If you’ve got some loose change lying around in the pocket or in the coin jar, you might probably want to pay deeper attention to it. There is a slight possibility that you are keeping an 1985 nickel variant worth about $9,066 inside your belongings! Coins with certain characteristics tend to draw attention from enthusiasts, and that nickel is not left out as well. Here’s how to know if those 1985 nickels you have in the house could be worth a fortune to you.
What Makes the 1985 Nickel So Valuable?
In order to check whether your 1985 nickel has some value or is special, examine the heads side of the coin for a small letter, presumably ‘P’. This letter can be found on the bottom right side of the coin portrait of President Thomas Jefferson. The presence of the P on the coin represents the fact that the coin was minted in Philadelphia. This is important to check, since this is the particular minting that the values of the coin depend on.
At a Heritage Auctions event held in January of this year, a 1985 nickel with a ‘P’ mint mark was sold for $9,066. The reason behind it is the grading of the coin. The coin is in ‘Mint State 67+’ condition which was given by Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS). Coins are graded in a 1 to 70 scale, and MS67+ implies that this nickel was still in its almost perfect state.
This also was the best example of a dollar nickel that experts had seen from 1985. The simplicity of the design was appreciated by the specialists, but its colors in green gold, champagne, and lilac blue were also striking. These factors were also a part of the overall design and hence value.
Full Steps: The Feature to Look For
One more thing that is important to look at is the detailed description of “Full Steps” found on the coin’s reverse side. The image of the building known as Monticello, which is the place where President Jefferson lived in Virginia, will be on the reverse side of the nickel. If you can make out all five or six steps that lead to Monticello distinctly, then your nickel has a grading known as “Full Steps.” This is why the feature is important to the collectors as it shows the high relief of the coin.
The 1985 nickel which fetched $9,066 was not only Full Steps, but also a “proof strike.” What are proof strikes? These are rarer versions of coins, and a lot more care is taken during the making of these coins. This is why most collectors seek these types of coins, and even more so if the coins remain unworn.
What is a Proof Strike?
Proof strike is a process used in the manufacture of a coin. Proof coins are made of special hand-polished blank coins, as claimed by the US Mint which are struck at least twice to give crisp details and a reflective surface. These kinds of coins are not usually made for trafficking purposes and are frequently marketed to coin collectors.
This is in contrast with business strike coins, which are normally carried in one’s pocket. Business strikes are produced for normal public usage, while would-be collectors may be interested in, especially in the case of perceived monetary value added by misstruck or exceptional examples. But with the proof strike coins, which are of a higher standard of quality, these tend to be more sought after by collectors.
Keep an Eye Out for Other Valuable Nickels
You don’t necessarily have to possess a 1985 nickel to understand the need for vigilance towards the coins you have set aside. Any number of other uncommon nickels might also prove to be worth something. To illustrate, an 1879 nickel can go for around $84,000 when it has one particular faint detail that is revered by collectors. A pleasing condition 1867 nickel can go as high as $109,250.
Even nickels dated during the last century’s era, such as the buffalos that were minted from 1913-1938, can sell for a staggering price of over one hundred thousand dollars, at auction places. They are coins with beautiful buffalo graphics that are famed by lots of collectors and will definitely cost heavy prices, especially for the best condition variants.
Don’t Miss Out—Check Your Coins!
Before you spend that nickel or toss it into a jar, take a moment to inspect it. You might be holding onto a valuable treasure without even knowing it. Whether it’s a 1985 nickel or an older one, checking for small details like mint marks and Full Steps could lead you to discover a coin worth thousands of dollars.
So next time you’re sorting through your spare change, give it a good look—you never know what hidden fortune could be waiting!
