US · Five Cents · 1938–present
Jefferson Nickel (1938–present)
Replaced the Buffalo nickel after a public design competition won by Felix Schlag. Wartime issues (1942–1945) shifted to a silver-manganese alloy and carry a large mintmark above Monticello — the only US coins to display a P mintmark prior to 1980. Full Steps (FS) designation on the Monticello reverse is the premium attribute.
i.
Reference photos
Obverse
Photo: Dar-Ape / Wikimedia Commons (public-domain) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Juvenile_snake.JPG (public-domain) 
Photo: Unknown / Wikimedia Commons (public-domain) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:War_Nickel.jpg (public-domain) 
Photo: United States Mint / Wikimedia Commons (public-domain) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Usa-5-cents-1942_(1).jpg (public-domain) 
Photo: Bobby131313 / Wikimedia Commons (cc-by-sa-3.0) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1945-P-Jefferson-War-Nickel-Obverse.JPG (cc-by-sa-3.0) 
Photo: United States Mint / Wikimedia Commons (public-domain) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Usa-5-cents-1947_(1).jpg (public-domain) 
Photo: Unknown / Wikimedia Commons (public-domain) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:USB_Type_B_Plug_2.jpg (public-domain) 
Photo: Lordnikon, see also: de:User:Lordnikon / Wikimedia Commons (public-domain) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Usa_one_nickel_1984.JPG (public-domain) 
Photo: Mudskippie / Wikimedia Commons (public-domain) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:NickelError4.jpg (public-domain) 
Photo: Marcus Quigmire from Florida, USA / Wikimedia Commons (cc-by-sa-2.0) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Money_(1805700787).jpg (cc-by-sa-2.0) 
Photo: Contactsmc / Wikimedia Commons (cc-by-sa-3.0) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Planchet_Error.jpg (cc-by-sa-3.0) 
Photo: FBI / Überarbeitet: --Mauki 18:58, 25. Nov 2004 (CET) / Wikimedia Commons (public-domain) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rudolf_Abel_Nickle.png (public-domain) 
Photo: US Mint (coin), National Numismatic Collection (photograph by Jaclyn Nash) / Wikimedia Commons (public-domain) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:NNC-US-1938-5C-Jefferson_Nickel.jpg (public-domain) 
Photo: Lionsdude148 / Wikimedia Commons (cc-by-sa-4.0) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nintendo_Game_Cartridge_Size_Comparison.jpg (cc-by-sa-4.0) 
Photo: Luisino09 / Wikimedia Commons (cc-by-sa-4.0) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nickel_Front.jpg (cc-by-sa-4.0) 
Photo: USFWSmidwest / Wikimedia Commons (public-domain) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Leopard_Frog_(16880274039).jpg (public-domain) 
Photo: Ladderstuff2 / Wikimedia Commons (cc-by-sa-4.0) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nickel_2014_Design.png (cc-by-sa-4.0) 
Photo: Peter D. Tillman from USA / Wikimedia Commons (cc-by-sa-2.0) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Partial_mosasaur_jaw.jpg (cc-by-sa-2.0) 
Photo: Ángel M. Felicísimo from Mérida, España / Wikimedia Commons (cc-by-2.0) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:KM-142_-_Mapa_de_profundidad_(52688628195).jpg (cc-by-2.0) 
Photo: Matthias from Seattle, WA, US / Wikimedia Commons (cc-by-2.0) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Older_Nickle_Head_(Front)_(3600941488).jpg (cc-by-2.0) 
Photo: United States Mint / Wikimedia Commons (public-domain) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Usa-5-cents-1947.jpg (public-domain) 
Photo: design is by Felix Schlag / Wikimedia Commons (public-domain) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jefferson-Nickel-Unc-Obv.jpg (public-domain) 
Photo: Contactsmc / Wikimedia Commons (cc-by-sa-3.0) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1970SRecessed.jpg (cc-by-sa-3.0) 
Photo: Contactsmc / Wikimedia Commons (cc-by-sa-3.0) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1998CRAZYEIGHT.jpg (cc-by-sa-3.0) 
Photo: Douglas Muth from Philadelphia, PA, USA / Wikimedia Commons (cc-by-sa-2.0) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:I_really_hate_pennies_(8943032015).jpg (cc-by-sa-2.0)
ii.
Specifications
| Designer | Felix Schlag (1938–2004 obverse); Jamie Franki (2006–present obverse) |
|---|---|
| Composition | 75% copper / 25% nickel (1938–1942, 1946–present); 56% copper / 35% silver / 9% manganese (1942–1945 wartime) |
| Weight | 5 g |
| Diameter | 21.2 mm |
| Edge | Plain |
| Series | Jefferson Nickel |
| Years issued | 1938–present |
iii.
Key dates & varieties
| Year | Mintmark | Variety | Mintage | Rarity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1939 | D | — | 3.5M | semi-key |
| 1939 | S | — | 6.6M | semi-key |
| 1942 | D | D over horizontal D | — | key |
| 1950 | D | — | 2.6M | key |
iv.
All varieties
| Year | Mintmark | Variety | Mintage | Rarity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1939 | D | — | 3.5M | semi-key |
| 1939 | S | — | 6.6M | semi-key |
| 1942 | D | D over horizontal D | — | key |
| 1942 | P | Wartime silver alloy | 57.9M | common |
| 1950 | D | — | 2.6M | key |