1947 Nickel Value:No Mint Mark, D, S and Full Steps

Quick answer

Coin photos

Basics & coin story

The 1947 issue belongs to the second year after the normal copper-nickel alloy returned in 1946. The wartime large letter above Monticello had given way to the small D or S beside the building, with no letter for Philadelphia. The same Jefferson and Monticello designs can therefore cover different metals and mint-mark systems across nearby dates.

NGC records 95,000,000 Philadelphia coins, 37,822,000 Denver coins and 24,720,000 San Francisco coins. Saved rolls contributed to surviving uncirculated supplies, so those production totals should not be mistaken for counts of rare high-grade survivors. Use the early Jefferson nickel guide for the basic design and grading framework.

Identification

Read the date and the small reverse letter

Confirm 1947 on the obverse, then look to the right of Monticello. A blank position means the normal Philadelphia arrangement, not a missing-letter error. D and S identify different mint issues. Do not use a modern obverse mint-mark position or the wartime position over the dome.

Luster and a complete strike are different observations

NGC describes the Philadelphia issue as generally lustrous but seldom fully struck. Denver is more often encountered with strong step detail, while San Francisco quality varies widely. A brighter S coin is not automatically sharper, and a D is not automatically Full Steps. Examine Jefferson’s high points, fields and the building together.

Do not name a variety from an irregular letter

Several minor repunched mint marks and Philadelphia reverse doubled dies are reported. An attribution needs its correct diagnostics, not a dark outline, scratch or doubled-looking photograph. The close-up here shows an ordinary mint-mark location and is not labeled as a premium variety.

Condition & value

Amounts are in U.S. dollars. The final column gives each source row’s update date (month/day/year), separate from the access date of November 13, 2026. Published guides are reference estimates, not guaranteed buying offers or seller net proceeds. Obtain recent like-for-like completed comparisons for an actual transaction.

MS means Mint State. Full Steps, Proofs and attributed varieties are excluded from the ordinary entries.

Use ordinary prices before a step premium

The table’s MS63 ordinary references are $2.50 for Philadelphia, $5.50 for Denver and $5 for San Francisco. Those are grade-specific guide figures, not offers for any shiny raw coin. A worn or cleaned coin should not be compared with a problem-free Mint State entry.

Full Steps is an additional designation

NGC separates Five Full Steps (5FS) and Six Full Steps (6FS). The required horizontal lines must meet the designation criteria; a visible stairway or a high numerical grade alone is insufficient. Compare the same service and designation before using a premium, and do not combine a Full Steps sale with an ordinary guide row.

A reflective 1947 coin is not a regular Proof issue

There was no regular U.S. Proof nickel issue dated 1947. Reflectivity can come from a regular strike, lighting or polishing. Preserve the surface and check cleaning and alteration signs before assigning a collector-finish label. For most worn ordinary pieces, certification costs would consume the likely premium.

Photograph both faces under even light and record the visible date and mint mark. HeriBase can help organize an initial photo-based identification; verify important mint, finish and variety details against the references before using a price. An app result is not a certified grade, authentication or purchase offer.

Summary

FAQ

References