9.14. Affordable entry point for new collectors. The DCAM finish makes the handshake design pop in a way business strikes can’t match.

The record holder is a PCGS PR70 DCAM that sold as part of a completed matched PR70 set for $1,725 at Heritage Auctions on June 2, 2005. Here’s a wild detail: that coin had a small planchet flaw between the “G” and “O” in GOD — yet it still got a perfect PR70 grade because the flaw existed before striking and wasn’t post-mint damage.

2004-S DCAM Keel Boat

I think the Keel Boat design looks its absolute best in Deep Cameo proof. The intricate rigging and hull details really benefit from that frosted finish against polished fields.

The auction record is a PR70 DCAM that sold for $270 as part of a 5-coin proof set in November 2013. Common PR-69 DCAM examples retail for $15 to $20. A perfect PR-70 DCAM typically runs about $250 — actually a touch higher than the Peace Medal PR-70, possibly because the Keel Boat mintage of 2,965,422 is slightly lower than the Peace Medal’s 2,992,069.

Documented sales records for San Francisco proofs are below.

The market for 2004-S DCAM nickels reflects collector appreciation for these carefully produced commemorative specimens.

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

 

Rare 2004 Nickel Error List

Most 2004 nickels are worth a nickel. But errors? That’s where the fun starts. Here are the varieties worth cherrypicking.

1. 2004-P DDO FS-101 Peace Medal

This is the error variety every 2004 nickel hunter wants to find. A doubled die obverse (DDO) happens when the working die gets multiple hub impressions at slightly different angles, leaving raised doubling on the coin’s design.

It’s cataloged as FS-101 in the Cherrypickers’ Guide to Rare Die Varieties and also carries the NGC attribution FS-2004P-111. PCGS uses the FS-101 designation. Look at the date “2004,” the word “LIBERTY,” and “IN GOD WE TRUST” — you’ll see clear separation of the letters and numerals.

The best part? You can spot this one naked-eye. No loupe required, though 5x to 10x magnification confirms the diagnostics. An MS65 example sold for $185 on eBay in April 2021, and higher-grade specimens have reached $395. This is a coin worth checking every Peace Medal you come across.

2. 2004-P or 2004-D Rim Cud Error

Rim cuds are hard to miss. A chunk breaks off the die’s rim, and subsequent strikes fill that gap with metal, creating a raised blob along the coin’s edge. Bigger blob, bigger value.

A collector paid $910 on eBay in 2011 for a 2004-D MS66 with a large rim cud. Dramatic looking and easy to spot — no magnification needed.

3. 2004 Clipped Planchet Error

This happens when the blanking punch overlaps a previously punched hole in the metal strip, shearing off part of the blank. You’ll see straight clips, curved clips, or jagged clips depending on where the overlap occurred.

A 2004 Jefferson nickel with a straight clipped planchet brought $715 at Heritage Auctions in 2007. Want to authenticate one? Weigh it. A genuine clip will come in noticeably under the standard 5.00-gram weight.

4. 2004-P Annealing Error (Copper-Colored Nickel)

When blanks get too much heat during manufacturing, the copper in the alloy migrates to the surface. The result? A nickel that looks copper, brown, reddish, or even black. The darkest ones get called “Black Beauties.”

Heritage Auctions sold a 2004-P MS65 copper-colored annealing error for $1,115 in 2008. Typical examples in lower grades go for $15 to $50, with vivid copper tones or unusual color patterns reaching $75 to $150.

5. 2004-D Adjusted Die Error

An adjusted die error means the die spacing was off, causing one area of the coin to strike weaker than intended. Heritage Auctions sold a 2004-D Keel Boat MS64 with this error for $980 in 2017.

6. 2004-D Brockage Error

A brockage is one of the more visually dramatic errors you’ll encounter. A previously struck coin sticks to the die and becomes the new striking surface, stamping a mirror-image impression onto the next coin through the press.

A 2004-D MS66 brockage sold for $1,450 at Great Collections — one of the highest prices for any 2004 nickel error outside the top MS68 business strikes.

 

Where to Sell Your 2004 Nickel?

With a clear understanding of your 2004 Nickel’s worth, the next step is finding the right marketplace to maximize your return. I’ve compiled a comprehensive guide featuring top online platforms for selling your coins, complete with detailed introductions, advantages, and disadvantages.

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

 

2004 Nickel Market Trend

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

 

FAQ about the 2004 Nickel

1. What makes a 2004 Nickel rare?

Both the Peace Medal and Keel Boat are one-year-only designs — that alone makes them type coins. But the real rarity is at the top of the grading scale. PCGS data shows only about 30 examples of the 2004-P Keel Boat in MS68, with none graded higher. Error varieties like the FS-101 doubled die obverse add another layer for specialists.

2. How much is a 2004 Nickel worth today?

Most circulated examples? Face value. Maybe a few cents over. In higher grades, values jump — up to $60.25 for top Philadelphia strikes and $19.50 for Denver issues. The all-time record is $4,230 for a 2004-P Peace Medal MS68 (Heritage Auctions, January 2016), though typical MS68 values as of late 2025 sit closer to $494. San Francisco DCAM proofs in standard grades trade between $4.95 and $9.14.

3. How do I tell if my 2004 Nickel is valuable?

First, flip it over — Peace Medal or Keel Boat? Then check the mint mark (P, D, or S). Hold it under good light and look for full luster and minimal bag marks, which point to higher mint state grades.

Now examine the date “2004” and “LIBERTY” closely. If you see doubled images visible to the naked eye, you might have the FS-101 DDO variety. For certainty, submit to PCGS (Professional Coin Grading Service) or NGC (Numismatic Guaranty Company).

4. Does the 2004 Nickel have a “Full Steps” designation like other Jefferson nickels?

Nope. Full Steps (FS) only applies to nickels with the Monticello reverse — it grades the five or six staircase lines at the base of the building. Since 2004 replaced Monticello with the Peace Medal and Keel Boat, there are no steps to evaluate. You won’t find FS-designated 2004 nickels in any grading registry.

5. What is the FS-101 doubled die obverse on the 2004 nickel?

The FS-101 (also NGC’s FS-2004P-111) is a documented doubled die obverse on the 2004-P Peace Medal nickel. During die-making, the hub struck the working die more than once at a slightly different angle, leaving a double image on the date, LIBERTY, and IN GOD WE TRUST.

You can see it without magnification. An MS65 example sold for $185 in April 2021, while certified MS65 specimens have reached $395. It’s one of only a handful of confirmed doubled die varieties in the entire Jefferson nickel series.

6. How was the 2004 nickel design chosen and who designed it?

The American 5-Cent Coin Design Continuity Act of 2003 (H.R. 258) governed the process, requiring the Secretary of the Treasury to consult the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) and the Commission of Fine Arts. Norman E. Nemeth designed the Peace Medal reverse, modeled after the original 1801 Jefferson Peace Medal. Al Maletsky designed the Keel Boat reverse. Both were U.S. Mint sculptor-engravers.

7. Why are 2004-D Keel Boat nickels harder to find in MS68 than 2004-P Keel Boat nickels?

PCGS CoinFacts notes the 2004-D Keel Boat is slightly tougher in MS68 than the Philadelphia version, with approximately 30 examples known for both. Denver’s striking and handling process appears to have made pristine preservation marginally harder. Any coin at this grade level almost certainly survived in an original wrapped roll — not from someone’s pocket.

8. Are there valuable 2004 nickel errors besides the doubled die?

Absolutely. A 2004-D MS66 with a large rim cud sold for $910 on eBay in 2011. A straight clipped planchet brought $715 at Heritage Auctions in 2007. A 2004-P MS65 copper-colored annealing error hit $1,115 at Heritage Auctions in 2008. And a 2004-D MS66 brockage sold for $1,450 at Great Collections.

9. What is the difference between a 2004 proof nickel and a business strike nickel?

Business strikes (P and D) are mass-produced for circulation. Proof nickels (S mint mark, San Francisco) are struck on polished planchets with specially prepared dies, creating mirror-like fields and frosted raised designs. When the frost-to-mirror contrast is especially sharp, it earns the Deep Cameo (DCAM) label.

Proofs are sold directly to collectors in annual sets and never enter circulation. They have a 98.12% survival rate versus roughly 80% for business strikes. Even common PR69 DCAM examples retail for $15 to $20.

10. Is it worth having my 2004 nickel professionally graded by PCGS or NGC?

Only if the coin’s value clearly exceeds the grading fee, which typically runs $20 to $40 per coin. Grading makes sense if your coin looks MS67 or higher, shows a confirmed FS-101 doubled die, or has a major error like a clipped planchet, annealing error, or rim cud.

For common MS60 to MS65 examples, you’ll spend more on grading than the coin is worth. Use the Coin Identifier and Value App for a quick assessment before deciding on professional certification.