Most old coins might not seem to be worth much at first glance. But it’s important to keep an eye on them because some, like the 1969 Jefferson nickel, could be worth more than $3,000.
At first glance, the 1969 Jefferson nickel might look like any other coin that any American would carry around. People who collect coins, on the other hand, can get a lot of money for some forms of this nickel—possibly more than $3,000.
This is especially true for coins made at the San Francisco Mint, which have a unique mint mark that looks like a “S.” People who like collecting coins can’t wait to find these and add them to their collections.
Origin and Design
The Jefferson nickel took the place of the popular Buffalo nickel when it was released in 1938. Felix Schlag, an artist at General Motors, won a contest with his drawing of President Thomas Jefferson on the front and his home, Monticello, on the back. He made this new design.
Materials
It’s interesting that the first U.S. 5-cent coins, which were called “half dimes,” were made of silver instead of nickel. When they switched to the current form with Jefferson and Monticello, nickel became the main material.
During World War II, however, nickel was used only for military purposes, and a special metal made of copper, manganese, and silver was used to make five cents.
Features of the 1969 Nickel
The 1969 nickel has the famous picture of Thomas Jefferson on it, along with the words “LIBERTY” and “IN GOD WE TRUST.” It also has the designer’s letters, FS (Felix Schlag), and the year 1969. The words “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” “FIVE CENTS,” and “E PLURIBUS UNUM” are written on the back of the bill, which shows Monticello.
It’s important that your 1969 coin has the mint mark “S,” which means it was made at the San Francisco Mint, if you want to sell it. The Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) says that these five cents’ values can change a lot depending on their MS (Mint State) condition:
Understanding the Value of Your 1969 Five Cents
- MS-62: Up to $3
- MS-63: Up to $6
- MS-64: Up to $12
- MS-65: Up to $30
- MS-66: Up to $50
- MS-67: Up to $3,850
Maximizing the Value of Your Coin
When it comes to dollars, cents, dimes, and other coins, the ones that are perfect and show no signs of wear sell for the most money. If you own a 1969-S coin, you might want to have a professional look it over before you decide to sell it.