1971 Jefferson Nickel
Base
About This Coin
The 1971 Jefferson Nickel is a United States nickel from the Jefferson Nickels Original Design 1938-2003 series — 34th of 66 years in the series. In 1971, coins were struck at the Denver, Philadelphia, and San Francisco Mints with a combined mintage of 429.5 million. This ranks 30th 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. The 1971 "No S" Proof is a rare modern error — proof nickels missing the San Francisco mintmark. Struck in 75% copper, 25% nickel, weighing 5 grams, 21.2 mm in diameter, with a plain edge. Collectors have cataloged 180 known die varieties for this date across 4 categories, including cud, doubled die obverse, doubled die reverse and 1 other types. Across its variants, estimated values range from $0 to $1.3K depending on mint mark, grade, and strike type. A notable auction result reached $4.0K in PR69 grade at eBay. 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.
