My Nickel Collection Highlights: Embracing Sal’s Nifty Nickel Night Spirit

Lately, I’ve been thoroughly enjoying revisiting my nickel collection, really embracing that fun spirit of celebrating *all* nickels – the shiny ones, the worn ones, the quirky ones. You know, nickels offer this fantastic mix of history, surprising errors, and even precious metal content, making them a great focus whether you’re just starting out or have been collecting for years. Inspired by that inclusive vibe, I want to share some of my personal favorites and a few practical things I’ve learned along the way to help you spot your own numismatic treasures.

The Magic of Error Coins

One of my most exciting finds is a split planchet War Nickel. I actually have both halves of this 1943-1945 nickel, which feels extra special because of its 35% silver content. Split planchets happen when the coin blank cracks during striking, and finding both pieces together is pretty rare. From my own collecting:

• What I look for: Sharp, clean splits with little damage after the strike tend to command the best value.
• What collectors like: War Nickels like this are sought after not only for the error but also for their silver; well-preserved examples often trade for 10-20% above the melt value.

Another error that always grabs my attention is cuds – those raised blobs caused by a die break. I’ve pulled nickels with really prominent cuds right out of circulated rolls; they add such unique character and are more common than you might think if you keep an eye out.

Exploring Mint Mark Varieties

I got hooked on hunting for the 1941 Jefferson Nickel from San Francisco, which comes with both large and small ‘S’ mint marks. Tracking down both versions has been a really satisfying part of my collecting. Here’s what I picked up:

• A simple trick: Grab a 10x magnifier – the large mint mark is noticeably bolder and scarcer, a real prize for variety hunters.
• Why it’s fun: Putting together a set with both types is surprisingly affordable and a great way to learn; you can often find them while roll hunting, and they feel a bit undervalued compared to major key dates.

Coin Roll Hunting Strategies for Nickels

Roll hunting (CRH) is my favorite budget-friendly way to grow my nickel collection. Over time, I’ve found silver War Nickels, cool errors, and those mint mark varieties just by searching bank rolls. Here are a few things that have worked for me:

• Where to look first: I focus on rolls from the 1940s – that’s your best shot for silver War Nickels (easy to spot with the big mint mark over Monticello) and potential errors.
• Handling your finds: Always wear gloves and check coins under good light; it’s easy to miss a cud or planchet flaw otherwise. Assessing their condition based on luster and surface quality helps figure out their potential worth.
• A thought on selling: While nickels with errors or silver can be sold for a profit, I find the really unique ones are worth holding onto; there’s consistently good demand in online auctions.

For me, collecting nickels is less about the dollar value and more about the pure excitement of the search and finding beauty in the imperfections. Give nickel hunting a try yourself and see what you discover – you never know what highlight might turn up next!