Nickels have been a part of U.S. currency for a long time, but they weren’t always made from nickel. In fact, the original 5-cent coins, called “half-dimes,” first appeared back in 1794 and were made from precious metals like silver. The nickel we recognize today wasn’t introduced until 1866.
While most of the nickels you come across may seem ordinary, some are worth a lot more than just 5 cents. If you’re lucky enough to find a rare one, it could be worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
A Brief History of U.S. Nickels
The earliest nickels were known as Shield Nickels and were minted from 1866 to 1883. After that, the Liberty Head Nickel was introduced and produced until 1913.
The famous Buffalo Nickel (also called the Indian Head Nickel) came next, minted from 1913 to 1938. Today, we use the Jefferson Nickel, which has been in circulation since 1938.
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Valuable Nickels You Might Find
Some of the most valuable nickels in circulation today come from older mintages, especially those made before World War I.
However, you might also find rare versions minted during World War II, when the U.S. added silver and manganese to nickels to save nickel metal for the war.
Here are nine rare nickels that could be worth a lot more than face value:
1926-S Buffalo Nickel
Estimated value: $4,200
One of the rarest Buffalo nickels, especially in good condition.
1916 Double Die Buffalo Nickel
Estimated value: $3,800
This error coin is highly sought after due to its double-die design.
1918/17-D Buffalo Nickel (Overdated)
Estimated value: $3,500
Another rare error coin where the year 1918 is stamped over 1917.
1879 Shield Nickel
Estimated value: $2,400
Shield nickels from this year are very rare and valuable.
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1937-D 3-Legged Buffalo Nickel
Estimated value: $2,000
Due to a minting error, this coin appears to have only three legs on the buffalo.
1880 Shield Nickel
Estimated value: $2,000
Another highly valuable Shield nickel from a rare year.
1942-P Jefferson Nickel
Estimated value: $800
Made with silver due to wartime metal shortages, these Jefferson nickels are worth more.
1950-D Jefferson Nickel
Estimated value: $600-$800
A well-preserved version of this coin can fetch a high price.
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1939 “Doubled Monticello” Nickel
Estimated value: $500
This coin has a double-stamped image of Monticello, making it a valuable find.
Final Thoughts
While it’s unlikely that you’ll stumble upon the most famous and valuable nickel, like the 1913 Liberty Head Nickel (worth over $3 million), there are still plenty of rare nickels out there that could make you a lot of money.
If you happen to come across one of the coins listed above, you may have found a small treasure in your pocket!