1993 Jefferson Nickel Value Guide

The 1993 Jefferson nickel is part of the Jefferson nickel series. If you’re planning to complete your nickel collection, you must have the 1993 nickel. Today, you will learn about the history, composition, and value of the 1993 Jefferson nickel.

What Is the 1993 Jefferson Nickel Made Of?

The 1993 Jefferson nickel is made of 25% nickel and 75% copper. This coin is made of core nickel and covered by copper to make it look shiny and attractive.

The Jefferson nickel has always nickel and copper in its composition. Only in 1942, 1943, and 1945 did the Jefferson nickel’s composition change to 56% copper, 35% silver, and 9% manganese.

During World War II, the United States needed all the nickel metals that they could get to produce weapons and bullets. One of the solutions they thought of was temporarily removing nickel from the 5-cent coin and other US coins.

The Buffalo nickel was produced from 1913 to 1938. However, because it is difficult to mint and the die often breaks to produce more prominent engraved materials, the US Mint sought to change its design.

According to the law, a coin’s design can only be changed after at least 25 years. So, when the right time came, the Buffalo nickel was changed to the Jefferson nickel in 1938.

Image source: USA Coin Book

The obverse design of the 1993 Jefferson nickel features the left-profile image of Thomas Jefferson. Inscriptions include IN GOD WE TRUST, LIBERTY, and 1995.

On the reverse side, you will find the front view of the Monticello Mansion, which is the residence of Jefferson. Inscriptions include “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” which arches below the coin. The coin’s denomination, “FIVE CENTS,” is curved on top of the USA. Other inscriptions also include MONTICELLO and E PLURIBUS UNUM.

1993 Jefferson Nickel Varieties

The 1993 Jefferson nickel comes with three official varieties. These varieties primarily differ in their mint marks, indicating where they are struck. Aside from the official varieties, there are also some error coins.

Here is a summary of the 1993 Jefferson Nickel Varieties, along with their mintage:

The production of the Jefferson nickel dipped from 1992 to 1993. Although the difference wasn’t that big. In 1993, more than 821 million nickels were issued by the US Mint.

Here’s a deeper look at each of the 1993 Jefferson Nickel varieties:

1993 D Jefferson Nickel

Image Source: PCGS

The Denver Mint produced more than 406 million nickels in 1993. This mintage figure is lower compared to the mintage figure for 1992 and 1994. You should easily find 1993 nickels in both uncirculated and circulated conditions. This makes the 1993 nickel coins affordable. Circulated 1993 nickels are priced at around $0.28 to $1.13

However, if you find a 1993 D nickel with a grade of MS67 Full Steps and above, then you are looking at a coin that could be worth several hundred dollars.

1993 S Jefferson Nickel

Image Source: PCGS

Proof coins are a special type of coin that looks shinier and more attractive. It has greater details compared to the standard-struck coins. Sometimes, the mint would strike a coin twice to make the engraved elements more prominent. Thus, there are 1993 proof coins graded with PR67 to PR70 condition.

In 1993, the San Francisco Mint produced over 3.3 million proof coins, which is already impressive. This only shows that more and more people see the value of proof coins.

The 1993-S nickels can be around $4 to $5.

1993 P Jefferson Nickel

Image Source: PCGS

The Philadelphia Mint produced the most 1993 nickels, reaching 412 million issued coins. With this massive mintage figure, you should easily find 1993 5-cent coins in mint sets or rolls. The most common coins would be the ones with a grade lower than MS65. However, grades MS65 and above can be more expensive but still affordable.

You should be able to sell this coin for around $0.28 to $1.13.

List Of 1993 Jefferson Nickel Errors

The US Mint produced more than 821 million Jefferson nickels in 1993. As you can imagine, the US Mint manufactured thousands of these nickels daily. Mechanical and human errors are just waiting to happen, and when they do, error coins come out of the mint.

Here are some examples of 1993 Jefferson nickel error coins:

Struck-through errors

The struck-through errors happen when a foreign object gets between the die and the coin. When the die strikes the coin, the die strikes through the foreign object, which can be metal clippings, dust, sand, grease, and cloth.

Here’s an example of a 1993 Jefferson nickel struck-through error caused by grease:

Image source: eBay

Notice the year 1993, which wasn’t properly engraved.

Die crack error

The die hits the planchet multiple times in a day. Think about the stress it goes through. That’s why sometimes, the die breaks. When that happens, the die leaves a mark on the coin.

Notice the die crack error on this coin:

Image source: eBay

If you look closely, there’s a small line on the nose of Jefferson.

Clipped planchet

Some errors happen even before the coin is struck. For example, is the clipped planchet. It looks like this on the 1993 nickel:

Image source: eBay

The coin’s rim was clipped, so it doesn’t look like a perfect circle.

Nickel-clad error

As mentioned above, the core of the 1993 5-cent coin is made of copper while it is covered with nickel. Sometimes, the coin isn’t completely covered by Nickell, and thus, some portions would look discolored.

Here’s an example of a 1993 nickel-clad error:

Image source: eBay

How Much Is 1993 Jefferson Nickel Worth Today?

The 1993 Jefferson nickel has a face value of 5 cents. Its melt value is not that far, which is around $0.0716. Usually, 1993 Jefferson nickel in circulated condition can be around $0.28 to $1.13.

If the coin is in Mint State or uncirculated condition, then the coin can be valued at around $3. Nickels with a Full Step designation and higher grades would be more valuable than ordinary coins.

If you’re going to look at the face value and melt value of the 1993 Jefferson nickel, you might not get that much. However, there are still 1993 nickels that were sold for hundreds of dollars.

Check out this table that shows you the auction records for each variety:

The table above shows how much the 1993 nickel can be worth if it is in the right condition. You should also know that some error coins can be as valuable, especially when they look unique and rare.

How Does The Grading System Work?

The 1993 Jefferson nickel is graded based on the Sheldon Scale. The highest score is 70, while the lowest is 1. The appraiser would look into the quality of strike, luster, color, and overall attractiveness of the coin. Based on these criteria, your 1993 nickel can be graded from 1 to 70.

Aside from that, there’s a designation of either MS or PR. A coin gets an MS grade or Mint State if originally made for circulation. A coin gets a PR or Proof grade if it is made as a proof coin.

Moreover, a 1993 nickel’s level of beauty can be determined by looking at the number of steps found on Monticello’s stairs on the reverse side of the coin. The coin will be graded as Full Steps (FS) if you find five or six steps.

Where To Buy Or Sell 1993 Jefferson Nickel?

The 1993 Jefferson nickel can be bought online. You can do a quick search on the Internet, and you’ll find relevant results. You can check websites that specialize in both buying and selling coins.

If you’re not the techy type of guy, you can visit coin shops or join auctions. Finding a 1993 Jefferson nickel in person is more difficult since this would need more time and energy. So, it’s best to call the shop you want to visit first and confirm if they have 1993 Jefferson nickels.

FAQs

Is a 1993 US nickel worth anything?

Yes, the 1993 US nickel is worth a lot of money if it is in good condition and has rare attributes. 1993 nickels with grades MS67 and above can also be worth more than circulated coins.

How much does a 1993 nickel weigh?

The 1993 nickel weighs 5.00 grams.