1999 U.S. Nickels Value Guide
I remember when 1999 nickels were hitting the streets…
It was around the time I was getting nervous about the chances that my computer would be zapped when the clocks struck 12 a.m. on New Year’s Eve as we turned the page on a new millennium.
Thankfully, most of the Y2K fears went unrealized and are all but forgotten nowadays. But 1999 nickels are still hot collectibles — and many folks want to know if their 1999 coins are valuable.
You’ll probably be happy to know that some 1999 nickels are rare and valuable. But do you know which ones?
The good news is that I do, and I’m going to show you what the current 1999 nickel value is and specifically which 1999 nickels are worth saving — and which ones you can just spend!
In this article you will learn:
- Which 1999 U.S. nickels are rare and valuable
- What the different mintmarks on 1999 nickels mean
- If there are any 1999 silver nickels
- How much all types of 1999 Jefferson nickels are worth today
What Is The Design On A 1999 Nickel?
You might say if you’ve seen one 1999 nickel you’ve pretty much seen them all. That’s because there’s only one basic design that was used on 1999 nickels, and it shows a portrait of President Thomas Jefferson on the obverse (“head’s side”) and his Virginia home Monticello on the reverse (“tail’s side”).
This is the same design that has appeared on the Jefferson nickel since 1938, when sculptor Felix Schlag submitted the original designs that would appear on the nation’s five cent coin for decades to come.
Are There Any 1999 Silver Nickels?
When people find out that the United States Mint struck silver nickels during World War II from 1942 through 1945 to help preserve nickel for the war effort, they often want to know if there are any 1999 silver nickels.
Unfortunately, 1999 silver nickels aren’t worth looking for because not a single one was made.
Surely makes you wonder what the 1999 silver nickel value would be if they were struck, huh? Yeah. I do, too… Oh well!
Do Certain Mintmarks On 1999 Nickels Add Value?
Yes, some mintmarks automatically add value to coins while others don’t necessarily. I’ll explain.
The mintmark tells you which United states Mint facility struck the coin.
You will find the little mint letter stamp on the front of your 1999 nickel — just underneath the date.
There are 3 different types of mintmarks that appear on 1999 nickels:
- P = Philadelphia Mint
- D = Denver Mint
- S = San Francisco Mint
While you could find any one of these three mintmarks on a 1999 nickel, the two you’re most likely to find are the “P” and “D” mintmarks. Why those? Because the Philadelphia and Denver Mints struck all of the circulating nickels from that year.
Trying to land a 1999-S nickel?
That’s going to take some extra work. The only 1999 nickels with the “S” mintmark were struck by the San Francisco Mint — just for collectors. The 1999-S nickels weren’t officially released into circulation. Instead, they were sold in special proof sets.
You could find a 1999-S nickel in your pocket change if someone happened to break that coin out of its proof set and then spent it as regular money. Yes, that happens. I’ve occasionally found proof coins in circulation over the years. But you’ve got to be really lucky — because it doesn’t happen often.
It might just be easier to buy a 1999-S nickel from a coin dealer for a couple dollars.
So… in that sense, you could say the “P” and “D” mintmarks don’t add value to the 1999 nickel, but the “S” mintmark generally does for this coin.
Are 1999 Nickels Rare?
Here’s the thing… More than 2.2 billion nickels were struck by the United States Mint in 1999. To put that in perspective, that is more than 6 specimens for every American citizen today.
So, is the 1999 nickel rare? No, not in the categorical sense.
But… There are some 1999 nickels that are rare. Seriously.
How? It’s quite simple, really. While the vast majority of 1999 nickels are typical specimens and nothing to write home about, there are some examples that are in exceptional condition or that contain mint-made oddities like errors and varieties.
These things can all factor into your 1999 nickel being worth more than face value.
Here’s how much your 1999 nickels are worth…
How Much Is A 1999 Nickel Worth Today?
The real value of your 1999 U.S. nickel is pretty much contingent on if your nickel is worn or not and if it has anything unusual about it.
Most 1999 nickels (the kind you find in circulation with wear) are worth their face value of 5 cents, pure and simple. If your 1999 nickel has any wear on it at all and no mint error or variety, then you can safely spend it.
Now what about those errors and varieties I mentioned a few moments ago?
Bottom line, most of the weird things people find on their coins like holes, dents, weird scratches, darkness in color, etc… That’s all post-mint damage. It’s exactly what it sounds like: damage. This does not add any value to your coin, and it is not an error. You can spend any 1999 nickels that have problems like those.
I will talk more about 1999 error nickels in a moment — so you’ll know exactly what to look for in terms of the types of errors that might appear on 1999 nickels.
What about those “S” mintmark proof nickels? How much are they worth? A typical 1999-S nickel is worth $2 to $5.
If you happen to have any uncirculated 1999-P nickels or 1999-D nickels (the ones that look like they just left the mint), those will usually fetch about 20 cents to 50 cents apiece.
However… If you happen to have any uncirculated 1999 nickels that show 5 or 6 complete (unbroken, unworn) steps near the base of Monticello, then guess what? You could be talking about some real cash money there! These are known as Full Steps Jefferson Nickels, and their completeness of strike as circulating coins makes them scarce.
Here’s the key thing you need to know though: only uncirculated Jefferson nickels can qualify for the Full Steps grade designation. So, even that “perfect” 1999 nickel you may have found in your pocket change, if it has wear, won’t unfortunately be able to qualify for the coveted Full Steps grade.
What Is The Grade Of Your 1999 Nickel?
Before we explore 1999 nickel values any further, I want to take a moment to stress the importance of knowing your coin’s grade first.
As you’re probably gathering by this point, grade (or condition) means quite a lot when it comes to knowing what your 1999 nickels are worth.
So grab your coin magnifier and learn how to determine the grade of your coins using this video:
Rare 1999 Nickel Errors… And Their Values
Most 1999 nickel errors are worth somewhere between $10 and $50. This include oddities like off-center strikes and broadstrikes.
Now, don’t get me wrong — those are pretty cool pieces, and I’d love to find some more off-center strikes or broadstrikes in my pocket change. However, that’s not the kind of money that will help you pay for a trip or pay off your mortgage.
But here’s one that might: a 1999-P nickel struck on a 1999-P dime! This crazy error coin sold for an astonishing $5,462.50 in a 2008 sale.
What’s the most valuable 1999 nickel without any errors? It’s a 1999-P nickel that was graded Mint State-68 Full Steps and sold for $4,465 in 2016.
Here are some other valuable nickels errors to look for.
The bottom line is to keep your eyes peeled for 1999 nickels that are in really good condition and to look for any unusual features on your 1999 nickels as well.
Do you have a 1999 Jefferson nickel? Think there may be something unique about it? Post a picture or two of your 1999 nickel in the comments below and I’ll try to help!
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