1964 Jefferson Nickel Coin Value: How Much Is It Worth?
Most 1964 Jefferson nickels are worth face value in circulated condition. These were produced in enormous quantities at both Philadelphia and Denver.
For uncirculated examples, USA Coin Book estimates range from about $0.30 at MS60 to $12 at MS65 for normal business strikes, while proofs sit around $3.62 at PR65. The real premiums come from verified Full Steps strikes, certain mint errors, and the extremely rare SMS special strike.
Fast Way to Identify Your 1964 Jefferson Nickel
Want a quick read on your 1964 nickel? Upload clear photos of the front and back, and our identifier can give you a preliminary take on which version you have and what to look for.
It is not a substitute for professional authentication or grading, but it is a solid starting point before you dig deeper.
1964 Jefferson Nickel Value
Upload both sides of your 1964 Jefferson Nickel.
Front Obverse
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Back Reverse
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Which 1964 Jefferson Nickel Versions Are Worth Money?
- A no-mintmark uncirculated piece with five or six fully uninterrupted Monticello steps commands premiums well above the base MS65 guide value of $12.
- Proofs and business strikes both lack a mintmark; confirm the proof finish before assuming a higher value.
- The 1964 SMS special strike is genuinely rare and requires professional attribution, not just an attractive surface.
- Error coins such as wrong-planchet strikes, off-center pieces and cloth strike-throughs have sold individually for significant amounts at auction.
Step 1: Identify Your 1964 Jefferson Nickel Mint Mark and Version
The 1964 Jefferson nickel carries its date on the obverse below Jefferson's portrait. On the reverse, look to the right of Monticello for a small "D" mintmark, which means Denver.
No letter there means Philadelphia, but here is the catch: both regular Philadelphia business strikes and proofs lack a mintmark, so you need to distinguish them by finish, not location.
Proofs have deeply mirrored fields and sharp, squared-off rims. They were sold in official proof sets, not released into circulation.
If your coin is simply shiny and well-preserved, that does not make it a proof.
The alloy is 75% copper and 25% nickel, weighing about 5.00 grams. These are not wartime silver nickels; that program ended in 1945.
A magnet will not help you here since both compositions are non-magnetic.
Then there is the rare 1964 SMS, or special strike. This is a distinct category that requires professional authentication and established provenance.
Do not assume a nice-looking uncirculated nickel is an SMS just because it has unusual luster or a satin finish. Many ordinary coins look great after sixty years in a holder.
Step 2: Check Your 1964 Jefferson Nickel Grade
Start with Jefferson's cheekbone and the hair detail above his ear. On a well-circulated coin, the cheek flattens first and the hair strands merge together.
The reverse wears on the four pillars and the triangular roof of Monticello.
To separate AU from MS, look at the luster. An AU coin may look sharp, but you will see a broken or dull patch on the cheek or the high points of Monticello where the coin contacted other surfaces.
A true Mint State piece retains unbroken cartwheel luster across both sides.
Use the comparison image as a visual reference for wear stages. Keep in mind that a photo guide gives you a ballpark, not a certified grade.
Full Steps is a strike designation, not a wear grade. It refers to five or six uninterrupted horizontal lines on the base of Monticello.
Even a high-grade coin can have mushy steps from a weak strike. Check those lines under good light with magnification before assuming your MS65 qualifies for any step premium.
Step 3: Check 1964 Jefferson Nickel Value by Mint and Version
1964 Jefferson Nickel — No Mint Mark, Circulation Strike
The 1964 Philadelphia nickel has no mintmark on the reverse. In circulated grades, these are face-value coins, full stop.
USA Coin Book lists about $0.30 at MS60 and $12 at MS65 as guide estimates.
The real question is the steps. A coin that otherwise grades MS65 can be worth considerably more with five or six fully uninterrupted horizontal lines across the base of Monticello.
Without that designation, you have a common uncirculated nickel, well-struck or not.
Range Grade
Price Auction Records Appraisal PO PO 1
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— AG AG 3
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— G G 4
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G 6
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— VG VG 8
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VG 10
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— F F 12
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F 15
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— VF VF 20
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VF 25
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VF 30
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VF 35
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— XF XF 40
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XF 45
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Coin Identifier AU AU 50
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AU 53
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AU 55
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AU 58
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Coin Identifier MS MS 60
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MS 61
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MS 62
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MS 63
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MS 64
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MS 65
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MS 66
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MS 67
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MS 68
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MS 69
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MS 70
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1964 Jefferson Nickel — D, Circulation Strike
Look for the small "D" to the right of Monticello on the reverse. The Denver mint produced these in massive numbers, so the D alone does not create scarcity.
USA Coin Book guide values sit at roughly $0.30 at MS60 and $12 at MS65, identical to their Philadelphia counterparts.
Coin Value Lookup is a good place to compare values across different Jefferson nickel years if you are sorting through a collection. It can save you time deciding which coins deserve a closer look.
As with the Philadelphia issue, inspect the Monticello steps independently. A Denver coin with fully struck steps is a separate animal from a common D-mint piece.
Range Grade
Price Auction Records Appraisal PO PO 1
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Coin Identifier FR FR 2
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— AG AG 3
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— G G 4
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G 6
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— VG VG 8
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VG 10
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— F F 12
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F 15
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— VF VF 20
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VF 25
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VF 30
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VF 35
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— XF XF 40
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XF 45
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Coin Identifier AU AU 50
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AU 53
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AU 55
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AU 58
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Coin Identifier MS MS 60
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MS 61
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MS 62
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MS 63
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MS 64
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MS 65
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MS 66
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MS 67
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MS 68
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MS 69
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MS 70
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1964 Jefferson Nickel — No Mint Mark, Proof
The 1964 proof nickel was manufactured at Philadelphia and sold in official proof sets. It has no mintmark, same as the regular business strike, so you need to identify it by its deeply mirrored fields, crisp design edges and squared rims.
USA Coin Book estimates about $3.62 at PR65. Cameo contrast, where the design appears frosty against mirror fields, is an optional pricing filter that can affect value.
Proof is a method of manufacture, not a grade above Mint State, so do not treat a PR65 as somehow superior to an MS65.
Range Grade
Price Auction Records Appraisal PR PR 1
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PR 2
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PR 4
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PR 6
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PR 8
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PR 10
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PR 12
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PR 15
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PR 20
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PR 25
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PR 30
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PR 35
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PR 40
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PR 45
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PR 50
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PR 53
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PR 55
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PR 58
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PR 60
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PR 61
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PR 62
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PR 63
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PR 64
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PR 65
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PR 66
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PR 67
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PR 68
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PR 69
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PR 70
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1964 Jefferson Nickel — Rare SMS / Special Strike
The 1964 SMS nickel is a genuine rarity, not a shiny business strike someone relabeled. These special strikes have characteristics distinct from both proofs and regular issues, but the differences can be subtle enough that only professional certification establishes legitimacy.
Do not buy or sell a claimed 1964 SMS without established attribution and provenance from a recognized grading service. No numerical price range is adopted here because each authenticated example is individually valued based on its specific characteristics and condition.
The widget will show matching sales history when available or display an explicit no-data state.
If someone on the internet tells you their roll-fresh 1964 nickel is an SMS because it looks too nice, keep walking.
Range Grade
Price Auction Records Appraisal SP SP 1
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SP 2
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SP 3
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SP 4
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SP 6
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SP 8
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SP 10
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SP 12
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SP 15
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SP 20
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SP 25
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SP 30
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SP 35
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SP 40
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SP 45
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SP 50
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SP 53
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SP 55
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SP 58
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SP 60
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SP 61
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SP 62
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SP 63
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SP 64
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SP 65
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SP 66
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SP 67
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SP 68
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SP 69
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SP 70
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1964 Jefferson Nickel Error List
1. 1964 Jefferson Nickel — Off-Center Strike
An off-center strike happens when the planchet is not properly seated between the dies. The result is a crescent-shaped blank area where the die never contacted the metal, with the remaining design shifted to one side.
A 1964 nickel struck 30% off-center, graded NGC MS65, sold for $99 at Heritage Auctions in July 2021. The percentage matters: a barely off-center coin is far less dramatic than one missing a third of its design.
Confirm the 1964 date is visible, because an undated off-center piece is harder to attribute.
Do not confuse this with a single misaligned die, which shifts one side slightly but still strikes the full planchet. Also rule out post-mint damage, filing, or a clipped planchet, which produce different edge profiles.
2. 1964 Jefferson Nickel — Broadstrike
A broadstrike occurs when a coin is struck outside the restraining collar that normally forms the rim and controls diameter. The result is a coin with a full central design but expanded margins and lettering that spreads outward, giving the piece a slightly oversized look.
A 1964 broadstrike nickel graded PCGS MS64 sold for $31 at Heritage Auctions in May 2004. That is one reported historical sale, not a current market range.
Inspect the entire circumference. A broadstrike will lack the normal raised rim and show even peripheral spreading.
This is different from an off-center strike, where design is missing on one side, or a hammered coin or ordinary wide rim from die wear.
3. 1964 Jefferson Nickel — Strike-Through
A cloth strike-through shows a woven textile pattern impressed into the coin's surface, caused by fabric caught between the die and planchet during striking. On the reported 1964 example, the cloth covered the entire obverse while the reverse remained relatively normal.
A 1964 nickel with an obverse cloth strike-through, graded NGC MS64, sold for $862.50 at Heritage Auctions in December 2009. That is an individual historical result.
The key diagnostic is a consistent woven texture across the affected area, not random scratches or cleaning lines. Post-mint contact damage, hairlines from polishing, or a fabric pattern pressed into a coin after it left the mint can mimic a strike-through.
Professional authentication helps separate genuine examples from imitations.
4. 1964 Jefferson Nickel — Struck on a Silver Dime Planchet
This error involves a 1964 nickel design struck onto a silver dime planchet, which is physically smaller than a nickel blank. The result is a coin displaying the Jefferson nickel design but with peripheral elements cut off because the dies are larger than the host planchet.
A PCGS MS62 example sold for $517.50 at Heritage Auctions in February 2008. Because the mintmark area was off the edge of the smaller flan, the original mint cannot be established from the coin itself.
Compare the coin to a normal nickel: the wrong-planchet piece will be noticeably smaller and may differ in color or weight. Rule out a nickel that has been ground down or plated after minting, which are common fakes.
Do not attribute the missing mintmark area to Philadelphia.
5. 1964 Jefferson Nickel — Clipped Planchet
A straight clip occurs when the blanking press cuts across a previously punched area or the edge of the metal strip, leaving a straight missing segment on the planchet before it is struck. A 1964-D nickel with a 25% straight clip has been documented.
Look for a straight missing edge that intersects the original design, with associated metal flow or weakness near the clip. Both sides should show the disruption consistently.
The value depends on the authenticated type, severity and condition, and requires individual assessment.
Do not confuse this with a coin that has been sawed or filed after striking. A post-mint cut will usually show tool marks and lack the displaced metal flow that accompanies a genuine blanking error.
Not every straight clip needs to look like a curved clip; the geometry depends on where the strip was cut.
6. 1964 Jefferson Nickel — Repunched Mintmark
A repunched mintmark results from the D mintmark being punched into the working die more than once, in slightly different positions. Under magnification, you will see traces of a second punch: a shadow, partial letter or offset remnant near the primary D.
Compare your coin's mintmark to a normal 1964-D nickel at matching magnification. The remnant should be consistent and raised, not a flat shelf or mushy outline.
Machine doubling produces a flat, shelf-like distortion rather than a distinct secondary impression. Die chips or corrosion around the mintmark can also mimic a repunched appearance.
Condition, visibility of the repunching and the specific variety all affect value, so no single price applies to every example.
7. 1964 Jefferson Nickel — Doubled Die Obverse
A doubled die obverse is created during die manufacture when the hub impresses the die twice in slightly different positions. This produces consistent doubling across affected design elements on every coin struck from that die.
Examine the obverse lettering, date and portrait details under magnification and good directional lighting. True doubled die doubling shows notching or separated profiles that repeat from one letter to the next.
Machine doubling, by contrast, creates flat shelf-like distortions that are less defined.
Reflections and worn die contours can also trick you, so compare against a known normal 1964 nickel. Value depends on condition, the visibility of the doubling and which specific variety you have.
Each is individually assessed.
8. 1964 Jefferson Nickel — Improper Annealing
The 1964 "Black Beauty" is a nickel with an improperly annealed planchet, meaning the blank was not heated correctly during preparation. The reported result is a distinctly dark or discolored surface that differs from normal toning.
Look at the overall surface color and texture alongside the coin's edge. A genuine improperly annealed piece will show the discoloration uniformly, and the coin should otherwise display normal design detail and weight.
Environmental toning, corrosion or heat applied after minting can produce superficially similar dark surfaces. The appearance is a screening clue, not proof of the cause; professional evaluation helps confirm the attribution.
Value depends on condition, the degree of the annealing effect and the specific coin.
9. 1964 Jefferson Nickel — Incomplete Planchet Punch
An incomplete clipped planchet error occurs when the blanking punch does not fully cut through the metal strip, leaving a partial arc or incomplete edge on the blank before it is struck. The result is a coin with a curved or irregular edge segment that is part of the original blank, not post-mint damage.
Examine the affected area and look for a partial blanking arc and associated metal flow, with both the obverse and reverse showing consistent disruption along the same edge. A scratch, cut or corrosion groove will not display the characteristic flow pattern of a genuine blanking defect.
Value depends on the authenticated type, severity and condition, so each example requires individual assessment.
10. 1964 Jefferson Nickel — Indented Strike
An indented strike happens when a second planchet or foreign object overlaps the coin being struck, creating a bounded depressed area in the design. On the reported 1964 nickel example, the indent covers approximately 90% of the obverse and the coin is cupped.
Look for a clearly defined depressed zone with an edge boundary on one side, while the other side may retain more normal design detail. The shape of the indent corresponds to whatever was sitting on top during the strike.
Do not confuse this with a post-mint dent, which typically lacks a defined boundary and does not cup the coin. A brockage is different because it transfers a mirror-image design into the depressed area, while a plain indent does not.
Value depends on severity, condition and authentication.
11. 1964 Jefferson Nickel — Double / Multiple Strike
A double or multiple strike occurs when a coin is struck more than once by the dies, with one or more impressions displaced or rotated. The reported 1964 variety involves a second strike that is off-center and uniface, meaning only one die contacted the coin on that second blow.
You will see two separate design impressions on the same coin, with the second shifted from the first. Look at how the designs overlap and at the area where only the second strike is visible.
This is not a doubled die, which is a die manufacturing issue producing subtle consistent doubling. It is also not an impression added by squeezing a coin in a vise after minting.
Value depends on the visual drama, condition and professional attribution.
12. 1964 Jefferson Nickel — Die Cap / Capped-Die Strike
A die cap forms when a struck coin adheres to a die and is not ejected. It then acts like a secondary die, impressing its own design into subsequent coins.
The reported 1964 variety is a reverse die cap.
The capped coin itself will be cupped like a bottle cap, with one side showing a normal strike and the other side progressively flattened and expanded from repeated impacts. Coins struck through the cap will display a softened or mirror-image impression from the stuck coin rather than the original die.
Do not confuse a die cap with a bent coin, vise damage or a normal weak strike. Bent coins lack the progressive distortion and design transfer.
Value depends on condition, the stage of the cap and professional authentication of the error.
