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Pillar of the Community
United States
1107 Posts |
No, really. Let's talk about them.  I don't know if there are any kind of threads like this, but I feel like the Jefferson nickel series deserves more love and appreciation. It's the first coin series that I've ever completed (1938-2005), and has a special place in my memories. I love the fact that all the coins can be obtained fairly easily and many, if not all, can be obtained from pocket change/coin rolls. It may take considerable time to do this, but it can be done. I also love the fact that the only two "key dates" in this series can be obtained for very little money. I think my 1950-D cost 10-20 bucks. The 39-D when I last checked at my LCS was even cheaper. I got one a while back for only 5.00 dollars. I have two sets of Jeffersons from 1938-2005, one being with proofs and somewhat nicer coins, and the other being without proofs that I have been searching for fun via coin rolls. I also started about three months ago collecting 2006 and newer coins, as it wasn't something I was previously doing because I'm not really a fan of the redesign. They do look pretty nice once altogether in a set, though. Personally, I would have loved if they kept the 2005 portrait with the Bison reverse, or at least the obverse design. So, now that I've jabbered on about the Jefferson series long enough, who else loves them? I'm actually thinking about trying to upgrade a lot of the coins in my main set ( Dansco 8113) to BU that are from 1971 and beyond. Edited by Humanist1287
04/16/2026 07:43 am
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Moderator
 United States
187446 Posts |
The Ike was the first series I completed, but Jefferson nickels was the first series I got current ; that is, all the holes filled to date. This was the late 1980s. The album still needed to be filled and that would take another ten plus years.  |
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Moderator
United States
94614 Posts |
I have 1 complete nickel set - in my Dansco albums, and 2 others in proof and uncirculated OGP sets. (well at least back to 1950  ) |
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Valued Member
United States
450 Posts |
I have a Dansco that runs from 1913 to 2000-D. The four Jefferson pages are nearly full. No Proofs in that book. I bought a blank four-page Dansco Nickel book to run from 2000-S to present, with only enough space for 9 more coins after 2026, but it can accomodate another page or two. I guess that's being optimistic at my age. Heck, the Nickel may go the way of the Cent before reaching that capacity, in any case. I'm labeling the holes with my Brother labeler. In that book, I am including P&D circulation strikes, "Brilliant" and "Satin" (Mint Set strikes), Proof and Reverse Proofs, as well as "Enhanced" coins (2017), and the Westward Journey series. 2005 alone has 10 holes reserved for all of the varieties, the most of any year.  Edited by Vector Ze
04/17/2026 01:24 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2270 Posts |
After completing my Buffalo nickel set in 1963 (several coins were purchased), I began my first Jefferson set and completed it in 1964 when I found a '50-D in a bank roll. I then began working on a roll set (w/o '50-D). '38-S and '39-D are the only ones I didn't complete. I've owned rolls of these but not from circulation. I've found fewer than 15 of the '39-D. People are underestimating the i8mportance of the '65 to date nickels. Many of these are not so common in BU rolls and the circulating coins are in atrocious condition. It's easy to get rolls of all the older coins in nice attractive circulated condition but there's nowhere to go for the later dates. Mint sets have been decimated and many date sets are tarnished. You can find a roll of nice VF and better '39-D's but you might never find a roll of 1971-P's that isn't is horrid condition. Time don't fly, it bounds and leaps.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
6448 Posts |
In my mind, there can be no doubt that Jefferson nickels are the best denomination in current circulation. Certainly they are the most fun for me to coin roll hunt. As Humanist pointed out, you can easily go all the way back to 1938 when pulling coins from circulation. Nickels are a hard coin, so their level of preservation is often much better than similarly dated Lincoln cents. Due to the composition shift of quarters, dimes, halves to clad coins in 1965, you really don't see earlier silver coins in circulation because people (and now machines) pick them out. Most importantly to my own collecting enjoyment, the modern JN doubled dies from 2006-2021 tend to be much bolder than other denominations, and are quick and easy to spot when searching. Finally, because War Nickels are not aggressively hunted by man or machine, the humble Jefferson nickel represents your best bet for finding silver from circulation. The traditional reverse design is somewhat boring, but as a total package, Jefferson nickels are outstanding. |
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Moderator
United States
15381 Posts |
Quote:In my mind, there can be no doubt that Jefferson nickels are the best denomination in current circulation. Well said @ Brand. I completely agree. The Jefferson nickel circulation strike series 1938 - date is the only US coin series that one could reasonably expect to complete at face value from bank rolls. I did it at ~380,000 nickels searched, and so did many others. Go enjoy the humble nickel. It brought me untold hours of fun CRH. Take a look at my other hobby ... http://www.jk-dk.art |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
634 Posts |
Two sets, proofs from 1950 on, including 2020 W proof and 2020W reverse proof. Started on sets around 1965.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6987 Posts |
Edited by Greasy Fingers
04/17/2026 12:52 am
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10470 Posts |
Realistically - once you complete the first few pages of a Dansco album of UNC coins you are just looking at slightly above face value coins
EDIT: Ok, before ya'll flip out - we are not talking "Full Steppers", just talking average UNC's that fill the holes......
Edited by Marv65
04/17/2026 01:54 am
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10470 Posts |
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Valued Member
United States
450 Posts |
Quote:
Realistically - once you complete the first few pages of a Dansco album of UNC coins you are just looking at face value coins Even if that were true, it's kind of a pointless observation from a collector's point of view. Collecting valuable coins may be a store of value if expertly done, but for most people it is a lousey investment strategy. On average, you're not likely to profit from it. Coin collecting is best done as a hobby, not an investment. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6448 Posts |
Quote:
Collecting valuable coins may be a store of value if expertly done, but for most people it is a lousey investment strategy. On average, you're not likely to profit from it.
Coin collecting is best done as a hobby, not an investment. That discussion could become a new thread that runs for many pages. Your statement applies to almost everything of monetary value—stocks, real estate, collectibles, whatever. Casual participants should not be throwing around wads of money expecting to profit later. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6448 Posts |
Quote:
once you complete the first few pages of a Dansco album of UNC coins you are just looking at slightly above face value coins
EDIT: Ok, before ya'll flip out - we are not talking "Full Steppers", just talking average UNC's that fill the holes...... I have long been bemused by the way that a few tiny lines on a nickel can transform it from a $5 coin into a Fugio Cent level investment. What's really interesting about the niche market of full steps nickels is that it's a shared valuing of those tiny little lines—if it weren't, a single mint state nickel couldn't command thousands of dollars. |
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Moderator
United States
187446 Posts |
I love seeing the examples!  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10470 Posts |
Quote:
Even if that were true, I only tell the truth from years off experience. Quote:
Coin collecting is best done as a hobby, not an investment. Um - unless you know what you are doing..... I have grown on from collecting - now I buy to sell for profit. Edited by Marv65
04/17/2026 11:38 pm
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Replies: 35 / Views: 1,232 |
Posted 04/16/2026 11:45 am
Uncirculated American Silver Eagles 
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