1959 Jefferson Nickel Coin Value: How Much Is It Worth?
Most 1959 Jefferson nickels that have seen any circulation are worth face value or close to it. Uncirculated examples carry modest premiums, with USA Coin Book guide estimates running around $0.30 at MS60 up to $19 at MS65.
Proof and error coins follow their own pricing curves, so the exact version and condition of your piece matter quite a bit.
Fast Way to Identify Your 1959 Jefferson Nickel
The quickest way to start figuring out what you have is to upload clear photos of the front and back of your coin. That lets us help with preliminary identification of the mint, finish and any obvious variety markers.
Good lighting and a steady hand go a long way toward a useful first look.
1959 Jefferson Nickel Value
Upload both sides of your 1959 Jefferson Nickel.
Front Obverse
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Back Reverse
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Which 1959 Jefferson Nickel Versions Are Worth Money?
- Uncirculated Philadelphia and Denver business strikes at MS65 list around $19 in the USA Coin Book guide; Full Steps coins command separate, higher premiums.
- A 1959 nickel struck on a cent planchet sold for $564 at Heritage Auctions in September 2019, graded PCGS MS64 RB.
- Proof specimens have their own value curve, with a PR65 guide estimate of about $3.62; cameo contrast examples may carry additional premiums.
- An improperly annealed planchet is a recognized mint error for this date, but authentication is essential since dark color alone does not confirm it.
Step 1: Identify Your 1959 Jefferson Nickel Mint Mark and Version
The 1959 nickel comes in three main flavors. Philadelphia business strikes carry no mintmark at all.
Denver coins show a small "D" to the right of Monticello on the reverse. Proofs were struck only at Philadelphia and also lack a mintmark, but they have mirror-like fields and sharply detailed devices that set them apart from circulation pieces.
All three are 75% copper, 25% nickel, weigh about 5.00 grams and measure 21.2 mm with a plain edge. Weighing your coin can help screen out a wrong-planchet error, but weight alone cannot authenticate one.
Before looking up a value, note the date, mintmark presence or absence, and finish type. Record both sides of the coin.
A shiny surface does not automatically mean uncirculated, and a proof is a manufacturing method, not a grade above Mint State.
Step 2: Check Your 1959 Jefferson Nickel Grade
Start on the obverse by examining Jefferson's cheekbone and the hair detail above his ear. In higher grades the individual strands remain sharp, while circulated coins show progressive flattening and loss of luster across the high points.
On the reverse, check the roof line and columns of Monticello for similar softness.
A coin can look weak in those areas even without wear if the strike was shallow. That distinction matters.
Full Steps is a separate strike-quality designation applied only to Mint State business strikes, referring to complete, uninterrupted horizontal lines on the base of Monticello.
Compare your coin against the grading image to gauge where it falls. Look at overall surface preservation, contact marks and eye appeal alongside the wear checkpoints.
Step 3: Check 1959 Jefferson Nickel Value by Mint and Version
1959 Jefferson Nickel — No mintmark (Philadelphia) Business strike
The 1959 Philadelphia business strike is the no-mintmark version. Look at the reverse to the right of Monticello: if there is no letter there, you have a Philly coin.
These were struck in large numbers and most circulated examples trade near face value.
USA Coin Book lists guide estimates of about $0.30 at MS60 and $19 at MS65 for this issue. Full Steps specimens, where the horizontal lines at the base of Monticello are complete and unbroken, are graded separately and can bring higher prices.
A coin that simply looks shiny is not necessarily uncirculated, so check the cheekbone and hair for wear before assuming a high grade.
| Range | Grade | Price | Auction Records | Appraisal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | PO 1 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| FR | FR 2 | — | — | — |
| AG | AG 3 | — | — | — |
| G | G 4 | — | — | — |
| G 6 | — | — | — | |
| VG | VG 8 | — | — | — |
| VG 10 | — | — | — | |
| F | F 12 | — | — | — |
| F 15 | — | — | — | |
| VF | VF 20 | — | — | — |
| VF 25 | — | — | — | |
| VF 30 | — | — | — | |
| VF 35 | — | — | — | |
| XF | XF 40 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| XF 45 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| AU | AU 50 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| AU 53 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| AU 55 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| AU 58 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| MS | MS 60 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| MS 61 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| MS 62 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| MS 63 | Coin Identifier | |||
| MS 64 | Coin Identifier | |||
| MS 65 | Coin Identifier | |||
| MS 66 | Coin Identifier | |||
| MS 67 | — | — | — | |
| MS 68 | — | — | — | |
| MS 69 | — | — | — | |
| MS 70 | — | — | — |
1959 Jefferson Nickel — No mintmark (Philadelphia) Proof
Proofs of the 1959 nickel were struck at Philadelphia with no mintmark, just like the business strike. The difference is obvious once you know what to look for: proof surfaces show mirror-like fields and frosted, razor-sharp design elements that no amount of careful handling can replicate on a regular coin.
Coin Value Lookup is a handy starting point if you want to compare proof values across other Jefferson nickel dates while you research your piece.
The USA Coin Book guide places a PR65 example at about $3.62. Certified cameo or deep cameo proofs with strong contrast between frosted devices and reflective fields may bring more, though specific premiums for those designations are not covered here.
| Range | Grade | Price | Auction Records | Appraisal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PR | PR 1 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| PR 2 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 3 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 4 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 6 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 8 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 10 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 12 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 15 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 20 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 25 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 30 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 35 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 40 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 45 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 50 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 53 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 55 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 58 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 60 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 61 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 62 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 63 | Coin Identifier | |||
| PR 64 | Coin Identifier | |||
| PR 65 | Coin Identifier | |||
| PR 66 | Coin Identifier | |||
| PR 67 | Coin Identifier | |||
| PR 68 | Coin Identifier | |||
| PR 69 | Coin Identifier | |||
| PR 70 | — | — | — |
1959 Jefferson Nickel — D Business strike
The 1959-D was struck at the Denver Mint and carries a small "D" mintmark to the right of Monticello on the reverse. It shares the same 75% copper, 25% nickel composition and 5.00-gram weight as the Philadelphia issue.
USA Coin Book guide estimates sit at roughly $0.30 in MS60 and $19 in MS65. As with the Philadelphia version, Full Steps examples are evaluated separately.
Most circulated 1959-D nickels are common and trade near face value, but a sharply struck, well-preserved uncirculated coin is a different story. Check the mintmark area carefully, because repunched mintmark varieties have been reported for this date.
| Range | Grade | Price | Auction Records | Appraisal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | PO 1 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| FR | FR 2 | — | — | — |
| AG | AG 3 | — | — | — |
| G | G 4 | — | — | — |
| G 6 | — | — | — | |
| VG | VG 8 | — | — | — |
| VG 10 | — | — | — | |
| F | F 12 | — | — | — |
| F 15 | — | — | — | |
| VF | VF 20 | — | — | — |
| VF 25 | — | — | — | |
| VF 30 | — | — | — | |
| VF 35 | — | — | — | |
| XF | XF 40 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| XF 45 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| AU | AU 50 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| AU 53 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| AU 55 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| AU 58 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| MS | MS 60 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| MS 61 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| MS 62 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| MS 63 | Coin Identifier | |||
| MS 64 | Coin Identifier | |||
| MS 65 | Coin Identifier | |||
| MS 66 | Coin Identifier | |||
| MS 67 | Coin Identifier | |||
| MS 68 | — | — | — | |
| MS 69 | — | — | — | |
| MS 70 | — | — | — |
1959 Jefferson Nickel Error List
1. 1959 Jefferson Nickel — Struck on a cent planchet
A 1959 nickel struck on a cent planchet is a wrong-planchet error where the nickel dies came down on a smaller, copper cent blank. The result is a coin that carries the Jefferson nickel design but is noticeably undersized, with cropped or stretched legends around the rim and a weight well under the normal 5 grams.
The edge and color are your first clues: copper rather than the usual silvery nickel alloy. A PCGS MS64 RB example sold through Heritage Auctions in September 2019 for $564.
That is a single authenticated specimen, not a blanket price for every coin that looks coppery.
Lookalikes include copper-plated nickels, chemically toned coins, and nickels that have been ground down. Third-party authentication is the only reliable way to confirm a genuine wrong-planchet strike.
2. 1959 Jefferson Nickel — Improperly annealed planchet
An improperly annealed 1959 nickel results from a problem with the Mint's heat-treatment process before striking. The planchet develops an unusual dark surface that is part of its original texture, not something added later.
A four-coin lot containing an NGC MS65 example of this error sold at Heritage Auctions in September 2010 for $322 total. That price covered four coins, not just the 1959 alone, so it should not be treated as an individual value.
Plenty of dark nickels exist that are not mint errors. Soil staining, intentional burning, paint residue and artificial toning can all produce a similar look.
The key distinction is that a genuinely improperly annealed coin retains its original surface texture beneath the discoloration. Authentication by a recognized grading service is essential before assigning any premium.
3. 1959 Jefferson Nickel — Staple struck into reverse
This is a struck-through error where a staple was trapped between the die and the planchet during the strike. The result is an impression of the staple pressed into the coin's surface, sometimes with the staple itself partially retained, and deformed design elements nearby.
A 1959-D example graded NGC VF30 has been documented. No specific numeric price is available for this piece, so value depends on the individual coin's condition, the clarity and size of the staple impression, and whether it has been authenticated.
The most common lookalike is a staple scratch or a staple pressed into the surface after the coin left the Mint. Post-strike damage lacks the characteristic metal flow and design distortion around the impression that a genuine struck-through error shows.
Authentication matters here because the difference can be subtle.
4. 1959 Jefferson Nickel — Doubled Die Obverse
Doubled die obverse varieties have been reported for the 1959 nickel. On a genuine doubled die, you will see consistent separation or notching on obverse lettering or design elements when compared side by side with a normal coin under the same lighting.
The doubling is die-based, meaning every coin struck from that die carries the same pattern. This separates it from machine doubling, which produces flat, shelf-like distortion and adds no collector premium.
Reflections and worn die contours can also mimic doubling at first glance.
No specific price data is available for this variety. Value depends on the strength and visibility of the doubling, the coin's overall condition, and whether it has been attributed by a grading service.
Compare your coin carefully at moderate magnification before drawing conclusions.
5. 1959 Jefferson Nickel — Doubled Die Reverse
Doubled die reverse varieties have also been reported for 1959 nickels. Check the reverse legends and the architectural details of Monticello for consistent doubling, separation or notching that repeats in the same direction across multiple elements.
A true doubled die reverse will show the same pattern on every coin produced from that die. Machine doubling, by contrast, tends to appear as flat, shelf-like displacement and is considered damage rather than a collectible variety.
Random nicks and corrosion can also create misleading patterns.
No adopted price range is available. The value of any confirmed doubled die reverse depends on the visibility of the doubling, the coin's grade, and professional attribution.
Use magnification and compare both your coin and a known normal example under identical lighting.
6. 1959 Jefferson Nickel — Off-Center Strike
Off-center strikes occur when the planchet is not properly seated in the collar before the dies come together. The design appears shifted to one side, and a blank crescent of unstruck metal shows on the opposite edge.
For 1959 nickels, the key to collectibility is that the date remains visible. A coin struck 5% off-center is mildly interesting; one struck 30% or more off-center with a full date is considerably more desirable.
No specific price data is available for this error on the 1959 nickel. Condition, the degree of off-center displacement, and date visibility all affect value.
Do not confuse an off-center strike with a clipped planchet or post-mint flattening, both of which lack the characteristic unstruck crescent and shifted design.
7. 1959 Jefferson Nickel — Repunched Mintmark
Repunched mintmark varieties exist for the 1959-D nickel. These occurred when the D mintmark punch was applied to the working die more than once in slightly different positions, leaving traces of the earlier placement.
Look at the D to the right of Monticello under magnification. Remnants of a second, offset punch may appear as a shadow or partial outline near the primary mintmark.
Compare what you see to a normal 1959-D at the same magnification.
Machine doubling on the mintmark, small die chips, and corrosion around the letter can all mimic a repunched mintmark. No adopted price range is available, so value depends on the specific variety, its visibility and the coin's overall condition.
Professional attribution strengthens any claim.
8. 1959 Jefferson Nickel — Double / Multiple Strike
Double-struck or multiple-struck errors have been reported for 1959 nickels. A genuine double strike shows two separate, usually displaced or rotated impressions of the design on the same planchet, created when the coin failed to eject and was struck a second time.
The visual result is dramatic: overlapping dates, doubled portraits, or a clearly rotated second image. This is mechanically different from a doubled die, which shows subtle separation within a single impression.
Lookalikes include doubled dies, post-mint vice damage, and intentional alterations. The key diagnostic is whether both impressions are fully formed and struck into the metal with proper relief.
No specific price data is available. Value depends on the degree of displacement, visual impact and authentication.
9. 1959 Jefferson Nickel — Die Crack / Die Chip
Die cracks and die chips have been reported on 1959 nickels. A die crack shows up on the coin as a thin raised line running across part of the design or field, formed when the steel die developed a fracture.
A die chip appears as a small raised blob where a piece of the die surface broke away.
A cud is a specific type of die break that connects to the rim, producing a raised, featureless lump at the edge. Interior die chips and cracks that stay away from the rim are more common and generally less valuable.
Do not confuse these raised features with incuse scratches, corrosion pits, or foreign material stuck to the surface. Genuine die cracks and chips are raised above the field.
No specific price data is available; value depends on size, location, and coin condition.
10. 1959 Jefferson Nickel — Clipped Planchet
Clipped planchet errors have been reported for 1959 nickels. These happen when the blank-cutting press overlaps a previously punched area of the metal strip, producing a planchet with a missing curved section.
Look for a smooth, concave absence along part of the rim. The area directly opposite a clip often shows slight design weakness caused by incomplete metal flow during striking.
Edge texture on the clipped area will differ from the normal struck rim.
Straight clips and ragged clips also exist but are less common. Do not confuse a clip with a filed edge, a deliberate notch, or corrosion eating away the rim.
Post-mint damage lacks the associated design weakness and metal-flow signatures. No adopted price is available; value depends on clip size, type and the coin's overall condition.
11. 1959 Jefferson Nickel — Struck-Through Error
Struck-through errors have been reported for 1959 nickels. These occur when foreign material, such as grease, cloth fibers, or metal fragments, gets between the die and planchet during striking.
The result is a localized area of missing or weakened design detail, sometimes with an impression of the object itself.
Grease-filled dies are the most common version, producing smooth, featureless patches where design elements should be. Retained struck-through errors, where the foreign object remains embedded in the coin, are less common and typically more collectible.
Ordinary wear, cleaning, scratches and weak strikes from a tired die can all mimic a struck-through appearance. The distinction is that a genuine struck-through area has a specific, bounded shape rather than the gradual softness of wear.
No specific price data is available; value varies with the size of the affected area and the coin's condition.
