Jefferson Nickels 1938-1964, Circulation Issue
Private
Updated:
5/26/2025
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The Jefferson nickel has been the five-cent coin struck by the United States Mint since 1938, when it replaced the beloved Buffalo nickel. From 1938 until 1964, the copper-nickel coin's obverse featured a profile depiction of Founding Father and third U.S. President Thomas Jefferson by artist Felix Schlag.
First struck in 1913, the Buffalo nickel had long been difficult to coin, and after it completed the 25-year term during which it could be replaced only by Congress, the Mint moved quickly to replace it with a new design. The Mint conducted a design competition, in early 1938, requiring that Jefferson be depicted on the obverse and Jefferson's house Monticello on the reverse. Schlag won the competition, but was required to submit an entirely new reverse and make other changes before the new piece went into production in October 1938.
As nickel was a strategic war material during World War II, nickels coined from 1942 to 1945 were struck in a copper-silver-manganese alloy which would not require adjustment to vending machines. They bear a large mint mark above the depiction of Monticello on the reverse.
Like many collectors young and old, thousands of Jeffersons have been plucked out of circulation and pressed into assorted coin books. Although many mint state examples are readily available, assembling a set of higher-grade examples can be quite challenging.
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