App Store
COIN VALUE GUIDES · NICKELS
1957 Nickel Value:No Mint Mark, D, Proof and Full Steps
Compare the Philadelphia and Denver issues, distinguish soft strikes from wear, and keep collector Proofs separate.
HeriBase TeamPublished In this article
Quick answer
A normally worn 1957 nickel generally starts at its five-cent denomination. NGC’s October 31, 2022 ordinary guide lists $0.10 in several circulated grades for both mints, while MS63 is $2 for Philadelphia and $1 for Denver. These small retail references are not guaranteed individual-coin buying offers.
Unusually clean Mint State coins, certified Full Steps and Philadelphia Proofs are separate comparisons. Standard 1957 nickels contain no silver; a gold-colored or shiny surface alone does not establish a valuable special issue.
Coin photos
Basics & coin story
Philadelphia recorded 38,408,000 circulation nickels in 1957, and Denver 136,828,900. The familiar Monticello design remained in use, while the obverse star was enlarged in the 1957–1958 master dies.
The year’s collector Proof production exceeded a million coins. That separate collecting channel helps explain why a Proof comparison is different from a coin pulled from change. Compare the earlier silver-alloy issues in the war nickel guide to avoid confusing their metal with 1957.
| Feature | What to check |
|---|---|
| Type / denomination | 1957 Jefferson nickel / five cents |
| Designer | Felix Schlag |
| Standard alloy | 75% copper; 25% nickel |
| Nominal weight / diameter | 5.00 g / 21.2 mm |
| Edge | Plain |
| Mint-mark position | Small D or S to the right of Monticello; Philadelphia blank |
Identification
Read the reverse mint position
Denver has a small D to the right of Monticello. The Philadelphia circulation issue is blank there. There was no regular 1957-S issue, and the collector Proof was also made at Philadelphia.
Examine weak detail and the enlarged star
The larger obverse star is a normal design feature for the period. Incomplete central detail and die erosion are not automatically circulation wear or mint errors; check luster and high-point friction together.
Keep steps and surface finish separate
Inspect Monticello’s horizontal steps for cuts and incomplete lines. A coin may have attractive luster without Full Steps. Reflectivity alone also cannot distinguish a collector Proof from a polished coin.
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.
| Issue | Grade / condition | USD reference | Basis | Source updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1957 no mark | Good | $0.10 | NGC retail guide | 10/31/2022 |
| 1957 no mark | Fine | $0.10 | NGC retail guide | 10/31/2022 |
| 1957 no mark | Extremely Fine 40 | $0.10 | NGC retail guide | 10/31/2022 |
| 1957 no mark | MS63 | $2 | NGC retail guide | 10/31/2022 |
| 1957 no mark | MS65 | $22.50 | NGC retail guide | 10/31/2022 |
| 1957-D | Good | $0.10 | NGC retail guide | 10/31/2022 |
| 1957-D | Fine | $0.10 | NGC retail guide | 10/31/2022 |
| 1957-D | Extremely Fine 40 | $0.10 | NGC retail guide | 10/31/2022 |
| 1957-D | MS63 | $1 | NGC retail guide | 10/31/2022 |
| 1957-D | MS65 | $20 | NGC retail guide | 10/31/2022 |
Ordinary uncirculated quality
The October 31, 2022 guide lists MS65 at $22.50 for Philadelphia and $20 for Denver. Those are ordinary-grade reference entries, not prices for every apparently shiny nickel. Marks, friction and weak detail matter.
Certified Full Steps
Full Steps pieces require a separate comparison by grading service, designation and numerical grade. The ordinary table excludes this attribute. Do not assign a premium merely because a few step lines are visible in a photograph.
Philadelphia Proofs and minor varieties
NGC’s base Proof guide lists PF63 at $3 and PF65 at $15, updated May 20, 2019. Cameo and Ultra Cameo categories are separate. Repunched marks and doubled dies need confirmed diagnostics before any variety premium is considered.
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
Unusually clean Mint State coins, certified Full Steps and Philadelphia Proofs are separate comparisons. Standard 1957 nickels contain no silver; a gold-colored or shiny surface alone does not establish a valuable special issue. Match the complete issue and condition to a dated reference before seeking a current offer.
FAQ
Is a 1957 nickel silver?
The standard alloy is 75% copper and 25% nickel, not the wartime silver alloy.
Was there a 1957-S nickel?
There was no regular 1957-S nickel issue. Circulation coins were made in Philadelphia and Denver, with Proofs at Philadelphia.
Is the larger star on a 1957 nickel an error?
NGC describes the enlarged star as a normal master-die feature of 1957–1958.
Are all 1957 Proof nickels Cameo?
No. Cameo contrast is a separate attribute; a Proof coin does not automatically receive it.
References
References and further reading
- NGC: 1957 5C MS specifications, issue analysis and dated guide
- NGC: 1957 D 5C MS specifications, issue analysis and dated guide
- NGC: separate collector Proof issue and dated guide
- NGC: Five Full Steps and Six Full Steps criteria
References accessed November 13, 2026. Guide update dates, source publication dates and sale dates are distinct. No independent examination or current buying offer for a reader’s coin is implied.