1983 D Nickel Errors

If you have ever owned a piece of coinage, you’ve probably seen an example of the infamous 1983 d nickel errors. The d is slanted in an uncharacteristic way. As such, it’s easy to confuse it with another coin. In order to explain why, it’s important to remember what the phrase E PLURIBUS UNUM means. The Latin phrase means “out of many, one,” and it signifies that the United States is one nation out of many. However, in 1983, it was also possible to find a coin that had the word “EPLURIBUS UNUM” spelled incorrectly. A d nickel with a misprint would be worth more than one d nickel, and could even be more valuable than a coin with the letter “D” spelled correctly.

The value of a 1983-D Jefferson Nickel depends on its grade, condition, and strike, as a full step is very rare. It’s also important to keep in mind that most Jefferson Nickels don’t have a strong strike, so they won’t command a high price. Price guides, while offering estimates based on PCGS and NGC graded coins, rarely sample coins that are not in perfect condition.

Another type of error is a reverse-minted “D” on a 1943-D Jefferson nickel. The “D” was punched over another “D” to the right of Monticello. This nickel, the so-called “D over D” variety, has been a popular type among collectors. An example of this coin in uncirculated grade is worth between $100 and $2,000.

The Jefferson nickel error varieties are among the most common and collectible. A worn 1983-D is worth around $25 in circulated or uncirculated grade. The 1953-D doubled die nickel, the doubled-die nickel, is another type of error variety. The doubled die nickel, though rare, is worth more than twice as much. The 1953-D doubled-die nickel is also a popular type, and an uncirculated example of this error variety will fetch around $110 in worn condition.