Before making the Jefferson nickel, buffalo nickels were used for circulation from 1913 to 1938. After that, these coins were replaced with Jefferson nickels. The 1940 nickels are five-cent coins made to replace buffalo nickels. These coins are still used for circulation. These coins come with different grades and features and have different values. Here we will cover the 1940 nickels features and uses based on their grading. Let’s get started with How Much 1940 Nickel Value.
1940 nickel not mint Specifications
| Country: |
United States of America
|
| Year o | 1940 |
| Denomination: |
Five Cents
|
| Diameter: |
21.21 mm
|
| OBV Designer: |
Felix Schlag
|
| REV Designer: |
Felix Schlag
|
| Quality: |
Uncirculated
|
| Mintmark: | None |
| Mintage: | 176,485,000 |
| Alloy: |
.750 Copper, .250 Nickel
|
| Weight: | 5.00 g |
1940 No Mint Mark Nickel Value
The Philadelphia mint made more than 176 million coins in 1940, and these coins were easy to find due to high circulation. The value of 1940 no-mint nickels is based on their grades and conditions.
The coins in fine grade are about ten cents, and uncirculated coins are about 15 dollars.
Normally, these coins for circulated conditions are about ten cents to 1 dollar. MS61 grades 1940 no mint coins are about 1.50 dollars, and MS63 are about 7 dollars.
MS67 grade a high value, has a value of about 100 to 120 dollars.
MS68 grade coins sold in 2021 for 558 dollars. The 1940 no mint with full steps is high value and has a value for MS67+ grades of about 2150 dollars.
If we have these coins in good condition and higher grade, we can get them for about 8000 dollars.
| Grade | 1940 No Mint mark nickel |
| PR 60 | $20 |
| PR 61 | $25 |
| PR 62 | $30 |
| PR 63 | $40 |
| PR 64 | $75 |
| PR 65 | $85 |
| PR 66 | $120 |
| PR 67 | $320 |
| PR 68 | $4,500 |
1940 D nickel value
43,500,000 Jefferson nickels were made in 1940, and these coins were made at the Denver mint with D mint mark. These coins has a value of .11$ to .30 dollars for average conditons. The uncirculated condition coins are about 20 dollars. Circulated condition coins are about 2 dollars.
MS62 grade coins are about 4 dollars, and MS65 we can get in 25 to 30 dollars. MS67s are about $130.
MS67 grade coins sold for 800 dollars in 2018 for a 1940 D nickel. MS67 full steps are about 300 dollars.
1940 S nickel value
San Francisco mint also made Jefferson nickels in 1940, and about 39,690,000 nickels were made. These coins come with an S mint mark. Since these coins are older and most of them are not in good condition, finding high-value coins is difficult. Circulated coins are about 10 to 60 cents. Uncirculated condition coins are about 20 dollars.
MS63 grade coins are about 8 dollars, and MS67 are about 180 dollars. The very good grade coins sold for 1840 at auction, and full step 1940 S minted coins are about 1300 dollars.
1940 S Proof Nickel Value
The mint with normal coins also made proof coins, and there were about 14,158 Jefferson nickel proofs made. These coins were made using a special type of die and come with a good shiny surface.
The proof coins in the PF60 grade are about 30 dollars. PF65 grade is 120 dollars. PS68 grades are high value, $8000.
PF68 grade coins sold in 2005 for $18,400.
1940 Nickel Errors
Full Steps Error
Full step nickel comes with 5 or 6 easy-to-see steps on the Monticello base. This type of feature is rarely seen. that make coins prominent and high value. The 1940 D nickel with full steps sold in 2018 for 21738$.
MS68 sold in 2016 for $6,463. If anyone has 1940 nickel coins with 5 or 6 full steps, they are very lucky and get high value.
| Grade | 1940 FS No Mint mark nickel |
| MS 64 | 15 |
| MS 65 | $25 |
| MS 66 | $40 |
| MS 67 | $240 |
| MS 68 | $2,500 |
Off-Center Nickel Error
This error occurs at a time when the die does not accurately strike in the middle of the coins, and as a result, partial strikes on the coins and other parts of the planet remain blank, which makes off-center errors.
The value of these coins is based on the percentage off-center. The 50 percent off-center coins are about 130 dollars. 10 percent off center is a low value, about 20 to 30 dollars.
1940 Nickel Reverse with 1938 Nickel Error
In this error, the 1940 proof nickel comes with two different reverse designs. In this error, 1938 P minted die is used for coin minting and makes different errors. The coins with this error sold in 2011 for $28,750 at Heritage Auctions.
1940 Nickel Die Cuds and Cracks Error
It occurs when an older type or die that has a different mark is used, and that error of the mark of the die added on coins makes the 1940 die cut error. Coins come with different cracks or cuds of die. The 1940 nickel coins with this error are about 100 dollars.
History of the 1940 Nickel
In 1938, the first Jefferson nickel coins were made as replacements for Buffalo nickels that were made from 1913 to 1938. The US mint also wanted to replace 25 years of circulated coins, buffalo nickels, with new designs and coins. There was a competition arranged for making a coin design, and there were many designers who took part, so at last the design of Felix Schlag was selected.
The new coin’s design has a photo of the USA’s 3rd president, Jefferson, on the front side, and the back side has a photo of his house, Monticello.
The design was finalized at different mints: Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco.
Either coins were made in 1938 but not used for circulation, and it is stipulated that collectors hoarded Jefferson nickels and most of the coins made in 1938 and 1939 were not used for circulation. In 1940, coins were used for circulation.
The 3 types of 1940 nickels made have mintage and mint mark as.
| Mint mark | Minted |
| 1940 No Mint mark nickel | 176,499,158 |
| 1940 proof nickel | 14,158 |
| 1940 D nickel | 43,540,000 |
| 1940 S nickel | 39,690,000 |
| Total | 259,743,316 |
Features of the 1940 Nickel
Obverse of the 1940 Nickel
The front side of the 1940 nickel comes with a photo of the USA’s 3rd president and founding father, Thomas Jefferson. On this side, the motto IN GOD WE TRUST is also written, and the word LIBERTY is also written with a minting date.
Reverse of the 1940 Nickel
The backside of 1940 nickels comes with a home design of President Monticello. There is the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM also written and the country name UNITED STATES of AMERICA.
MONTICELLO word also written there and the denomination FIVE CENTS also written. The mint mark is also seen there.
Some other features of the 1940 nickel are as
- The 1940 nickel comes with 75 percent copper and 25 percent nickel.
- The coin is a plain edge with a weight of 5 g.
- Coin thickness is 0.07677 inches with a diameter of coins 0.83465 inches (21.2 mm).
| Face value | 5 cents |
| Edge | Plain |
| Shape | Round |
| thickness | 0.07677 inches |
| weight | 0.17637 ounces |
| diameter | 0.83465 inches |
| Composition |
75% copper and 25% nickel
|
Most Valueable 1940 Nickel not mint
| Grade | SOld for | Sold in |
| MS68FS | $3,172.50 | Dec 16, 2021 |
| MS68FS | $3,525 | Feb 25, 2021 |
| MS68FS | $4,230 | Aug 27, 2020 |
| MS68FS | $1,020 | Aug 15, 2018 |
| MS68FS | $2,115 | Aug 10, 2016 |
| MS68FS | $6,462.50 | Mar 3, 2016 |
| MS67FS | $234 | Nov 7, 2017 |
FAQs
What is the value of the 1940 S Jefferson nickel?
- The 1949 S nickel value for circulated conditions is about ten cents to 2 dollars. Uncirculated condition coins are about 200 dollars. Mint state coins are high value, and these coins come with different grades and thousands of dollars in value.
Is a 1940 nickel pure silver?
- The 1940 nickel coins are made with 75 percent copper and 25 percent nickel and do not have silver content. If coins show brownish, that means due to copper, not nickel.
Is a 1940 nickel rare?
- The 1940 Jefferson nickel with full steps is a high value. These coins, 5 or 6 steps, are considered rare and high value.
Read also
- 1920 Buffalo Nickel Value, Features, Error, Types & Mint mark
- 1943 Nickel Value, Features, Types, Error Mint mark
- 1961 nickel value
- 1911 Nickel Value, Features, Error, Types, & Mint mark
- 1929 Buffalo Nickel value, Features, Types, Error