Are you curious about the current 1944 nickel value? Fulfill your inquisitiveness as you unravel all the relevant features of this five-cent coin. We will cover everything, from the different varieties to the common errors during production.
Likewise, we will explain how this coin is valued and how this has evolved over the years. So, let’s get started with the basics and learn the coin’s physical dimensions and other important details.
1944 Nickel Details
- Category: Jefferson Five Cents
- Mintage: Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Denver
- Total mintage: 173,099,000
- Obverse designer: Felix Schlag
- Reverse designer: Felix Schlag
- Edge: Plain
- Diameter: 21.2 mm
- Thickness: 0.0768 inches
- Composition: copper, silver, and manganese
- Weight: 5 grams
The 1944 Nickel is a five-cent coin that was struck in three US Mints namely Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco. During this year, all three minting locations produced a total of 300 million nickels. Since these were made during the onslaught of World War 2, these were called wartime nickels.
Ironically, there wasn’t any nickel in the composition. Because of the limitation of nickel during the war, the coins were made of 56% copper, 35% silver, and 9% manganese. With the composition at hand, the weight of the coin is only 5 grams.
Designed by Felix Schlag, the obverse side contains the portrait of the third US president, Thomas Jefferson. The left-facing image highlights the president’s low ponytail and tuxedo with a wide collar.
Aside from the figure of the former leader, it also featured the famous motto “IN GOD WE TRUST,” which is engraved on the left edge of the coin. Meanwhile, the right edge imprinted the word “LIBERTY” as well as the minting date “1944”. Furthermore, there is a small star between the word and the date.
On the contrary, the back side of the coin shows off the renowned mansion of the president, which is widely known as Monticello. The design highlights the entire architectural sketch, featuring both the left and right wing of the plantation, along with the staircases that lead to the front entrance.
Just below the structure are the words “MONTECILLO” and “FIVE CENTS.” And along the edge of the bottom is the engraved markings of the “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.” Conversely, you can find the Latin phrase “E PLURIBUS UNUM” at the top edge.
And depending on the mint location, the reverse side also inscribed the mint marks. It would be P for Philadelphia, D for Denver, and lastly, S for San Francisco.
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1944 Nickel Value Chart |
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| Mint Mark | Uncirculated | G | F | XF |
| 1944 P Nickel | $700 | $1.25 | $1.45 | $2 |
| 1944 D Nickel | $750 | $1.25 | $1.45 | $2 |
| 1944 S Nickel | $1500 | $1.25 | $1.45 | $2 |
1944 Nickel Value and Varieties
When it comes to estimating the value of a 1944 Nickel, one of the most important things that you need to consider is the kind of coin in accordance with its primary usage. Usually, the US coinage categorizes the coins into two, either circulated or uncirculated.
Circulated coins are those that are used publicly for regular money supply. On the other hand, uncirculated are the ones that weren’t put for commerce circulation. And for collectors, the latter is definitely the most interesting and valuable choice.
So, if you look closely at the 1944 Nickel value chart, you’d see that uncirculated coins are paid significantly higher. Aside from this key factor, it’s also imperative to know that nickels minted in San Francisco hold the highest value.
But how about circulated pieces in good condition? Well, the value of these coins is the same in all three mint locations―$1.25. The same goes for coins with fine or extremely fine grades. This can be purchased between $1.25 and 1.45.
1944 P Nickel
- Type: Jefferson Five Cents
- Edge: Plain
- Mint mark: P
- Place of minting: Philadelphia
- Year of minting:1944
- Face value:$0.05
- $ price:$1.25 to $700
- Quantity produced: 119,150,000
- Designer:Felix Schlag
The Philadelphia Mint generated more than 119 million Jefferson Nickels in 1944. Although this was a good number in terms of production, it was actually lower than the previous year’s production. One of the major reasons was because of the war, which negatively impacted the economy of the country.
Most of the 1944 P Nickels were meant for circulation, hence the value is not that high. However, its worth is actually higher than its face value. In fact, you can sell these for $1.25 to $2, depending on the condition of the coin.
For uncirculated ones, the value is definitely impressive. Since these coins were not used publicly, experts estimate each 1944 P nickel to be worth $700. So, if you have a beautiful piece in mint condition, make sure to have it checked with a professional because it might just be a rare Jefferson nickel!
1944 D Nickel
- Type: Jefferson Five Cents
- Edge: Plain
- Mint mark: D
- Place of minting: Denver
- Year of minting:1944
- Face value:$0.05
- $ price: $1.25 to $750
- Quantity produced: 32,309,000
- Designer: Felix Schlag
In 1944, Denver only minted 32 million Jefferson Nickels, which were pretty much used for everyday transactions. But even if these were generally circulated pieces, the value of the coins is impressive. For instance, a good-condition coin would be at least $1.25 while a fine or very fine piece is $1.45 or $2.
Conversely, if you’ve got an uncirculated 1944 D Nickel, then clearly the odds are in your favor. Why? It’s because these are very much valuable. Collectors would pay at least $750 to get this rare coin.
If you’re wondering why uncirculated nickels from Denver were a bit pricier than Philadelphia, it’s because of the amount produced during the year. There were only a couple of million coins minted in Denver compared to Philadelphia. This makes 1944 D Nickels more in demand and more expensive.
1944 S Nickel
- Type: Jefferson Five Cents
- Edge: Plain
- Mint mark: S
- Place of minting: San Francisco
- Year of minting:1944
- Face value:$0.05
- $ price: $1.25 to $1500
- Quantity produced: 21,640,000
- Designer:Felix Schlag
The last minting location was none other than San Francisco. With only 21 million coins struck, this is the lowest production among all three US mints in 1944. On the bright side, this makes the 1944 S Nickel the most valuable coins out of all nickels minted in the same year.
Coins that were released publicly were valued at around $1.25 to $2, which is technically the same as other Jefferson Nickels minted in 1944. However, the worth of the coins surges up if you’ve got an uncirculated piece.
Fascinatingly, the estimated value is around $1500, although it can go higher for pieces graded with MS. It was even reported that in 2021, an MS68 coin minted in San Francisco was sold for a staggering price of $6,169!
Also Read: 15 Most Valuable Nickels Worth Money
1944 Nickel History
Being part of the Jefferson Nickel, the 1944 Nickel is a relevant section in the US coinage history, along with other coin series. The Jefferson Nickel, in particular, was the substitute for the Buffalo Nickel, which was the five-cent piece from 1913 to 1938.
So, starting in 1939, Jefferson Nickel took over, using two main components―75% copper and 25% nickel. However, the composition of materials was later changed due to war. So, instead of the usual copper and nickel combination, it was replaced with copper, silver, and manganese.
The reduction of copper was pivotal at that time. It’s because copper was known for its durability and malleability, which are important factors in most equipment and vehicles utilized for the battlefield. Moreover, the new combination did not capitalize on vending machines, making them more practical.
The copper, silver, and manganese mixture were used from 1942 up until 1945. Then, after wartime, it reverted to the original composition.
The first design of the Jefferson Nickel had a long history. The US Mint initially declared that there would be an open competition for the new nickel back in 1938. However, the response was not that impressive, and it was only by April 1938 that they’ve officially chosen the winner.
And, it was Felix Schlag, a German designer, and engraver. Although the original design was accepted, there were still a lot of modifications made. The first minting of the Jefferson coin happened in October 1938 and this was released to the public a month later.
Ever since the production of Jefferson Nickel, coins that were manufactured in Philadelphia did not have a mintmark. But, during the 1944 production, the Philadelphia Mint imprinted the letter P on the reverse side. This made it easier to distinguish the coins from the other two US Mints―Denver and San Francisco.
Also Read: Top 110 Most Valuable Nickels Worth Money
1944 Nickel Grading
Appraising a 1944 nickel is usually dependent on whether the coin was circulated or not. Uncirculated ones are definitely the most valuable, particularly pieces that were minted in San Francisco. But in general, all coins in 1944 were more than their face value.
List of 1944 Nickel Error
There are plenty of reasons why errors happen during the minting process. This may be caused by a weak die or perhaps problems with the equipment. And if you’re a budding coin collector, it pays off to be knowledgeable of these errors. So, here are some recorded issues during the 1944 Nickel production:
1. 1944 Off-Center
When a die is misaligned, one of the results is a coin with an off-center. This happened in one of the productions of 1944 nickels. There were some coins that have missing designs because it was not struck properly.
And if you have a coin with more than half of its design missing, you’re lucky! These are downright collectible with impressive value. But the catch is, the year of minting should be present. If not, then it’s good as nothing.
2. 1944 Double Die
A double die is perhaps one of the most common coin errors in the past. And this actually happened in 1944, when some coins have doubling features. Because this error makes a coin distinct, double died coins are quite precious. Often than not, these were priced around $25 up to $100.
3. 1944 Repunched Mintmark
There were also reports that some 1944 Nickels have repunched errors, specifically on the mint marks. Accordingly, these errors happen due to the manual striking of the die by hand. As a result of punching at the wrong angle, there could either be unclear marks or even two imprints.
But even with imperfections, these coins are surely worth a couple of dollars. Some were even valued at $100, which is way higher than their face value.
Also Read: Top 19 Most Valuable Jefferson Nickels Worth Money
1944 Nickel FAQ
1. Is there anything special about a 1944 nickel?
1944 Nickels were struck during wartime, adding up to their historical significance. More than that, there were some unique features that make these coins distinct from other nickels. Firstly, these have silver content. Second, the mint mark on the reversed side of the coin is positioned at the top of Monticello.
2. How much silver is in a 1944 P nickel?
As a wartime nickel produced during World War 2, the 1944 P Nickel contained three different components, and one of the main elements was 35% silver. Other key metals included in the composition are copper and manganese.
3. How to determine if a 1944 nickel is silver?
Silver is one of the primary elements of the 1944 nickel. And this actually makes them valuable. If you’re unsure, don’t worry because it’s quite simple to know if the coin has silver content or not. Just look at the reverse side of the coin and see the mint marks.
Wartime nickels that were produced from 1942 to 1945 are unique as the mint marks were imprinted on top of the Monticello. And this is different from other Jefferson nickels with mint marks on the right side of the plantation.
4. What were 1944 nickels made of?
The 1944 Nickel production was part of the minting years during wartime. Hence, the composition of these coins was adjusted accordingly, replacing copper and nickel with a mixture of copper, silver, and manganese.
Limiting the copper content during 1944 was imperative because the government needed it for war equipment. And to differentiate war nickels from pre-war and post-war nickels, you simply check the location of the mint mark.