1949 Nickel Value

Published on July 24, 2025

Jefferson Nickel 1949 is a highly desired coin among collectors; particularly in higher grades and rare mintmark issues. The nickel is highly volatile depending on the grade, the date variety and mintmark. The 1949-S, 1949-D, and 1949 types are the most sought after and the mint state graded examples of the latter will command the highest premiums.

One of the numismatic coins that are in high demand is the 1949 Jefferson Nickel. It is a desirable coin to both novice and experienced collectors due to its historical worth as well as different mintmark and dates.

Unlocking the true value of the 1949 Jefferson Nickel

One of those complete sets of coins that were made since 1938 is the Jefferson Nickel of 1949. The coin is not the rarest of the Jefferson Nickels but it is still a good coin to collect, especially when it is in good grades. It is valued based on a blend of factors such as mintmark, overall rarity of the coin and grade.

Like any collector coin, the study of its characteristics will help you to correctly define its value.

Identifying mintmark and date variations

The 1949 Jefferson Nickel, as a part of the Jefferson Nickel programme is produced in three varieties. These varieties represents the different mints or facilities of the US Mint, the coin has been struck at. The three mints were Philadelphia, Denver Mint, and the San Francisco mint.

How to identify the mint mark? Every mint mark is depicted as initial(s) on the reverse to the far right of the Monticello.

Here’s more information that matters!

1949-S Jefferson Nickel

The 1949-S Jefferson Nickel containing the mintmark “S” refers to the San Francisco Mint, a production facility of the US Mint. The total number of nickels struck at this mint are around 9,716,000 in 1949, which is relatively less. This number is lesser considering not many would be available currently.

Did You Know?

The 1949-S Jefferson Nickel with the mintage of 9,716,000 is the eighth lowest mintage of the Jefferson Nickel series, making it one of the rarest.

The value range of the San Francisco struck 1949 Jefferson Nickel is from $0.05 to $110.32 depending on the condition. The proof versions of this coin can be valued as high as $15,272 (auction records).

1949-D Jefferson Nickel

The mintmark “D” in the 1949-D Jefferson Nickel refers to the Denver mint. The Mintmark is the initial of the mint where the coin has been produced. Around 36,498,000 coins were struck at the Denver mint, the second highest from the three. As struck at the Denver Mint, these coins were said to have a weaker strike, due to excessive use of worn dies through the entire process.

So, how much are they actually worth?

The 1949-D Jefferson Nickels are valued anywhere from $0.10 to $800 based on the condition and grade (circulated to mint state). The proof and error coins can go as high as $8,675 (auction record).

1949 Jefferson Nickel

The 1949 Jefferson Nickel were the coins produced at the Philadelphia Mint. The Philadelphia Mint’s special feature as not including the mintmark in the coin design. So, at the designated spot for the mint mark, they would be blank space.

The Philadelphia mint was the primary producer for numerous coin series of the US Mint. A total of 60,652,000 OR 60 million Jefferson Nickels were struck in 1949, the highest. Even with this high mintage, the well preserved or pristine coins are hard to find in the current market.

How does that influence the value?

The circulated examples of the 1949 Jefferson Nickel can be worth from $0.10 to 1.75.
If we go higher up the conditions and grading scale, the value ranges from $2 to $825 for the highest grade of MS67.
As the auction records say, the MS67 graded 1949 Jefferson Nickel was worth $3,634.

These price ranges of the Philadelphia struck Jefferson Nickels makes it equally if not more valuable than the Denver Mint and San Francisco struck coins.

Assess the condition and determine the 1949 Jefferson Nickel's Value!

The condition of the coin is the among the most influential determinants in the valuation of the coin. The conditions that determine the value are Mint state, extremely fine, and circulated condition.

These conditions overlap with the grading scale followed by coin grading services like Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC) and Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS). The grading scale ranges from 1 to 70, with 1 being the lowest and 70 as the highest.

Let’s discuss them in detail in context of the 1949 Jefferson Nickel!

Mint State Grade

Mint State (MS) coins are as near to perfect as can be. An example of a 1949 Jefferson Nickel in MS condition could be in MS-60 with little to no wear, fine details and shiny surfaces. Such coins have the most premiums and may earn great sums on the market. A coin graded MS-65 or better easily may fetch several times face value.

Extremely Fine Grade

Extremely Fine (EF) graded coins will not be worn down much, and their details will be sharp. The rub-through can be light but the general look of the coin is still excellent. Jefferson Nickel 1949 in the grade EF comes at a higher price than a low grade coin though not as high as a coin in Mint State grade.

Circulated Condition

By the time it appears in circulation, the 1949 Jefferson Nickel will be highly worn. Features will be dulled and there will be some nicks, scratches or tinting on the coin. These are the least valuable coins, even though they still make a part of the collector set and are most often used in filling out basic sets. Beat up 1949 Jefferson Nickel tends to be in the range of melt value, but nicer coins with less common mintmarks will bring premium prices.

Conclusion

The 1949 Jefferson Nickel is an extremely good and beautiful coin, and there are a lot of chances both for newbies and more experienced numismatists. With your mintmarks knowledge, the date variances and grading of your coin, you will hold the keys to finding out what the true value of the 1949 Jefferson Nickel is!

Are you ready to purchase iconic creations like the 1949 Jefferson Nickel to add to your collection? Come to BOLD Precious Metals today and visit a wide variety of valuable and unusual coins like the American Eagles, the Morgan Dollars, and the Double Eagles from the US Mint. You can rest assured of the best-quality, original, high-value coins in your collection because of our experience and devotion to quality.