Is Collecting Nickels Worth It? You Bet—Especially If They Have These Rare Errors
Ever stumbled across an old nickel and thought, “Could this be worth something?” You’re not alone. While most nickels are only worth five cents, a rare few could be hiding serious value—especially those with minting errors.
Since the U.S. Mint began producing 5-cent nickels in 1866, a variety of types have circulated—Shield, Liberty Head, Buffalo, and the more modern Jefferson nickel (in production since 1938). Most people pass nickels by without a second glance. But coin collectors know better: it’s the errors and anomalies that can turn a pocket change find into a jackpot.
Here’s a list of some of the most valuable nickel errors out there—ones that could transform your coin jar into a treasure chest.
1. 1937-D Three Legs Buffalo Nickel
The legendary “Three Legs” Buffalo nickel is one of the most iconic error coins ever minted. The Buffalo on the reverse is missing a front leg, but the hooves remain—an error caused by over-polishing of the die.
Collectors snatched up many of these soon after release, but high-grade versions are rare. An MS66 example sold for $99,875 in 2021. Not bad for five cents, right?
2. 1935 Doubled Die Reverse Buffalo Nickel
Only one year in the Buffalo nickel series features a doubled die reverse—1935. That makes this coin incredibly rare.
The doubling appears on the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM and FIVE CENTS. Type 1 is especially valuable. One MS64 coin fetched a staggering $104,650 in 2007.
3. 1964 SMS Jefferson Nickel
Only a handful of these “Special Strike” 1964 nickels exist—less than two dozen are known today. They were never released into circulation and weren’t even discovered until 1993.
With their satin finish and sharp detail, examples with full bands can sell for up to $32,900.
4. 1918-S Buffalo Nickel
The San Francisco Mint produced about 4.88 million of these, but most had weak strikes. Finding one in top condition is a serious challenge.
One MS66 example brought in $125,350 at auction in 2008.
5. 1913 Liberty Head Nickel
Only five are known to exist. That’s right—five!
This coin was struck mysteriously at a time when the Buffalo nickel was supposed to be taking over. The most famous of these, the Walton specimen, sold for $4,560,000 in 2022.
6. 1918/7-D Buffalo Nickel Doubled Die Obverse
This overdate error happened when dies for 1917 and 1918 were used on the same coin. The result? A visible overlap of the two dates—only discovered in the 1930s.
One MS65 specimen went for $350,750 in 2006.
7. 1939-P Doubled Die Reverse (Full Step)
One of only three major doubled die Jefferson nickels, the 1939-P error shows strong doubling on MONTICELLO and FIVE CENTS.
Full Step examples in mint state are rare. One sold for $23,500.
8. 1971-S No Mint Mark Jefferson Nickel DCAM
This rare proof coin was struck in San Francisco—but without the “S” mint mark. Only about 50 Deep Cameo (DCAM) examples are known.
DCAM varieties can sell for up to $8,100.
9. 1880 Shield Nickel
With very low mintage and poor strike quality, this coin is the rarest in the Shield series. Fewer than two dozen are known in mint state.
An MS66 example once sold for $188,195.
10. 1946-D Jefferson D over D Nickel
This repunched mint mark shows a D struck over another upside-down D. If it also has the Full Steps detail, you’re looking at a coin worth up to $3,000.
MS66 examples average around $253.
11. 1942-D Over Horizontal D Jefferson Nickel
Manual mint mark punching led to a fascinating error—one D punched over a horizontally positioned D.
Fewer than 100 uncirculated examples exist. One Full Steps MS66 coin went for $32,200.
12. 1885-P Liberty Head Nickel
With just 1.47 million minted, this is one of the lowest mintage nickels ever made. Very few were saved in mint state.
In 2005, an MS67 version sold for $74,750.
13. 1943-P Jefferson Fish Hook Nickel Error
A date-over-date error created a fish-hook shape where the “3” overlays the “2” in the date. Easily visible to the naked eye.
A Full Steps MS67 coin fetched $16,675.
14. 1953-S Full Steps Jefferson Nickels
With only 19 million minted and few with Full Steps details, this San Francisco nickel is one of the toughest to find in pristine condition.
In 2019, a rare MS67 Full Steps sold for $24,000.
Summary
Nickels may seem like the forgotten middle child of U.S. coinage, but error versions prove they can be anything but ordinary. From six-figure auction sales to ultra-rare strikes, these coins show that even a humble five-cent piece might be worth a small fortune.
So, next time you get change at the grocery store, take a second look—because hidden among those nickels could be a collector’s dream.