How much is a nickel worth? A circulating United States nickel is worth at least five cents, and most Jefferson nickels from change stay at that floor. The main exception is the wartime silver nickel of 1942 through 1945. NGC's melt-value table, updated 10 November 2026 at 6:30 p.m. Eastern, listed $2.91 for those coins.
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Example
2004-P Jefferson nickel, uncirculated obverse
Most worn Jefferson nickels from change stay at face value, five cents
A circulating United States nickel is worth at least five cents. Wartime silver nickels from 1942 through 1945 are the main exception: NGC's melt-value table, updated 10 November 2026, listed $2.91 for those coins. This 2004-P example is a modern clad nickel, not a wartime silver issue. Jefferson nickel design by Felix Schlag. Photograph from the Historical Image Library, public domain. Source: Jefferson-Nickel-Unc-Obv.jpg. See also photo credits.
A circulating United States nickel is worth at least five cents in face value. Most Jefferson nickels that come out of change stay at that floor. The important exceptions are the wartime silver nickels of 1942 through 1945, and older types such as Buffalo nickels, which sit in a different market.
The United States Mint lists the current circulating nickel as a 5-cent coin, 5.000 grams, struck in 25 percent nickel with the balance copper. It is not a silver coin, and it is not a clad coin in the same sense as a modern dime or quarter. That composition has been the standard for the Jefferson nickel except during the wartime silver issues.
Wartime silver nickels, 1942 to 1945
From mid-1942 through 1945 the Mint struck Jefferson nickels in a 35 percent silver alloy (with copper and manganese) so nickel metal could be used elsewhere in the war effort. These are often called war nickels. They are the silver exception in a denomination that is otherwise not a silver coin.
You can usually tell one at a glance from the reverse: a large mint mark (P, D, or S) sits above the dome of Monticello. The 1942-P was also the first circulating US coin to bear a P mint mark for Philadelphia. A 1942 nickel without that large reverse mint mark is the earlier copper-nickel composition and should not be priced as a war nickel.
NGC's melt-value table, updated 10 November 2026 at 6:30 p.m. Eastern, lists 0.0563 troy ounces of silver in a wartime Jefferson nickel and a melt value of $2.91, based on a silver ask of $51.63 that day. Melt is a floor. Sharper examples and collector demand can sit above it. Common worn war nickels often trade near metal value, which is already several times face. We are not adding an invented retail premium on top of the NGC figure. For the coin in your hand, identify it and compare recent listings, or scan it with the app.
Buffalo nickels and other older types
Buffalo (Indian Head) nickels were struck from 1913 through 1938. Many survivors are worn, and the date on the obverse can fade completely. A PCGS article dated 7 September 2023 said a dateless Buffalo nickel is usually worth 20 to 30 cents. That is a 2023 published range, not a live 2026 list.
Buffalo nickels with a clear date, especially scarcer dates and mint marks, can be worth more than that dateless range. We are not inventing prices for those dates here. If the date is readable, check a current guide and recent listings rather than assuming the dateless figure still applies. Liberty Head nickels and earlier types are a separate collecting field and should be identified on their own terms.
Ordinary Jefferson nickels
Most Jefferson nickels dated after the war, found in circulation, are worth five cents. A few dates, proof issues, and errors are collected, but a worn common date from a till should not be priced as if it were one of those. If a design looks unusual, it may be a Westward Journey reverse or a later commemorative circulating design, which are still usually face-value coins in worn condition.
Do not clean a nickel. Photograph both sides in even light, with the date and any mint mark sharp. For a possible war nickel, include the reverse so the large mint mark above Monticello is visible. Then use the scan box on this page. Coin figures draw on Numista as well as current public listings, and a live metal price is used as a floor for silver issues.
When you sort a jar, set aside 1942-1945 nickels with the large reverse mint mark, any Buffalo nickel, and anything with an obvious error. Everything else in this denomination is usually face value. For the silver coins often found alongside them, see how much is a dime worth and how much is my quarter worth. The wider process is on how much is my coin worth.
Types at a glance
| Type | What the sources say |
|---|---|
| Ordinary Jefferson nickels from circulation | Usually five cents, the face value listed by the United States Mint. |
| Wartime silver nickels, mid-1942 through 1945, large mint mark above Monticello | NGC melt $2.91 on 10 November 2026 (0.0563 troy ounces of silver). |
| Dateless Buffalo nickels | PCGS, 7 September 2023: usually 20 to 30 cents. Dated Buffalo nickels can be worth more; check a current guide. |
Viral “top 10 nickels in your change” lists often mix rare dates with common ones and skip the condition. We will not invent a top-10 price list. If a date looks scarce, compare a current specialist guide and recent listings, and be wary of added mint marks.
Cited figures are in US dollars from US sources. A scan still helps if you are outside the United States. Common silver wartime nickels often go to a coin shop; unusual dates may belong in a listing. The app can draft a listing for eBay, Facebook Marketplace, or Gumtree.
The app scans faster, keeps a history of your items and gives free weekly scans.
What makes How Much Is It Worth different
One photo is enough to start, and you can add up to two more angles. We identify the item first, you confirm or correct it, then we look up a Worth about figure and a listed range from current public marketplace listings. Those are asking prices, which can sit above what a piece finally sells for. You see the listings themselves when we find enough of them.
Coins and banknotes also draw on Numista. Trading cards use PokéWallet, with a source credit where that data appears. Gold and silver use a live metal price as a floor. If listings are thin, we show a clearly labelled rough estimate rather than inventing a precise number. The app can draft a listing for eBay, Facebook Marketplace, or Gumtree once you are ready to sell. For the short version of this process, read How we price.
FAQ
How much is a nickel worth?
A circulating United States nickel is worth at least five cents. Most worn Jefferson nickels from change stay at face value. Wartime silver nickels from 1942 through 1945 are the main exception: NGC's melt-value table, updated 10 November 2026, listed $2.91 for those coins. Buffalo nickels, especially with a readable date, are a different market.
How do I identify a wartime silver nickel?
Look at the reverse. War nickels (mid-1942 through 1945) have a large mint mark, P, D, or S, above the dome of Monticello. A 1942 nickel without that large reverse mint mark is the ordinary copper-nickel composition and should not be priced as a war nickel.
What is a dateless Buffalo nickel worth?
A PCGS article dated 7 September 2023 said a dateless Buffalo nickel is usually worth 20 to 30 cents. That is a 2023 published range, not a live 2026 list. Buffalo nickels with a clear date can be worth more and should be checked in a current guide and recent listings.
Can I scan a nickel with the app?
Yes. Photograph both sides, including the date and any mint mark. For a possible war nickel, include the reverse so the large mint mark is visible. Confirm the identification, then we look up a range using Numista, current listings, and a metal-price floor where it applies.
Related coin and money guides
Sources
- United States Mint, Nickel (circulating coin) and coin specifications: 5-cent face value, 5.000 g, 25% nickel, balance copper. Accessed 11 November 2026.
- NGC, Coin Melt Values, updated 10 November 2026 at 6:30 p.m. Eastern. Silver ask $51.63; wartime Jefferson nickel (0.0563 troy oz silver) melt $2.91.
- Victor Bozarth, “7 of the Most Frequently Asked Coin Questions,” PCGS, 7 September 2023. Dateless Buffalo nickels usually 20 to 30 cents.
Updated 11 November 2026. Written by Harris, who built How Much Is It Worth. Figures that we cite include a source and a date. They are not a certified appraisal. See How we price.
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