1986 Jefferson Nickel
Base
About This Coin
The 1986 Jefferson Nickel is a United States nickel from the Jefferson Nickels Original Design 1938-2003 series — 49th of 66 years in the series. In 1986, coins were struck at the Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Denver Mints with a combined mintage of 726.6 million. This ranks 38th of 66 years by total mintage, above the series median of 617.5 million. The obverse features Thomas Jefferson facing left and the reverse displays Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's Virginia estate. Standard production year from both mints. Struck in 75% copper, 25% nickel, weighing 5 grams, 21.2 mm in diameter, with a plain edge. Collectors have identified 3 known die varieties for this date, including cud. Across its variants, estimated values range from $0 to $9 depending on mint mark, grade, and strike type. A notable auction result reached $3.5K in PR70 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.
