1946 Jefferson Nickel

The Jefferson Nickel five-cent piece has been produced since 1938, and replaced the Buffalo Nickel. This design has stood the test of time, and is still being produced today. While you may assume that a nickel likely has no collectable value, Jefferson Nickels of certain types and mint years may be coveted by coin collectors.

Coin collectors will, however, likely only focus on coins that are in excellent physical condition. These coins may not only be worth more money, but may be more beautiful as well.

Grading the 1946 Jefferson Nickel

These coins have been in existence for decades, and given the length of time they have been produced, the coin’s condition will be very important in determining its value. Typically, only coins that are in nearly perfect condition will be purchased by coin collectors. Finding these coins in such condition can prove challenging, however.

When you are looking at a coin, you are effectively trying to determine the coin’s grade. While coin grades are assigned by professional coin grading companies, you can use the guidelines below to see what Jefferson Nickels in various conditions may look like.

Uncirculated: Considered to be the top condition, collectors desire to acquire coins that have not been used in circulation. Because these coins have not been used in circulation, they have not been subjected to many of the damaging issues typically encountered by coins. Just a glimpse at these coins and you will think they were freshly struck and just released by the mint.

Extremely Fine: Coins in extremely fine condition will have some very minor defects, although they may still be coveted by coin collectors. To earn this grade, the coin must have only minor imperfections such as scratches and must appear to be nearly new. It is only under a close visual inspection that the coin’s imperfections become apparent.

Fine: Coins in fine condition have been widely circulated and will show signs of wear and tear, especially as they age. While these coins may have scratches or other imperfections, the coin’s images and text still remains fully intact.

Good: Most Jefferson Nickels on the open market today would fall into this category. These coins have been heavily circulated for years or even decades, and they will have obvious scratches, dents or other issues. Coin collectors may skip these coins in favor of coins that are in better physical shape. Nevertheless, these coins can be valuable, even to collectors, depending on mint year and relative scarcity.

Pricing the 1946 Jefferson Nickel

To get a good idea of what you might expect to pay for a 1946 Jefferson Nickel, you must first determine the coin type. There were five different types of this coin produced in 1946. Secondly, you must take into account the coin’s condition. Collectors will look for coins in excellent condition, and these coins often sell for higher premiums than similar coins in a lesser condition. The chart below will help you get an idea of what you might expect to pay for a 1946 Jefferson depending on type and condition.

1946 Jefferson Nickel

DATE	GOOD	FINE	EXTREMELY FINE	UNCIRCULATED
1946 Jefferson Nickel	N/A	N/A	$0.30	$0.35
1946 Jefferson Nickel (D)	N/A	N/A	$0.40	$0.45
1946 Jefferson Nickel (S)	N/A	N/A	$0.45	$0.50
Source: Red Book