1944 Jefferson Nickel

In 1938, The U.S. Mint replaced the Buffalo Nickel with the Jefferson Nickel. The Jefferson Nickel has been produced ever since, and remains in production to this day. While one might assume that these five-cent pieces do not have any value to collectors, the fact is that these coins can have significant value depending on year and condition.

For a collector, a Jefferson Nickel must be in superb condition in order to be valuable. Coins in excellent condition are not only worth the most, but they are the most beautiful to look at as well.

Grading the 1944 Jefferson Nickel

For coins that have been around as long as the 1944 Jefferson Nickel, you really have to closely examine the coin’s condition. While these coins may have value in various conditions, only coins that are in near-perfect condition will be highly sought after by collectors. Considering how long these coins have been around, however, finding coins in almost perfect condition is no easy task.

When you are examining a coin, you are essentially trying to determine how the coin might be graded. Although actual grades are assigned by professional coin grading companies, you can use the guidelines below to try to determine how your coin might be graded.

Uncirculated: Coins in this condition are often highly coveted by collectors. These coins were never used in circulation, and have been exchanged only a limited amount of times. Because of this, their condition remains excellent and these coins will appear to the eye as if they were just struck the very same day.

Extremely Fine: Extremely fine Jefferson Nickels may also be sought after by coin collectors. These coins, however, may have very minor signs of use and damage. The coin may have very minimal surface scratches and will look almost brand new. It is only under a very close visual inspection that the coin’s imperfections are seen.

Fine: Coins in fine condition have been exchanged countless times over the years, and one can tell this by their appearance. While the coin’s images and text remain fully intact, they may have significant scratches and blemishes.

Good: The majority of Jefferson Nickels on the market today are considered to be in good condition. Due to heavy use over a period of many years, these coins will display significant scratches and other imperfections. For a coin collector, these coins may be skipped over for coins in better overall condition. Despite this, these coins may have some collectable value depending on year or relative scarcity.

Pricing the 1944 Jefferson Nickel:

To give the 1944 Jefferson Nickel an accurate value, you must first start with the coin’s condition. Three different types of this coin were produced in 1944, so the first issue to determine what you might pay for one is identifying the coin type. Secondly, the coin’s condition is key for collectors. Coins that have been protected and are in excellent condition often sell for much higher prices than similar coins in a lesser condition. The chart below will give you a good idea on what you might expect to pay for a Jefferson Nickel given its type and grade.

1944 Jefferson Nickel

DATE	GOOD	FINE	EXTREMELY FINE	UNCIRCULATED
1944 Jefferson Nickel (P)	N/A	N/A	$2.50	$3.25
1944 Jefferson Nickel (D)	N/A	N/A	$2.50	$3
1944 Jefferson Nickel (S)	N/A	N/A	$2.50	$3
Source: Red Book