Price Guide for 1951 Nickel Variants

This guide presents price ranges for 1951 Nickel variants from three sources: eBay sales, third-party auctions, and PCGS guides. Values are shown for various conditions, allowing collectors to compare across different market segments. Price estimates may vary between sources, especially for rarer variants.

1951-S Nickel, FS (Regular Strike)

  • 3rd Party Price
    Circulated: $47.00
    Uncirculated: $18.00 - $18,600.00
  • eBay
    Uncirculated: $25.00 - $5,200.00
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Uncirculated: $20.00 - $7,250.00

1951-D Nickel (Regular Strike)

  • 3rd Party Price
    Uncirculated: $9.03 - $575.00
  • eBay
    Uncirculated: $0.99 - $897.00
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Circulated: $1.00 - $2.00
    Uncirculated: $3.00 - $225.00

1951-D Nickel, FS (Regular Strike)

  • 3rd Party Price
    Uncirculated: $10.00 - $5,760.00
  • eBay
    Uncirculated: $11.51 - $2,750.00
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Uncirculated: $6.00 - $3,150.00

1951-S Nickel (Regular Strike)

  • 3rd Party Price
    Uncirculated: $1.00 - $1,035.00
  • eBay
    Circulated: $16.49
    Uncirculated: $4.25 - $705.00
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Circulated: $1.00 - $2.00
    Uncirculated: $3.00 - $350.00

1951 Nickel, FS (Regular Strike)

  • 3rd Party Price
    Uncirculated: $13.00 - $16,450.00
  • eBay
    Uncirculated: $49.99 - $1,070.00
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Uncirculated: $20.00 - $7,500.00

1951 Nickel (Proof)

  • 3rd Party Price
    Uncirculated: $12.07 - $529.00
  • eBay
    Circulated: $41.00 - $65.00
    Uncirculated: $13.50 - $1,249.49
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Uncirculated: $22.00 - $200.00

1951 Nickel DDO FS-101 (Proof)

  • 3rd Party Price
    Circulated: $51.70
    Uncirculated: $45.00 - $493.50
  • eBay
    Uncirculated: $32.00 - $349.95
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Uncirculated: $44.00 - $600.00

1951 Nickel DDO FS-101 (032.5), CAM (Proof)

  • 3rd Party Price
    Uncirculated: $152.75 - $3,525.00
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Uncirculated: $48.00 - $525.00

1951 Nickel (Regular Strike)

  • 3rd Party Price
    Uncirculated: $8.00 - $127.00
  • eBay
    Circulated: $30.18
    Uncirculated: $2.91 - $840.00
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Circulated: $1.00 - $3.00
    Uncirculated: $6.00 - $1,500.00

1951 Nickel, CAM (Proof)

  • 3rd Party Price
    Uncirculated: $32.00 - $1,380.00
  • eBay
    Uncirculated: $36.00 - $595.00
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Uncirculated: $42.00 - $525.00

1951 Nickel, DCAM (Proof)

  • 3rd Party Price
    Uncirculated: $900.00 - $10,350.00
  • eBay
    Uncirculated: $905.00 - $5,400.00
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Uncirculated: $300.00 - $4,750.00

Design and Specifications of the 1951 Nickel

The 1951 Jefferson Nickel continued the design introduced in 1938, featuring Thomas Jefferson on the obverse and his home, Monticello, on the reverse. This year marked the 208th anniversary of Jefferson's birth, adding a touch of historical significance to the coin's production.

Weight 5.0 grams
Diameter 21.2 mm
Mint Marks D, S (No mint mark for Philadelphia)
Composition 75% copper, 25% nickel
Obverse Design Portrait of Thomas Jefferson facing left, designed by Felix Schlag
Reverse Design Monticello, Jefferson's home, designed by Felix Schlag

Rarity Factors and Value Drivers

The condition of 1951 Nickels significantly impacts their value. Circulated examples are common and generally worth face value or slightly more. However, uncirculated specimens, particularly those in grades MS65 and above, can command substantial premiums.

Coins with full steps on the reverse (clear, distinct steps on Monticello) are highly prized by collectors and can fetch significant premiums. The presence of original mint luster and absence of contact marks also greatly enhance value.

Philadelphia (No mint mark)

Mintage: 28,552,000

Rarity Scale: Common

Circulation Status: Widely Circulated

Preservation Rarity: Scarce in grades MS66 and above

Varieties Errors: None significant

Market Demand: Moderate, higher for well-preserved specimens

Denver (D)

Mintage: 20,460,000

Rarity Scale: Common

Circulation Status: Widely Circulated

Preservation Rarity: Scarce in grades MS66 and above

Varieties Errors: None significant

Market Demand: Moderate, higher for well-preserved specimens

San Francisco (S)

Mintage: 7,776,000

Rarity Scale: Uncommon

Circulation Status: Moderate Circulation

Preservation Rarity: Rare in grades MS66 and above

Varieties Errors: None significant

Market Demand: High for well-preserved specimens

Toning can play a role in a 1951 Nickel's desirability. Coins with attractive, natural toning may command higher prices among collectors. Additionally, any coins with unusual striking errors or die varieties, while not commonly noted for this year, could potentially be valuable to error coin collectors.

The San Francisco mint coins, due to their lower mintage, tend to be more valuable in higher grades compared to their Philadelphia and Denver counterparts. Collectors often seek complete sets of all three mint marks in matching high grades.

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