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Nickel · 2008

2008 Nickel Value

A 2008 nickel is worth $0.08 to $0.58 in circulated condition, depending on its mint mark and wear.

Prices updated:

About the 2008 nickel

The 2008 nickel is a regular circulation issue, struck in copper-nickel (75% copper, 25% nickel), weighing 5 g, 21.21 mm across, from a design by Donna Weaver. It was struck at Denver, Philadelphia — 625,440,000 coins in all.

Philadelphia made the fewest at 279,840,000, against 345,600,000 from Denver.

Denver345.6M
Philadelphia279.8M
Jefferson Nickel — obverseJefferson Nickel — reverse, Monticello
Jefferson Nickel (1938–). The photograph shows the design, not this particular date. US Mint (coin); National Numismatic Collection, photo by Jaclyn Nash, Public domain.

Value chart by grade

Mint markMintageGVGFVFXFAUUNC
D345,600,000345.6M$0.08$0.08$0.08$0.11$0.12$0.26$0.58
No mint mark279,840,000279.8M$0.09$0.09$0.09$0.09$0.09$0.09$0.50
Retail estimates for raw (ungraded) coins. A dealer buying from you will typically offer 50–80% of these values.Grade-by-grade PCGS values for this date are being added.

What the grades mean

Grades run G to UNC, then MS60–MS70, where most value sits. How coin grading works →

How to identify your 2008 nickel

What if it has already been cleaned?

Still identifies the same — you lose the premium. Don't try to fix it.

Where is the mint mark

It sits on the obverse below the date (1938–1964 and 1968 onward); above Monticello on the reverse for wartime issues. No letter means Philadelphia — normal, not rare. What the letter means →

2008DMINT MARK
Schematic — the mint mark sits just below the date on the obverse. No letter there means Philadelphia.

Proof and collector versions

Alongside the coins made for circulation, the Mint sold 3 collector versions of the 2008 2008 nickel — proofs and special finishes struck at San Francisco and sold directly in sets.These never entered circulation, so if your coin came out of a till or a jar it is not one of them. They carry an S mint mark and a mirror or satin finish that is obvious next to an ordinary coin. The scarcest was struck in 745,464.

FormatMintMintageValue
ProofS2,169,5612.2M$2.22
Satin FinishD745,464745K$1.03
Satin FinishP745,464745K$1.03
Retail estimates for raw (ungraded) coins. A dealer buying from you will typically offer 50–80% of these values.

What to do with your 2008 nickel

  1. Don't clean it

    Leave the surface alone — see the warning above.

  2. Is it worth grading?

    Grading costs roughly $50–100 per coin. Against a mintage of 625,440,000 and a best circulated value of $0.58, the fee is more than the coin returns. Keep it raw unless it is exceptional or you suspect a variety.

  3. Where to sell

    Dealer: fastest, pays least. Auction: best for coins worth $100+. eBay: most buyers, most fees.

Specifications

5 Cents "Jefferson Nickel" (2nd portrait, Return to Monticello)

Composition
Copper-nickel (75% Copper, 25% Nickel)
Weight
5 g
Diameter
21.21 mm
Thickness
1.95 mm
Edge
Plain
Designer
Donna Weaver
Mints
United States Mint of Philadelphia, United States Mint of Denver, United States Mint of San Francisco (collector issues only)

FAQ

How much is a 2008 nickel worth?

A circulated 2008 nickel is worth $0.08 to $0.58 depending on condition and mint mark.

How many 2008 nickels were made?

About 625,440,000 in total — Denver 345,600,000, Philadelphia 279,840,000.

Are there rare 2008 nickel varieties?

No varieties are catalogued for this date.

What is the S nickel from 2008?

An S mint mark on a 2008 nickel means a collector coin from San Francisco — 3 proof and special-finish versions were sold in sets rather than released into circulation. The scarcest was struck in 745,464. They are not found in change.

Should I get my 2008 nickel graded?

Grading costs roughly $50–100 per coin. For this date the best circulated examples guide at $0.58, from a mintage of 625,440,000 — the fee is many times what the coin returns, so keep it raw unless you suspect a genuine error.

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