Hello readers, welcome to the new post. In this post, we will learn about the 1940 S Nickel Value | Discover Their Worth in 2025. the 1940 five-cent coins, also called Jefferson Nickels, that are still used. However, there were many changes faced by these coins in composition and values. In this post, we will discuss the factors that affect the value of 1940 S nickels and provide details of an overview of their worth in 2025. Let’s get started with an introduction to 1940s nickel value.
Historical Background of the 1940s Nickel
The Jefferson nickel coin was first made for circulation in 1938. US Mint replaced buffalo nickels that were used for more than 25 years and were not easy to make coins. So after the approval of Congress, decided to change these coins.
In January 1938, the mint arranged completion for the design of new coins. So the design of Felix Schlag was selected.
The coins come with a photo of Thomas Jefferson on the front side, and the reverse has Monticello’s house.
After finalizing the design, the production of coins started with three mints, P, D, and S.
A larger number of Jefferson nickel coins were hoarded between 1938 and 1939. The only 1949 coins used for circulation.
There were 259,743,316 coins made in 1940. Out of that, 1940 No Mint mark nickels were 176,499,158, 1940 proof nickels were 14,158, 1940 D nickels were 43,540,000, and 1940 S nickels were 39,690,000.
How Much Is A 1940 Nickel Worth?
The Jefferson 1940 nickel is worth between $0.10 and $0.90 in circulated condition. and uncirculated condition sell for as much as $100.
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Read also: How Many Nickels in 2 Dollars?
What is the rarest Jefferson Nickel?
The rare and high-value nickels are the 1939-D, 1997-P Matte Proof, 1949-D/S, 1943-P doubled eye, 1943/2-P, 1939-P double Monticello, and the 1945-P doubled die reverse.
1940 Nickel Details
- Type: Jefferson Five Cents (1938-Date)
- Mint: Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco
- Mintage: 259,743,316
- Weight: 5g
- Diameter: 21.2 mm
- Obverse Designer: Felix Schlag
- Reverse Designer: Felix Schlag
- Composition: Copper-Nickel
- Edge: Plain
1940 Jefferson Nickel Features
1940 Jefferson Nickel Obverse
The front side of the 1940 nickel has a photo of Thomas Jefferson facing left. The country name with the motto IN GOD WE TRUST is also added there. The word liberty and minting date are on this side.
Reverse of 1940 Nickel
The backside of the 1940 nickel has a photo of Monticello. The motto E PLURIBUS UNUM is also on this side with the country name. The word MONTICELLO is also on this side. It has a denomination of five cents.
Some other features of the 1940 nickel are:
- Its face value is 5 cents ($0.05) with a round shape.
- Its thickness is 0.07677 inches (1.95 mm).
- Weight is 0.17637 ounces (5 g).
- The diameter is 0.83465 inches (21.2 mm) and made with 75% copper and 25% nickel.
Related: How Much Does a Roll of Quarters Weigh?
1940s Jefferson nickel
The S mint made fewer Jefferson 1940 nickels. There were about 36,690,000 regular strike coins made by S mint.
Gem coins are rare due to poor strike.
The value of these coins has ranged from $0.10 to $1.80 in circulated condition.
MS63 grade is about 7 dollars, and MS67 grade is 175 dollars.
VG-grade coin sold for 1840 dollars in a Heritage Auction.
Full step 1940s nickels are high value, and MS67 grade is $775.
1940s Jefferson nickel value chart
| Condition | 1940 No Mint Mark Nickel | 1940 D nickel | 1940 S nickel |
| Good | $0.10 | $0.1 | $0.1 |
| Very good | $0.2 | $0.2 | $0.2 |
| Fine | $0.22 | $0.22 | $0.22 |
| Very fine | $0.3 | $0.4 | $0.4 |
| EF | $0.45 | $0.6 | $0.6 |
| AU | $0.85 | $1.13 | $1.13 |
| MS 60 | $1.13 | $2.3 | $2.55 |
| MS 65 | $111 | $17 | $175 |
| Proof 63 | $140 | / | / |
How much is a 1940 S nickel worth?
The 1940 Jefferson nickel is between $0.10 and $1.80. 1940 S Nickels in pristine, uncirculated condition sell for $175.
1940 No Mint Mark Nickel Value
A total of 176,485,000 coins were made by P.Mint. in 1940. They are commonly found in coins in mint state and circulation condition. Full step no mint mark of P mint are common coins. Their value for circulated conditions is about $0.10 and $0.90.
MS61 grade value is 1.30 dollars, and MS63 is five dollars.
- MS67 = 100 dollars
- MS68 1940 coins sold for 558 dollars in 2021. Full step 1940 nickel of MS67 grade sold in auction for $2,150.
| Country: |
United States of America
|
| Year Mint | 1940 |
| Denomination: | 5C |
| Quality: |
Uncirculated
|
| Mintmark: | None |
| Mintage: | 176,485,000 |
| Alloy: |
75% Copper, 25% Nickel
|
| Weight: | 5.00 g |
| Diameter: |
21.21 mm
|
| OBV Designer: |
Felix Schlag
|
| REV Designer: |
Felix Schlag
|
1940 CAM not mint mark value
| Grade |
1940 CAM No Mint mark nickel
|
| PR 64 | $300 |
| PR 65 | $550 |
| PR 66 | $950 |
1940 DCAM No Mint mark nickel
| Grade | 1940 DCAM No Mint mark nickel |
| PR 60 | 30 |
| PR 61 | $35 |
| PR 62 | $40 |
| PR 63 | $60 |
| PR 64 | $120 |
| PR 65 | $200 |
| PR 66 | $400 |
| PR 67 | $1,000 |
| PR 68 | $8,000 |
1940 D Nickel Value
There were 43,540,000 nickels made by D mint in 1940, which is 2nd higher than P mints. It is made with attractive luster. So nickels in gem condition can easily be found and also with full steps.
- The circulated condition value is $0.10 and $2.
- MS62 is 3.50 dollars, and MS65 is 25 dollars.
- MS67 is 125 dollars.
- 1940 D nickel-graded MS67 sold for 795 in 2018.
- 1940 D nickel with MS67 grade Full Step designation = $275.
1940 S Nickel (Proof) Value
With normal coins, the S mint also made proof 1940 nickels. Just 14,158 Jefferson nickel-proof coins were made in those years. Proof coins come with a satin-like finish with good luster and contrast. Low grades are less valuable coins, but a high grade can have high value.
PF60 is 25 dollars, and PF65 is 110 dollars.
PF68 is $7,850.
PF68-grade coin sold for $18,400 in 2005, which is a high-priced Jefferson 1940 nickel proof.
1940 Nickels Error List
Repunched Mint Mark
This error occurs when the minting letter punches a double triple mark. The result is an overlapping of the mint mark. The 1940 S-minted coins have a repunched mint mark. The value of these coins for XF5 grade is 45 dollars and MS68 for 800 dollars. MS66 grade sold in 2017 for 450 dollars.
Full Steps Nickel Error
The 1940 nickels do not come with full steps, Monticello. That is an error type and a high-cost nickel. 1940 D Full Step nickel was sold for $21,738 in 2018. The 1940 nickel has 5 or 6 full-step high values.
1940 S FS No Mint mark nickel
| Grade |
1940 S FS No Mint mark nickel
|
| MS 64 | $20 |
| MS 65 | $35 |
| MS 66 | $85 |
| MS 67 | $710 |
Off-Center Strike Nickel
The off-center error comes when coins are not accurately aligned with the die and hub. When struck, some part of the design was missing and left the planchet blank. The value of the coin is based on a percentage of off-center. Five percent off-center is about 120 dollars, and 10 percent off-center is 20 dollars in value.
How Rare Is A 1940 Nickel?
The 190 nickels were made in larger numbers of about 260 million coins. Circulated and uncirculated nickels from 1940 are common and easy to get. Gem conditions with full step designation are high value.
Which 1940 nickel is high value?
- 1940 PR 68 Reverse of 1938 Jefferson nickel = $28,750 sold in 2011
- 1940 D MS 68 Full Steps Jefferson nickel = $21,738 sold in 2018
- 1940 PR 65 CAM Jefferson nickel with the reverse of 1940 = $1,725 sold in 2006
- 1940 D MS 67 Jefferson nickel = $795 sold in 2018
- 1940 No Mint Mark MS 68 Jefferson Nickel = $558 sold in 2021
- 1940 PR Jefferson nickel with the 68 reverse of 1940 = $18,400 sold in 2005
- 1940 No Mint Mark MS 68 Full Steps Jefferson Nickel = $6,463 sold in 2016
- 1940 S MS 67 Full Steps Jefferson nickel = $5,170 sold in 2015
- 1940 S VG 10 Jefferson nickel = $1,840 sold in 2000
What Is The 1940 No Mint Mark Jefferson Nickel Price?
Value of nickel made by P mint based on condition. Their larger number makes them low-value coins. The normal value is 11 to 17 cents, and in good condition, it can be 35 cents. Proof coins sold for 140 dollars or higher
Is a 1940 nickel pure silver?
The 1940 Jefferson Nickel does not have silver. These coins are made with 75 percent copper and 25 percent nickel. Check the coin edge for a solid silver stripe to find silver. If the stripe is brown, the coin has a core copper center.
What Is Special About A 1940 Nickel?
The 1940 nickel does not have special factors, but P.M. made 14,158 proof coins that year, which are worth thousands of dollars. The 1940 nickel increases in value with time.
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FAQs
How much is a 1940 S nickel worth?
A 1940 S nickel in average condition has a value between $0.10 and $1.80. In uncirculated condition, sell for as much as $175.
Is a 1940 S nickel silver?
The 1940 Jefferson nickel does not have silver. It comes with 75 percent copper and 25 percent nickel.
Does a 1940 nickel have a mint mark?
Yes, it comes with mint marks. P, S, and D mint marks can be seen on coins.
What is the composition of a 1940 S nickel?
1940 S nickel has 75 percent copper and 25 percent nickel.
How do I know if my nickel is silver?
If you check at the back side of the silver nickel, there will be a largerP,” “D,” or “S” visible above Monticello, Jefferson’s home. Coins without mint marks are not silver war nickels. Many war nickels are bought as bullion coins due to their composition of 35% silver.
Are nickels 100% silver?
The nickel is a 5-cent coin that comes with cupronickel (75% copper and 25% nickel) and has been made since 1866. Its diameter is 0.835 inches (21.21 mm), and its thickness is 0.077 inches.
Is nickel silver in color?
Nickel-silver is a silver-colored copper-nickel-zinc alloy having high corrosion resistance and high strength.
Is nickel a gold or silver?
Nickel is neither gold nor silver. (75% copper and 25% nickel)
What is the 1940 No Mint mark Jefferson nickel average price?
The 1940 Jefferson nickel value for average condition is about $0.17 in average condition and can be $11 or more in uncirculated (MS+) mint condition. Proof coins are worth $140. The NGC estimates its melt value at $1.35.
What is the rarest 1940 Jefferson nickel?
The 1940 nickel is common for both circulated and uncirculated grades, in full-step and non-full-step versions. The finest non-Full Step certified is a single MS-69; the finest Full Steps are also 38 in MS-67FS.
Which Jefferson nickel is worth a lot of money?
- 938-D Full Steps = $33,600
- 1949-D D Over S Full Steps = $32,900
- 1964 Special Mint Set Full Steps = $32,900
- 1942-D D Over Horizontal D = $32,200
- 1940 Reverse of 1938 = $28,750
- 1953-S Full Steps = $24,000
- 1939 Reverse of 1940 = $23,500
