What is a 1959 nickel?

A 1959 nickel is a coin minted in that year with a face value of five cents. Known as a Jefferson nickel, it features former U.S. President Thomas Jefferson in portrait on the obverse side; his home of Monticello is depicted on the reverse.

Two varieties of the 1959 nickel exist, including the Philadelphia Mint nickel with no mint mark and the Denver Mint nickel with a "D" mint mark on the reverse to the right of the image of Monticello. Of these two, the Philadelphia version is worth more as of 2014, as there were fewer produced. A 1959 Jefferson Philadelphia Mint nickel, depending on its quality, can be worth from 40 cents to approximately $2.50.