Whitman Expo
1939 Reverse of 1938 Nickel MS Values
Details
Among circulation strikes, relatively few, perhaps 10%, are of the Reverse of 1938, with indistinct lettering with perhaps 1 in 1,000 having 5 Full Steps (see Nagengast). The rest are with the Reverse of 1940 with sharper details in the hub and master die. The vast majority of Proofs are with the Reverse of 1938 with somewhat indistinct areas to the steps. Relatively few Reverse of 1940 coins exist (including a remarkable cache of 30 in the 1985 Bowers and Merena sale of the Abe Kosoff estate), but most have 6 Full Steps.
Obverse: Felix Schlag's portrait of Jefferson, facing left, with the motto IN GOD WE TRUST on the left periphery, and LIBERTY * [year] on the right side.
Reverse: The Jefferson home is prominently centered with the name MONTICELLO captioned below. The denomination FIVE CENTS is spelled out in half circle underneath and the words E PLURIBUS UNUM and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA appear at the top and bottom periphery.
Source: Q.David Bowers
Mint & Coinage Details
Mint Location:
Philadelphia
Mintage:
120,615,000
Coinage Type:
Jefferson nickel
Coinage Years:
1938-
Composition:
75% copper; 25% nickel
Varieties and Classification
Variety:
Reverse of 1938
Physical Characteristics
Weight:
5 gr
Weight:
0.1608 oz
Strike Type:
Business
Diameter:
21.2 mm
Coin Shape:
Round
Design Details
Designer:
Felix Schlag
Obverse Lettering:
LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, 1939
Obverse Designer:
Felix Schlag
Reverse Lettering:
MONTICELLO, FIVE CENTS, E PLURIBUS UNUM, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Reverse Designer:
Felix Schlag
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