1941

Philadelphia's 1941 Jefferson nickel mintage reached 203,265,000 coins, the first year of the series to exceed 200 million and reflecting continued growth in commercial demand for nickel coinage. The coin is abundant in all grades and readily available in Mint State. Strike characteristics are generally strong, and Gem-quality examples with Full Steps exist in sufficient numbers for specialist demand at modest premiums.

The 1941 Philadelphia is typical of pre-war Jefferson nickel production at its quality peak. Collectors building complete sets acquire the coin without difficulty, and type collectors can select from abundant Mint State examples at various grade levels. The high mintage ensures that even MS66 and better examples are available through normal specialist channels.

1941 was the year of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December, which brought the United States into World War II. The nickels struck that year circulated through the final eleven months of American neutrality and then into the first weeks of active wartime. By the end of 1941, the country was fully mobilized for a two-front war that would reshape American industry, demographics, and coinage over the following four years.