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1963

Nickels · Jefferson Nickels · 1938–Present
Regular
Weight5 g
Diameter21.21 mm
MintPhiladelphia
StrikeCirculation strike
Mintage 178,851,645
EdgePlain
Alignment↑↓ Coin
Composition75% Copper, 25% Nickel
DesignerFelix Schlag
Collector's Key IDCK-1436

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About this coinHistory

Philadelphia struck 175,776,000 Jefferson nickels in 1963, one of the highest Jefferson nickel mintages of the decade. The coin is abundant in all grades and readily available in Mint State. Strike characteristics are generally strong, and Full Steps examples exist in adequate numbers for specialist demand at modest premiums.

Collectors building complete Jefferson nickel sets acquire the 1963 without difficulty. 1963 was the year Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech at the March on Washington in August, and the year President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas in November. The cultural and political transformations of the 1960s were accelerating.

The Jefferson nickels struck in 1963 circulated through one of the most consequential years of the decade. Kennedy's assassination shocked the nation and the world, and Lyndon Johnson's succession to the presidency set in motion the civil rights legislation and Great Society programs that would define the mid-1960s. The ordinary nickels struck that year were silent witnesses to all of this, changing hands through routine transactions in a country experiencing profound historical change.

Price guideReference

Reference data only — not an appraisal.

GradeDescriptionLowHigh
G-4 Good (G) $0.05 $0.05
VG-8 Very Good (VG) $0.05 $0.05
F-12 Fine (F) $0.05 $0.05
VF-20 Very Fine (VF) $0.05 $0.05
EF-40 Extremely Fine (EF) $0.05 $0.05
AU-50 About Uncirculated (AU) $0.05 $0.05
MS-60 Uncirculated (MS) $0.20 $0.25
MS-63 Choice Uncirculated (MS)
Frequently Asked QuestionsFAQ
How much is a 1963 Jefferson Nickel worth?
In Good condition it runs about $0.05, rising to roughly $0.20–$0.25 in Uncirculated. These are reference values, not an appraisal.
How many 1963 Jefferson Nickels were minted?
178,851,645 were struck.
What is a 1963 Jefferson Nickel made of?
75% Copper, 25% Nickel, weighing 5 g.
What is the melt value of a 1963 Jefferson Nickel?
Its melt value is its metal content multiplied by the current spot price. See our melt calculator on the metals pages for a live figure.
Is the 1963 Jefferson Nickel a key date?
It's a more common date overall, though scarcer die varieties may carry a premium — see the varieties list.