If you have a 1957 nickel, you might want to hold on to it and not spend it.
Why? Because it’s worth more than face value!
Some 1957 Jefferson nickels are worth as much as $7,000!
You’re probably wondering which ones carry that type of value.
The good news is virtually all 1957 Jefferson nickels are valuable — because they’re all all worth at least a little more than their face value.
How much more?
Well, it depends on the markings that appear on your Jefferson nickel. Let’s dive in…
How Much Is A 1957 Nickel Worth?
Let’s look at all 1957 nickel values and see which ones are worth the big bucks…
1957 No Mintmark Nickel Value
A 1957 Jefferson nickel that was struck at the Philadelphia Mint has no mintmark.
It also carries this distinction: of the two types of circulating 1957 nickels (those made at the Denver Mint and those made at the Philadelphia Mint), the Philly issue has the lower mintage. Only 38,408,000 were struck — placing it on the lower end of mintages seen among the circulation-strike Jefferson nickels.
- A typical, well-worn 1957 nickel is worth 7 to 15 cents.
- Most uncirculated specimens fetch about 50 cents to $2, depending on their condition.
- The record price for a 1957 no mintmark nickel is $4,313, paid in a 2006 auction for a specimen graded MS66 Full Steps by Professional Coin Grading Service.
1957-D Nickel Value
The 1957-D nickel from the Denver Mint features a “D” mintmark on the right side of the reverse (tails side) — between the right side of Monticello and the rim.
The 1957-D nickel saw a very high mintage of 136,828,900 pieces and is still found on occasion in circulation.
- Most circulated 1957-D nickels are worth between 7 and 10 cents.
- Uncirculated specimens are normally worth between 40 cents to $1.50.
- The most valuable 1957-D nickel that ever exchanged hands at public auction was graded by Professional Coin Grading Service as MS66+ Full Steps and took $4,600.
1957 Proof Nickel Value
The Philadelphia Mint struck a limited number of special 1957 nickels just for coin collectors. A total of 1,247,952 were struck.
These proof nickels were produced by specially prepared dies and made with polished planchets — giving each of these proof nickels a nearly mirror-like appearance.
- 1957 proof nickels are worth $3 to $5.
- One of the nicest 1957 proof nickel specimens sold for $7,475 and is graded Proof-68 Ultra Cameo by Numismatic Guaranty Corporation.
IMPORTANT: What Is The Grade Of Your 1957 Nickel?
To determine the true value of your 1957 Jefferson nickel, you first need to know what condition (or grade) your coin is in.
Grab a coin magnifier and a copy of the U.S. Coin Grading Standards book. Then, watch this video to see how to grade coins yourself at home:
These coin grading apps make grading coins yourself SO much easier!
Rare & Valuable 1957 Nickel Errors To Look For
If you’re looking for 1957 nickel errors, you better keep your eyes peeled!
While there definitely are some rare and valuable 1957 error nickels out there, most of the odd-looking coins you’re bound to find aren’t really errors — but rather pieces with post-mint damage.
There’s no real statistic on just how many damaged coins there are for every true error, but any longtime coin dealer or coin collector is bound to tell you that most of the oddities they find in circulation are simply damaged coins.
The reality is that real (and valuable) error coins are genuinely rare. So, you’re not supposed to be finding errors in your spare change all the time — even if you consider yourself a “lucky” person.
Many new collectors will look through their pocket change and get excited over finding a coin with weird grooves, surface marks, or rim gouges — which are unfortunately just common forms of damage and actually detract from the value of a coin.
Finding a real error often takes time and searching through many thousands of coins just to find one that is truly rare and valuable.
Having said that, you should know what 1957 nickel errors are worth looking for!
So, here’s a breakdown on some of the most frequently encountered 1957 nickel errors and what they’re worth…
1957 Doubled Die Nickel Error
One of the most sought-after error coins in the collecting world is the doubled die. Often drastic in appearance, rare and valuable doubled dies are a type of variety error coin that even many non-collectors know about.
Unfortunately, there aren’t any 1957 doubled die nickels that are known to exist with major doubling, and thus none that are highly valuable.
However, there is still the potential of finding minor doubled dies on your 1957 nickels!
Areas where hub doubling (as with a doubled die error) is most commonly found on a 1957 Jefferson nickel are:
- Around Jefferson’s eye on the obverse (heads side)
- Within the inscriptions “MONTICELLO” and “FIVE CENTS” on the reverse
Minor doubled dies on a 1957 nickel may be worth $25 to $50 (or more) — depending on the location and magnitude of the doubling.
1957 Off-Center Nickel Error
Off-center nickels vary in value and rarity, depending on how far off center the coin is and also if the full date (and mintmark, if applicable) is visible or not.
- Coins that are only slightly off center — say 1% to 3% — are fairly common and don’t necessarily carry any value premium.
- A 1957 nickel that is off-center 5% or 10% is usually worth $10 to $25.
- A 1957 nickel that is 50% off-center and shows a complete date can bring as much as $100 or more!
1957 Die Break / Die Cud Nickel Error
As the dies that produce coins start to suffer from wear and tear, cracks can begin to form on the aging die.
These cracks transfer onto the minted coin as raised lines, squiggles, and bumps — and these can be worth a lot of money!
- A 1957 nickel with tiny die cracks (or die breaks) or those that seem to get lost in the inscriptions or design may bring only a few dollars.
- Major die cracks transiting across the face of a 1957 nickel can be worth many times that — as much as $100 or more.
One of the more popular types of die cracks involves something called a cud — which is a broad, flattish bump of metal attached to the rim of the coin.
A cud is formed when a large break appears near the rim section on the die, thus, creating the cud on the finished coins.
- A 1957 nickel with a typical die cud (if we are to call this rather rare and extraordinary error “typical”) can range in value from $75 to $150.
1957 Repunched Mintmark Nickel Error
Some pretty crazy errors could result back in the days when U.S. Mint officials were punching mintmarks onto working dies by hand.
This is certainly the case with any 1957 nickels that show doubled or tripled mintmarks, sideways mintmarks under ones that are upright, and other interesting varieties involving the “D” mintmark.
- The vast majority of repunched mintmark varieties on 1957 nickels are relatively inexpensive — ranging in the neighborhood of $3 to $5.
- Some of the most dramatic repunched mintmarks command $25 or $50 and even higher prices.
READ NEXT: A List Of The Most Valuable U.S. Nickels
I’m the Coin Editor here at TheFunTimesGuide. My love for coins began when I was 11 years old. I primarily collect and study U.S. coins produced during the 20th century.
I’m a member of the American Numismatic Association (ANA) and the Numismatic Literary Guild (NLG) and have won multiple awards from the NLG for my work as a coin journalist. I’m also the editor at the Florida United Numismatists Club (FUN Topics magazine), and author of Images of America: The United States Mint in Philadelphia (a book that explores the colorful history of the Philadelphia Mint). I’ve contributed hundreds of articles for various coin publications including COINage, The Numismatist, Numismatic News, Coin Dealer Newsletter, Coin Values, and CoinWeek.
I’ve authored nearly 1,000 articles here at The Fun Times Guide to Coins (many of them with over 50K shares), and I welcome your coin questions in the comments below!
