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1938-S
| Weight | 5 g |
| Diameter | 21.21 mm |
| Mint | San Francisco |
| Strike | Circulation strike |
| Mintage | 4,105,000 |
| Edge | Plain |
| Alignment | ↑↓ Coin |
| Composition | 75% Copper, 25% Nickel |
| Melt value | — |
| Designer | Felix Schlag |
| Collector's Key ID | CK-1339 |
Collection
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No additional varieties recorded for this strike.
External references
San Francisco struck 4,105,000 Jefferson nickels in 1938, the lowest mintage in the entire series and establishing the 1938-S as the single-lowest-production regular-issue Jefferson nickel. Like the 1938-D, the coin was recognized early as scarce, and contemporary collectors set aside substantial quantities in Mint State. The survival profile therefore differs from expected low-mintage patterns: circulated examples are reasonably available, and Mint State coins are more common than the mintage would suggest.
Strike characteristics for 1938-S nickels are variable. Some examples show strong detail with Full Steps preservation, while others show the softer strike typical of early San Francisco Jefferson production. Well-struck Full Steps examples command significant premiums over typical strike pieces at the same grade, and specialists building high-grade Jefferson nickel sets prioritize strike quality alongside technical preservation.
The 1938-S is typically grouped with the 1938-D and 1939-D in collector discussions of early Jefferson nickel semi-keys. All three are essential acquisitions for complete date sets and together represent the main pre-1950 scarcity challenges in the series. Collectors typically acquire these coins in the first phase of Jefferson nickel collecting before moving to the 1950-D key date and modern varieties.
Reference data only — not an appraisal.
| Grade | Description | Low | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| G-4 | Good (G) | $0.50 | $0.55 |
| VG-8 | Very Good (VG) | $1 | $1 |
| F-12 | Fine (F) | $1.50 | $2 |
| VF-20 | Very Fine (VF) | $2.50 | $2.50 |
| EF-40 | Extremely Fine (EF) | $3 | $3.50 |
| AU-50 | About Uncirculated (AU) | $3.50 | $4 |
| MS-60 | Uncirculated (MS) | $4 | $4.50 |
| MS-63 | Choice Uncirculated (MS) | — | — |
How much is a 1938-S Jefferson Nickel worth?
How many 1938-S Jefferson Nickels were minted?
What is a 1938-S Jefferson Nickel made of?
What is the melt value of a 1938-S Jefferson Nickel?
Is the 1938-S Jefferson Nickel a key date?
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