Have you come across any 2006 nickels lately?
Notice something about them that makes them look different?
Or, rather, let’s rephrase that… Did it catch your eye as to what makes 2006 nickels look so different from all the other nickels that came before them?
The answer is right in front of your face — if you’re looking at the head’s side of a 2006 nickel, that is!
The portrait of President Thomas Jefferson is no longer looking to the left as seen on virtually all Jefferson nickels prior to 2006.
From this point on, Jefferson’s looking right at you!
Why A Change In Nickel Design?
When the 2006 Jefferson nickels were released, they marked the beginning of a new era for the nation’s 5 cent coin.
Starting with the first Jefferson nickels in 1938 all the way through 2003, the same design was used on all nickels with virtually no change at all to the main design.
The head’s side — also known as the obverse — carried a left-facing profile of Thomas Jefferson, while the tail’s side (reverse) revealed an elevational view of Jefferson’s Virginia mansion known as Monticello. The designs, by sculptor-engraver Felix Schlag, would look essentially identical, year in and year out, from their debut on the coin and into the first years of the 21st century.
Oh, sure, there were some changes to U.S. nickels over those years…
Like, in 1942 the U.S. Mint switched the metallic composition of the 5 cent coin to a 35% silver alloy to save nickel for the war effort. This resulted in a large mint mark being placed on the tail’s side of the coin over the reverse of Monticello. In fact, this led to the first time the Philadelphia Mint ever placed a “P” mintmark on U.S. coins. But then the nickel composition was resumed in 1946. (These silver nickels are valuable and worth looking for!)
Later, in 1966, the U.S. Mint paid homage to the coin’s designer, Felix Schlag, by placing his FS initials on the head’s side on near the rim of the coin on Jefferson’s coat.
But, by and large, the design of the Jefferson nickel remained unchanged for more than 6 decades.
Then came the Westward Journey nickels (2004-2006) — which were circulating commemorative coins honoring the bicentennial of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Otherwise known as the Corps of Discovery, it entailed exploration of the Louisiana Purchase by Captain Meriwether Lewis and Second Lieutenant William Clark. Their journeys to explore the lands, acquired from France under the orchestration of President Jefferson, began in 1804 and lasted until Lewis and Clark ended their journey in 1806.
The anniversary of this monumental journey — a defining moment in early American history — inspired the Westward Journey nickels. They included a series of 4 special reverse designs and implementation of new Jefferson portraits on the obverse. The Schlag portrait of Jefferson remained on 2004 nickels, but was replaced in 2005 by a right-facing portrait of Jefferson.
Finally in 2006, a new permanent portrait of Jefferson was launched.
About The New Design On 2006 Nickels
If you take another look at a 2006 nickel, you’ll notice, yes, the forward-facing portrait of Thomas Jefferson on the obverse.
This new Jefferson portrait on the nickel was designed by U.S. Mint Artistic Infusion Program artist Jamie Franki and sculpted by Donna Weaver. It’s based on an 1800 Rembrandt Peale portrait and is presented on the coin aside a cursive legend that says “Liberty.”
But there’s something familiar about the design on the reverse, right? It’s the image of Monticello that was used on Jefferson nickels prior to 2004. The reverse design first used on 2006 nickels is also known as the Return to Monticello. And, in essence, it’s the same basic design of Monticello as millions of Americans had long known it.
Yet, there’s a catch…
While it incorporates the Monticello motif that was designed by Felix Schlag in 1938, the design of Monticello on 2006 nickels is much more detailed than had been used previously. These details were engraved by U.S. Mint sculptor John Mercanti, and they really help Monticello stand out on the newer nickels.
Do these changes mean that 2006 nickels are rare and valuable?
Ah, we’ll tackle that question next…
How Many 2006 Nickels Were Made?
Surely the different design on the 2006 nickel must make it special — right? Well…
Yes, the 2006 U.S. nickel is valuable to collectors from the standpoint that it’s the first-year-of-issue coin with that pairing of obverse and reverse designs.
But, the 2006 nickel is also extremely common. More than 1.5 billion (that’s billion with a B) nickels were struck in 2006!
Breaking that number down in more detail:
- There were 693,120,000 nickels made at the Philadelphia Mint in 2006, and these coins bear the “P” mintmark of the Philadelphia Mint.
- There were also 809,280,000 nickels struck at the Denver Mint in 2006, and these sport the “D” mintmark.
Furthermore, 3,054,436 nickels were produced at the San Francisco Mint in 2006, and these carry the “S” mintmark.
However, you’re probably not going to find any 2006-S nickels in your pocket change — because these nickels were made for coin collectors to save (not spend), and they were sold directly to the public in 2006 proof sets.
It’s true that some of these proof coins may have been broken out of their packaging and spent as regular money (it happens). But if you want a 2006-S nickel for your collection, you’re most likely going to need to buy one from a coin dealer.
A Note About 2006 Full Steps Nickels…
You may have also heard something about 2006 Full Steps nickels.
This isn’t a type of 2006 nickel as much as it’s a reference to 2006 nickels which show COMPLETE DETAILS in the steps of Monticello on the reverse.
Full Steps nickels are comparatively rare — since most nickels produced for circulation aren’t fully struck (due to inherent challenges in completely striking these coins with just one blow of the die).
The Full Steps details are seen ONLY on uncirculated Jefferson nickels. So that slightly worn 2006 nickel you found in your pocket change that looks “nearly perfect” isn’t going to be a Full Steps nickel!
Of course, many collectors want their Jefferson nickels to be Full Steps — it’s what really makes a 2006 nickel rare and valuable. But the reality is the vast majority of 2006 nickels out there aren’t Full Steps.
How can you land a 2006 Full Steps nickel in the wild?
Your best bet is to search rolls of nickels from the bank! Coin rolls often contain uncirculated coins, and this is how you might be able to find some 2006 Full Steps nickels without paying full retail price for them from a coin dealer.
All 2006 Nickel Values Today
There are 3 types of 2006 nickels, and each has a different value.
Let’s explore those values now…
2006-P Nickel Value
A worn 2006-P nickel is worth its face value of 5 cents. So, if you find a 2006-P nickel in your spare change and it has any signs of wear or damage on it, you can feel safe spending it if you want — without any concern that you’re letting a valuable 2006 nickel pass through your hands.
Uncirculated 2006 nickels are typically worth around 20 to 30 cents.
A 2006 Full Steps nickel has a value that starts around $15.
The most valuable 2006-P nickel was graded Mint State-67 Full Steps by Professional Coin Grading Service and sold for $998.75 in a 2016 auction.
2006-D Nickel Value
The 2006-D nickel is worth its face value of 5 cents in worn condition.
But, like its Philly counterpart, the 2006-D nickel has a value many times greater than that if it’s in uncirculated condition. The Mint State 2006-D nickel is worth around 20 to 30 cents or more in uncirculated grades.
Find an honest-to-goodness 2006-D Full Steps nickel? Well, you’ve certainly got a keeper, as these can fetch about $10 or more.
The most valuable 2006-D nickel was graded Mint State-68 Full Steps by Professional Coin Grading Service and sold for $4,230 in a 2016 auction!
2006-S Nickel Value
The 2006-S proof nickels are usually worth somewhere in the neighborhood of $3 to $5.
All of them should display immaculate strike, mirror-like surfaces, and frosted designs and details. But some of these proof 2006 nickels are worth more than others.
For example, the most valuable 2006-S nickel was graded Proof-70 Deep Cameo by Professional Coin Grading Service and sold for $262 in a 2008 auction.
What About 2006 Error Nickel Values?
Some of the most valuable 2006 nickels aren’t the “perfect” ones, but rather those with errors and varieties!
The most frequently encountered 2006 error nickels worth looking for are: off-center strikes, broadstrikes, and those with die breaks. Most of these 2006 nickel errors will have a value between $10 and $50, on average.
But some 2006 error nickels are worth more than that.
Take, for example, this 2006-P Jefferson nickel struck off center on a straight-clip planchet. This error has a lot going on with it, and it graded Mint State-66 by Numismatic Guaranty Company with a Full Steps designation to boot. No surprise, this doozy of a 2006 nickel error sold for an astounding $488.75 in a 2008 auction.
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!
