1943-D Jefferson Nickel Value: What Is It Worth in 2026?
Every war nickel is 35% silver, so even a worn one is worth several dollars. Sell it individually on eBay, or bundle silver nickels together — dealers buy them by the roll.
Value by condition
| Good (G-4, heavily worn) | $4.16 |
| Very Good (VG-8) | $4.80 |
| Fine (F-12) | $5.42 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | $6.28 |
| Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $7.88 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50) | $9.17 |
| Mint State (MS-63, uncirculated) | $28 |
The Denver issue of the 35% silver war nickel, identified by the large D above Monticello's dome.
See the full page for this coin (mintage, how to identify it, where to sell)This is a silver nickel — here is how to be sure
From late 1942 through 1945 the Mint removed nickel metal from the five-cent piece (it was needed for the war effort) and switched to an alloy of 35% silver, 56% copper, and 9% manganese. Every one of these war nickels is worth several dollars on its silver content alone — roughly 0.056 troy ounces of silver per coin.
The identification takes five seconds: flip the coin over and look at Monticello. A war nickel has a large mint mark above the dome — a big P, D, or S. Regular nickels of other years have a small letter to the right of the building, or none at all. See the full list on the silver nickel years guide.
How to confirm it's genuine
- The mint mark is the LARGE letter above Monticello's dome on the reverse — that big letter is exactly what makes it a silver war nickel.
- 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.
- Silver war nickels also sell by silver content: dealers quote them as a multiple of face value or by the roll, pegged to the silver spot price.