Rare 1942-D Jefferson Nickel – The $80 Million Treasure in Your Pocket?

The world of coins has its rare gems which not only reach the history but are valued in thousands or millions of dollars nowadays. A case in point is the 1942-D Jefferson Nickel that has left the coin enthusiasts and numismatists with a lot of curiosity. And this is the question: will someone actually pay more than 80Millions of dollars to buy this coin? It is time to have a detailed overview of the entire story behind it.

1942-D Jefferson Nickel: A glimpse of history

It was in 1942 that the world was plunged into the World War II. America was also consolidating its power in this battle and this was when USA Mint altered the metal content of certain coins.

Nevertheless, this was not an exception to the one minted in 1942 at the Denver Mint Jefferson Nickel. This variant retained a classical ratio of copper and nickel i.e. 75% and 25% respectively. And there was a sort of mistake about this version and that made it quite special.

D Over Horizontal D: A small mistake, big price

The 1942-D nickel had a special form named D Over Horizontal D. In this mint mark error a mint employee struck the letter D horizontally and then re-struck it to become vertical. This left two letters (D) overlapping and this is evident.

The mistake is what makes it different than the other common coins and makes it a treasure to the collectors.

Market value and record-breaking auction

The value of this flawed coin depends on its Grade and the obviousness of the error. The figures below show you a clear evaluation:

Grade	Estimated price range
Circulated	$135 – $5,750
Uncirculated (MS60-MS64)	$3,000 – $7,250
Mint State (MS65 and above)	Up to $15,275

This coin of MS66 grade was sold in 2013 during the greatest auction in history, the price was $15,275 which is not a bad amount, however, this is only half of the estimated cost, $80Million.

What factors increase the value of this coin?

The value of a coin is not just based on its year or mint, but depends on many other factors:

• Condition/Grade: High quality and uncirculated coins sell for a higher price.
• Rarity: Errors such as “D Over Horizontal D” make it unique.
• Market Demand: Interest from collectors can drive prices sky high.
• Full Steps Design: If the stairs of the Monticello building are clearly visible without any cuts, then both the demand and the value of the coin increases.

Comparison with other valuable nickel coins

To understand how valuable the 1942-D coin is, let’s look at the selling prices of some other expensive nickel coins:

Coin	Selling Price	Year
1913 Liberty Head V Nickel	\$5,262,000	2018
1964 Jefferson Nickel Mirror Brockage	\$1,153,000	N/A
1918/7-D Buffalo Nickel Doubled Die Obverse	\$504,164	2006
1926-S Buffalo Nickel	\$433,400	2008
1916 Buffalo Nickel Doubled Die Obverse	\$432,198	2004

The prices of these coins indicate that in case a coin has a major defect or rarity, in can be sold in an auction at millions of dollars.

Could the 1942-D Coin Reach $80 Million in the Future?

A 1942-D nickel “D Over Horizontal D” is worth a record high of $15,275, so far, however the coin market is never stagnant. In future, in case:

• A extremely high grade (MS67 or MS68) coin is found,
• Or a special collector becomes interested,
• Or some historical heritage of this coin comes to light,

The price could certainly be higher. But for now, the $80 Million price is just a rumor or exaggerated estimate.

Conclusion: A Coin of Special But Limited Value to Collectors

The 1942-D Jefferson nickel, particularly, the one with the so-called “D Over Horizontal D” coin error is undoubtedly a collectible coin. It is unique because of its historical value, unique mistake and exquisite form.

However, going by present appraisals and the auction, this coin is currently not worth $80 Million. Yes, it can be sold at a few thousand dollars and this can be a good investment.

When interested in such coins, make sure that you have it graded by a legit coin grading company ( e.g. PCGS or NGC ) before you collect it.

Overview

• Coin: 1942-D Jefferson nickel
• Listing: Feature D Over Horizontal D Mint Mark Error
• Most expensive sale: 15275 (MS66 grade, year 2013)
• Does it worth 80 Millions ? No the present value in the market is not so great.