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On May 16, 1866 the nickel five-cent piece was officially adopted. Composition was specified as 75%
copper and 25% nickel. It was hoped that the coin would circulate widely. In contrast to what
happened to the contemporary two-cent and nickel three-cent pieces, the nickel five-cent pieces,
commonly called nickels, proved to be popular. The denomination is still in use today.
In 1938, the 25th year of the Buffalo nickel motif, it was decided to replace it with a new design.
After modifications the design, featuring Thomas Jefferson on the obverse and his home, Monticello,
on the reverse, was adopted for circulation. Mintage commenced in 1938 and has continued since
that time. Certain nickel varieties from 1942 to 1945 were struck in a special alloy composed of 56%
copper, 35% silver, and 9% manganese, to omit nickel which was in strong demand for war
purposes. Several interesting varieties occur in the series, including an issue of 1939 with the
inscriptions MONTICELLO and FIVE CENTS doubled, and several overmintmarks, the 1949-D over S,
1954-S over D, and 1955-D over S.
copper and 25% nickel. It was hoped that the coin would circulate widely. In contrast to what
happened to the contemporary two-cent and nickel three-cent pieces, the nickel five-cent pieces,
commonly called nickels, proved to be popular. The denomination is still in use today.
In 1938, the 25th year of the Buffalo nickel motif, it was decided to replace it with a new design.
After modifications the design, featuring Thomas Jefferson on the obverse and his home, Monticello,
on the reverse, was adopted for circulation. Mintage commenced in 1938 and has continued since
that time. Certain nickel varieties from 1942 to 1945 were struck in a special alloy composed of 56%
copper, 35% silver, and 9% manganese, to omit nickel which was in strong demand for war
purposes. Several interesting varieties occur in the series, including an issue of 1939 with the
inscriptions MONTICELLO and FIVE CENTS doubled, and several overmintmarks, the 1949-D over S,
1954-S over D, and 1955-D over S.
JEFFERSON NICKEL
Jefferson Nickels (1938-to Date)
1-877-261-6869