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1979
| Weight | 5 g |
| Diameter | 21.21 mm |
| Mint | Philadelphia |
| Strike | Circulation strike |
| Mintage | 463,188,000 |
| Edge | Plain |
| Alignment | ↑↓ Coin |
| Composition | 75% Copper, 25% Nickel |
| Melt value | — |
| Designer | Felix Schlag |
| Collector's Key ID | CK-1483 |
Collection
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No additional varieties recorded for this strike.
External references
Philadelphia struck 463,188,000 Jefferson nickels in 1979, continuing substantial late-1970s production. The coin is common 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.
1979 was the year of the Iran hostage crisis, which began in November when Iranian revolutionaries seized the American embassy in Tehran and took 52 Americans hostage. The crisis would continue for 444 days and dominate the final year of the Carter presidency. The Three Mile Island nuclear accident occurred in March, and the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in December.
The Jefferson nickels struck in 1979 circulated through one of the most consequential years of the Carter administration. The hostage crisis, combined with continued economic stagflation and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, would define the political environment leading into the 1980 presidential election.
Reference data only — not an appraisal.
| Grade | Description | Low | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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) | — | — |
How much is a 1979 Jefferson Nickel worth?
How many 1979 Jefferson Nickels were minted?
What is a 1979 Jefferson Nickel made of?
What is the melt value of a 1979 Jefferson Nickel?
Is the 1979 Jefferson Nickel a key date?
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