The Jefferson nickel is a coin that often gets overlooked within the entirety of the numismatic landscape. While most regard its key issue as the 1942 from Philadelphia because it was the first Proof coin to include the P mint mark, most overlook an even greater issue from the Jefferson nickel series. As we continue to follow along with Whitman Publishing’s fourth edition of the 100 Greatest United States Modern Coins, we look at that Jefferson nickel and it's standing not only in the Proof series, but the entire denomination series. As per usual, authors Jeff Garrett and Scott Schechter will be leading the charge.
#28 – 1971, No S, Jefferson Nickel, Proof
Despite all Proof coins being struck at the mint in San Francisco in 1971, it appeared as if a small number of Jefferson nickels were not. It only appears this way because unlike all the rest of the coins for that year, they were struck without the ‘S’ mint mark mistakenly. It was recorded that around 1,655 coins were released without it with only around 400 known today. There were over 3.2 million Proof Sets struck in 1971.
Of all coinage, there are only four other issues besides the 1971 S Proof Jefferson Nickel known to exist. These coins include the 1968, 1970, and 1983 Roosevelt dimes and the 1990 Lincoln cent.
Since the first edition of the 100 Greatest U.S. Modern Coins list, this nickel has moved up two spots from #30.