1962 Nickel Value: are “D”, No mint mark worth money?

Are you interested in learning the 1962 nickel value? As a coin collector, it’s pivotal to have in-depth knowledge about this coin in general, from its physical characteristics to its current value chart. Likewise, it also pays off to understand the different varieties of the coin to easily determine its worth.

So, if you’re planning to add this remarkable coin to your collection, here’s everything you ought to know about the 1962 Nickel. Let’s get started with the basic details of the 1962 nickel coins and learn how these have evolved throughout the years.

1962 Nickel Details

• Category: Jefferson nickel
• Mints: Philadelphia, Denver
• Total mintage: 380,797,739
• Obverse designer: Felix Schlag
• Reverse designer: Felix Schlag
• Edge: Smooth
• Diameter: 21.21 mm
• Thickness: 0.07677 inches
• Composition: copper and nickel
• Weight: 5 grams
• ASW: 0.73oz

The 1962 Nickel is part of the renowned Jefferson nickel coin series that started in 1938. It’s a 5-cent coin that only weighs 5 grams with a diameter of 21.21 mm. The smooth edge of the coin has a thickness of 0.07677 inches.

As to the composition, the coins were made of 75% copper and 25% nickel. However, there was a period in the past, when the Jefferson coins encompass three materials―copper, silver, and manganese.

One of the key features of the 1962 Nickel is the image of the third president of the United States, Thomas Jefferson. His image is imprinted on the obverse side, featuring a left-facing portrait that highlighted his facial structure with a high collar and ponytail hairstyle.

On the rims of the coins, you’d see the phrases “IN GOD WE TRUST” and “LIBERTY 1962”. Meanwhile, the reverse section contained the primary plantation of the president, which is the Monticello villa. What’s more interesting is the fact that Jefferson himself personally designed his mansion.

And this is beautifully put to life by Felix Schlag, the designer of the Jefferson Nickel coin. If you look closely, there are more details on the reverse design. Plus, it comes with famous markings like E PLURIBUS UNUM, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, FIVE CENTS, MONTECILLO.

The total mintage of the 1962 Nickel was 380,797,739, with mint locations from Philadelphia and Denver. In Philadelphia itself, 97,384,000 of them were no mint mark coins while 3,218,019 were proof ones. Accordingly, the Philadelphia mint was the second large mintage in the year while Denver is the biggest.

The no-mint mark was the general practice of the US mintage in the past. This means you can’t see a mark on the reverse side of the coin produced in Philadelphia. Conversely, Denver produced 280,195,720 1962 D nickel, most of which were lower in grade, though there are some in MS 65 and MS 66 condition.

Furthermore, most of the minted nickels in 1962 were circulated in the market in the past decades and even up to now. Hence, you can find lots of these coins with visible signs of wear. And of course, with the abundant presence of these coins, this relatively impacts the value of the coins.

1962 Nickel Value Chart
Mint Mark	MS60	MS65	Proof 65
1962 No Mint Nickel	$0.28	$11	$3.3
1962 D Nickel	$0.25	$34	/

1962 Nickel Value and Varieties

The valuation of the 1962 Nickel is largely dependent on the condition of the coin. Often than not, a good condition 1962 Nickel can be bought at $0.05, which is also its current face value. There are also some that can be worth $10 or more, depending on the condition.

Despite that, there are still thousands in higher grades that would be a perfect addition to your treasured coin collection. Proof coins, to be specific, are better in price. So, if you have one, make sure to evaluate the physical characteristics as well as the mint mark.

Generally, 1962 D Nickels are slightly more expensive than the no mint marks, which were produced in Philadelphia. To better understand the differences between the three main varieties, here’s a detailed comparison for your guidance.

Also Read: 15 Most Valuable Nickels Worth Money

1962 No Mint Mark Nickel

• Type: Jefferson nickel
• Edge: Smooth
• Mint mark: None
• Place of minting: Philadelphia
• Year of minting:1962
• Face value:$0.05
• $ price:$0.05 to $11
• Quantity produced: 97,384,000
• Designer:Felix Schlag

These nickels are the standard coins minted in Philadelphia. With no mint mark, the average price of each coin is around $0.05 to $10.00. Since there are over 97 million produced, this coin is quite abundant and even in circulation up to now.

And because of its easy availability, there may only be a few coins that are in an excellent state. Moreover, 1962 no-mint nickels with grades higher than MS 67 are already very rare. And with the rarity of MS 67+ nickels, their value could be impressive.

At a certain auction in 2006, 1962 no mint nickel was sold for $690. An MS 67+ coin also reached up to $21,150 back in 2013. Therefore, the value of these regular Jefferson nickels differs significantly, from one place to another.

Also Read: Top 19 Most Valuable Jefferson Nickels Worth Money

1962 Proof Nickel

• Type: Jefferson nickel
• Edge: Smooth
• Mint mark: None
• Place of minting: Philadelphia
• Year of minting:1962
• Face value:$0.05
• $ price:$0.05 to $15
• Quantity produced: 3,218,019
• Designer:Felix Schlag

If you’ve got the 1962 Proof Nickel, then you’re one of the lucky ones. It’s because there were only at least 3 million proof coins minted in Philadelphia out of the 380 million coins in that year. The low mintage was due to the fact that these nickels were not meant for circulation.

Simply said, these were generally created for collectors. However, you need to be wary because 1962 Proof Nickel also does not have mint marks since these were produced in Philadelphia. Therefore, the only basis would be the obverse and reverse aspects.

One of the determining factors of the 1962 Proof Nickel coins is their physical features. These have more defined elements, making them more attractive. Likewise, proof coins are a bit shinier compared to the standard ones. As to the prices, there’s only a slight advantage, especially if you’ve got a higher grade.

1962 D Nickel

• Type: Jefferson nickel
• Edge: Smooth
• Mint mark: None
• Place of minting: Denver
• Year of minting:1962
• Face value:$0.05
• $ price:$0.28to $89.00
• Quantity produced: 280,195,720
• Designer:Felix Schlag

The last variation would be the 1962 D Nickel that was minted in Denver. It’s easy to distinguish these coins because of the D mark on the reverse side of the coin. The mink mark is visibly stationed on the right section of the Monticello villa.

There’s a significant gap between the total mintage between Denver and Philadelphia in 1962. Denver has over 280 million coins, making it the highest mintage in said year. Consequently, these pieces are still widely available and circulated in the market even after many decades.

In terms of value, coins minted in Denver are a bit pricier than the Philadelphia coins. Coins in good condition start at $0.05 and may reach up to $89.

Also Read: Top 110 Most Valuable Nickels Worth Money

1962 Nickel History

The history of the 1962 Nickel is connected to the famous Jefferson Nickel series that commenced in 1938. And fascinatingly, this 5-cent coin is dubbed as one of the most popular and long-running US Mint coins that are still used up now.

With over 80 years in usage, the Jefferson Nickel served as the replacement for the Buffalo Nickel, which was struck by the US Mint from 1913 to 1938. The process of coin modification, however, was a difficult one. Why? It’s because it took a long time to choose the design to be used for the new coin.

So, in 1938, the US Mint declared an open competition. There was a total of 400 applications that created designs with the image of Thomas Jefferson on the obverse and the Monticello on the reverse.

Eventually, after careful deliberations, the judges have chosen the work from the reputable sculptor and German immigrant named Felix Schlag. However, there were more revisions to the design until the first mintage in 1938.

From then, the nickel’s design generally remained unchanged for eight decades. There were slight deviations like the addition of the initials of Felix Schlad (FS) under the bust section of Jefferson’s image on the obverse in 1966.

Also, we mentioned earlier that there was an adjustment in the composition of materials at a certain period. Actually, this happened during World War II, when nickel was a key resource in the creation of anti-aircraft guns and sturdy yet portable bridges.

Because of the demand for nickel during the war, the US Mint modified the elements. So instead of copper and nickel, they produced Jefferson Nickel coins from copper, silver, and manganese. Ironically, coins produced during that period were called Wartime nickels despite not having nickels in the composition.

1962 Nickel Grading

Although the grading of 1962 Nickel is relatively in the low bracket with a starting value of $0.05, the mint location largely impacts the value of the coin. We’ve mentioned earlier that Denver coins are more valuable than Philadelphia. In addition, proof nickel coins are slightly more expensive than regular ones.

List of 1962 Nickel Error

With over 380 million coins minted, it’s quite normal to have production issues. And for the 1962 Nickel coins, there are a couple of errors that you need to know in detail so you can easily distinguish them and assess their value in advance.

1. 1962 Nickel Full Steps

The reverse side of a 1962 nickel has the Monticello villa, with just the right amount of die. However, there were some coins that have a strong die strike, particularly on the steps of the building image. Although these were generally considered errors, these specific coins are actually very in demand.

Collectors are fascinated by 1962 coins that have clearly struck steps, either 5 or 6 lines. To give you an overview, a no-mint mark nickel with MS 66 grade is valued at $100. Meanwhile, a coin minted in Denver of the same grade can reach up to $4,000.

2. 1962 Nickel Double Die

Another error made in the production of the 1962 Nickel was the double die. This happens when the die hits the surface of the coin twice or thrice, resulting in the doubling of numbers, letters, and other key figures on either side or even both.

If the double die is on the obverse section, then it’s called DDO. On the other hand, double-die elements on the reverse are referred to as DDR.

3. 1962 Nickel Die-deterioration Doubling

Because of the large amount of production, there were also issues with worn-out dies. Accordingly, some 1962 Nickel coins do not have a very detailed design, which required doubling of strikes. Most of the errors are on the obverse side, featuring weak inscriptions of the mint year and the facial features of Jefferson.

4. 1962 Nickel Off-center Strikes

In addition, there were reported off-center strike coins on both obverse and reverse sides. Since the visibility of the design is very important when it comes to collecting coins, only 40% to 60% off-center is considered valuable among dealers and collectors.

1962 Nickel FAQ:

1. How much is a 1962 nickel worth today?

A 1962 Nickel with no mint can be purchased or sold, starting at $0.05. There are also some that are valued between $11 to $15. More so, you need to check if the coin has a D mark, which means it’s minted in Denver. In general, the 1962 D Nickel is pricier compared to no-mint coins.

2. Does a 1962 nickel contain silver?

No, the 1962 Nickel does not have silver. These coins are composed of 75% copper and 25% nickel. However, it should be noted that there was a certain time, particularly during World War II when Jefferson coins were made of three materials, and these were copper, manganese, and silver.

3. How much is a 1962 nickel D mint mark worth?

According to experts, the estimated worth of 1962 D nickel is between $0.28 to $89.00. These coins minted in Denver are typically more expensive than those minted in Philadelphia. MS 65, in particular, can be bought for $35. More so, you can expect a better price for coins with higher grades.