Most nickels are worth exactly 5 cents. But key dates, wartime silver issues, and famous errors are worth real money — from $2 for common silver war nickels to $4.56 million for the legendary 1913 Liberty Head. Check your nickel’s year below, or snap a photo and let our identifier do it for you.
Check a Nickel by Year
Enter any year from 1866 to 2025 to identify your nickel’s series, see what varieties to look for, and jump to its full value chart.
Nickel Value Checker by Picture
Check How Much Your Nickel Coin is Worth
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Free · No sign-up required · Works for Shield, Liberty Head, Buffalo, and Jefferson nickels. Not sure what year or variety you have? A photo of both sides is the fastest way to find out.
The Most Valuable Nickels: Key Dates, Errors & Varieties
These are the nickels collectors pay serious money for, across every design from Shield to modern Jefferson. Each falls into one of three groups: Key Dates (low-mintage years that are scarce in any condition), Errors (mistakes at the mint), and Varieties (die differences like doubled lettering or overdates). Highlighted rows can reach five figures and beyond.
| Coin | Series | Why it’s valuable | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1913 Liberty Head | Liberty | Error Struck secretly after the series officially ended — only 5 exist | $4,560,000 auction record |
| 1918/7-D Overdate | Buffalo | Variety An 8 punched over a 7 in the date — the top Buffalo variety | $350+ worn · $511,875 record (2024) |
| 1926-S | Buffalo | Key Date Lowest mintage of the entire Buffalo series (970,000) | $40+ worn · $322,000 record |
| 1916 Doubled Die Obverse | Buffalo | Variety Dramatic doubling in the date; very few known | $5,000+ worn · $281,750 record |
| 1937-D 3-Legged | Buffalo | Error Over-polished die erased the bison’s front leg — the most famous nickel error | $500+ worn · $99,875 record |
| 1964 SMS | Jefferson | Variety Mysterious Special Mint Set strike — satin surfaces, razor-sharp details | $1,220 – $21,600 |
| 1880 Shield | Shield | Key Date Key date of the first nickel series — under 20,000 struck for circulation | $200+ worn · $56,400 record |
| 1942-D/D over Horizontal D | Jefferson | Variety Mint mark punched over a sideways D during wartime production | $36+ worn · up to $6,900 MS |
| 1939 Doubled Monticello | Jefferson | Variety Strong doubling on MONTICELLO and FIVE CENTS | $9+ worn · up to $2,530 MS |
| 1943/2-P Overdate | Jefferson | Variety Wartime overdate on a 35% silver nickel | $25+ worn · up to $1,700 MS |
| 2005-D Speared Bison | Jefferson | Error Die gouge runs through the bison’s back — found in pocket change | $2+ worn · up to $2,300 MS |
| 1950-D | Jefferson | Key Date Lowest-mintage Jefferson (2.6 million) — hoarded since day one | $2+ worn · up to $170 MS |
| 1942–1945 War Nickels | Jefferson | Key Date 35% silver — large mint mark above Monticello’s dome | $4 – $5+ each in any grade |
Auction records verified against PCGS/Heritage sales · Jefferson data from our year charts, updated 2026-08-25 · Tap any coin for the full grade-by-grade breakdown
Want the complete lists? See the Top 100 Rarest Nickels, Top 100 Jefferson Nickels, Top 60+ Buffalo Nickels, and the full Nickel Error List.
Nickel Value Charts by Series
Every U.S. nickel belongs to one of four main series. Find yours below to see what to look for and jump to detailed values.
Jefferson Nickel
- Common datesFace value – $5 MS
- Key dates1939 DDR · 1950-D · 1964 SMS
- Silver years1942 – 1945 (35% silver)
Buffalo Nickel
- Common dates$0.50 – $5
- Key dates1918/7-D · 1926-S · 1937-D 3-Leg
- Top value$511,875 (1918/7-D record)
Liberty Head (V) Nickel
- Common dates$1 – $10
- Key dates1885 · 1886 · 1912-S
- Top value$4.56M (1913, 5 known)
Shield Nickel
- Common dates$15 – $50
- Key dates1877 · 1878 · 1880
- Top value$2,000+ (key dates, MS)
How to Check What Your Nickel Is Worth
Find the date and mint mark
On Jefferson nickels the mint mark sits right of Monticello (1938–1964), above the dome on war nickels (1942–1945), or by the date (1968+). On Buffalos it’s under FIVE CENTS on the reverse.
Look for varieties and errors
Check the date for overdates (1918/7-D, 1943/2), the bison’s legs (1937-D 3-Legged, 2005 Speared Bison), and doubling on Monticello. Errors — not age — create most valuable nickels.
Judge the condition
Wear on the bison’s horn and Jefferson’s cheekbone separates common coins from premium ones. Full Steps on Monticello can multiply a Jefferson nickel’s value many times over.
Found Something Valuable? Do This Next
Don’t clean it. Cleaning permanently damages a coin’s surface and can cut its value by half or more — grading services can always tell.
Get it graded if it’s worth $100+. Professional grading by PCGS or NGC authenticates the coin and certifies its condition. For Jefferson nickels, a Full Steps designation from a grading service can turn a $5 coin into a $500 one, so certification often pays for itself.
Compare selling options. Rare dates and certified coins do best at auction or with specialist dealers; war nickels typically sell in bulk by silver content. Check recent sold prices for your exact date, mint mark, and grade before accepting an offer.
Nickel Value FAQ
What is the most valuable nickel?
The 1913 Liberty Head nickel — only five exist, struck under mysterious circumstances after the series officially ended. The auction record is $4,560,000, set in 2018. Among coins you could realistically find, the 1918/7-D overdate, 1916 Doubled Die, and 1937-D 3-Legged Buffalo are the most valuable.
Which nickels are made of silver?
Only the wartime issues: nickels struck from mid-1942 through 1945 contain 35% silver, because nickel metal was needed for World War II. You can identify them instantly by the large mint mark (P, D, or S) above Monticello’s dome on the reverse — the only nickels with a mint mark in that position. Every other U.S. nickel is 75% copper and 25% nickel with no silver.
How do I know if my Buffalo nickel is valuable?
Check three things: the date (1913-S Type 2, 1921-S, 1924-S, and 1926-S are key dates), the overdates (1918/7-D shows an 8 punched over a 7), and the bison’s front leg (missing on the 1937-D 3-Legged variety). A Buffalo nickel with no visible date has lost most of its collector value, though key-date candidates can be tested with date-restoring solution.
Is a 1964 nickel worth anything?
Usually no — over 2.8 billion were struck, the highest nickel mintage ever, so circulated examples are worth face value. The exception is the rare 1964 SMS (Special Mint Set) strike, with satin surfaces and razor-sharp details, worth $1,220 to $21,600 certified. High-grade regular strikes with Full Steps on Monticello also carry premiums.
What are Full Steps and why do they matter?
Full Steps (FS) means all five or six steps at the base of Monticello are fully visible and unbroken — evidence of a sharp strike. Because most Jefferson nickels were weakly struck, Full Steps examples are dramatically scarcer: the designation can multiply a coin’s value by 10× or more for certain dates, especially from the 1950s–1970s.
Should I clean my old nickels before selling them?
No. Cleaning removes the original surface and leaves marks that grading services flag as damage. A cleaned key-date coin can lose 50% or more of its value. Leave the coin exactly as you found it and let a professional evaluate it.
How we price nickels: values on this page and in our year-by-year charts are compiled from recent auction records, certified-coin sales, and dealer price lists, and are refreshed regularly by our pricing system. Figures represent typical retail values; actual offers vary with grade, strike quality (Full Steps), and market demand. For coins potentially worth $100 or more, we recommend professional authentication by PCGS or NGC before selling.
