1939-D Jefferson Nickel Value: What Is It Worth in 2026?
Worth selling individually: list it on eBay or offer it to a local coin dealer. Grading fees would eat the profit, so sell it as-is.
Value by condition
| Good (G-4, heavily worn) | $4.26 |
| Very Good (VG-8) | $6.80 |
| Fine (F-12) | $10 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | $12 |
| Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $19 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50) | $38 |
| Mint State (MS-63, uncirculated) | $103 |
The second key date of the series after the 1950-D: only about 3.5 million struck. Worth real money even heavily worn, and prices climb steeply with condition.
See the full page for this coin (mintage, how to identify it, where to sell)The sleeper key date of the series
Everyone knows the 1950-D, but the 1939-D is almost as scarce: about 3.5 million struck, the second-lowest mintage of the series. Unlike the 1950-D, nobody hoarded it — Depression-era collectors had other things to worry about — so worn examples genuinely disappeared into circulation.
That is why a heavily worn 1939-D still brings several dollars, and why the price curve steepens fast: by Extremely Fine you are looking at real money, and uncirculated examples are a genuine condition rarity.
How to confirm it's genuine
- The mint mark is on the reverse, to the right of Monticello — a small D or S. No letter means Philadelphia. A magnifier with light at a 45° angle works best.
- Never clean the coin: cleaning destroys the original surface and can cut the value in half.
- For any coin worth more than $200, PCGS/NGC grading fees (~$20–50) are money well spent.
Where to sell this coin
- eBay works best in the $1.00–$200 range. Take clear photos of both sides in natural light, and put the year, mint mark, and approximate grade in the title.
- A local coin dealer is the fastest way to cash out, but expect 60–70% of guide prices. Best for selling common dates in bulk.
- Graded high-value coins do best at auction houses like Heritage Auctions or Stack's Bowers, where realized prices are public.