1961 Jefferson Nickel
Base
About This Coin
The 1961 Jefferson Nickel is a United States nickel from the Jefferson Nickels Original Design 1938-2003 series — 24th of 66 years in the series. In 1961, coins were struck at the Philadelphia and Denver Mints with a combined mintage of 306.0 million. This ranks 26th of 66 years by total mintage, below the series median of 617.5 million. The obverse features Thomas Jefferson facing left and the reverse displays Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's Virginia estate. Steady production from Philadelphia and Denver as the economy expanded. Struck in 75% copper, 25% nickel, weighing 5 grams, 21.2 mm in diameter, with a plain edge. Collectors have cataloged 96 known die varieties for this date across 8 categories, including cud, doubled die obverse, doubled die reverse and 5 other types. Across its variants, estimated values range from $0 to $30 depending on mint mark, grade, and strike type. A notable auction result reached $6.3K in MS67 grade at Heritage Auctions. Designed by Felix Schlag.
Value Estimates
Values as of May 2026 — range across all strike types, reflecting typical grades (G-4 through MS-63). Coins in lower or exceptional grades may fall outside this range.
Specifications
Strike Types & Varieties(3)
1961 (D) Jefferson Nickel
1961 Jefferson Nickel
1961 Proof Jefferson Nickel
Other Base Coins in This Series
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