Old coins are not necessarily valuable. If you have a nickel from the last century, chances are it is really just a nickel like any other nickel in your wallet.
Nickels with no numismatic value are worth $0.05. That’s it!
Even if you see a coin that looks exactly like yours selling for a high amount of money, it doesn’t mean yours will be worth nearly as much. Many contributing factors make certain coins extremely valuable.
Today, I will answer a question: How much is a1803 nickel worth?
So, if you think you have a 1803 nickel, stay tuned. You might be lucky!
How Much Is A 1803 Nickel Worth?
A 1803 nickel does not exist since the first nickels were minted much later in 1866. You either have a Half Dime, worth anywhere from $500 to tens of thousands of dollars, or a 2004 Louisiana Purchase nickel, which is neither rare nor valuable.
A 1803 half dime coin used to be worth $0.05 – as much as one nickel is worth today. The draped bust half dime was the only 5-cent denomination coin in 1803. Nowadays, this coin is rarely encountered as only 37,850 were minted.
As a result, if you are lucky enough to have a 1803 half dime coin, you can sell it for hundreds of dollars or even thousands, depending on its condition.
It is best to take your 1803 coin to a professional to have it authenticated and appraised. I can only help you with a table that suggests what to expect.
The value of 1803 half dime coins
| Condition | Approximate Value |
| Poor condition | $500 – $1000 |
| Good condition | $1000 – $1500 |
| Very good condition | $1500 – $2500 |
| Fine condition | $2500 – $3500 |
| Very fine condition | $3500 – $7500 |
| Extremely fine condition | $7500 – more than $10,000 |
| Uncirculated (MS+) mint condition | $22,500 – $39,000 |
How Much Is A 1803 Louisiana Purchase Nickel Worth?
A Louisiana Purchase nickel is usually worth 5 cents. If you own an uncirculated or proof-condition coin, you might sell it to a coin dealer for $1 to $4. Even in perfect condition, Louisiana Purchase nickels are never worth more than 10-15¢.
As you can see, it would be much better to have a 1803 half dime than a Louisiana Purchase nickel. The former is worth way more!.
The Louisiana Purchase nickel was not even minted in 1803. It has been issued much later, from 2004 to 2006, in honor of the bicentennial of the Lewis and Clark expedition.
Hence, it is a more-less ordinary circulation nickel from the Westward Journey series, struck in hundreds of millions of samples. Many people still have these nickels in their wallets. This is why they are worth only five cents.
The question is: Why do Louisiana Purchase nickels carry the 1803 date?
In 1803, US president Thomas Jefferson signed the Louisiana Purchase agreement, expanding our great nation westward and doubling its size. The Louisiana purchase nickel has been minted to commemorate this important event.
Many people mistake the 1803 date on the back of a Louisiana Purchase nickel for a minting date. So, the majority of individuals that find a new-looking “1803 nickel” end up disappointed when they realize they have an ordinary circulation nickel worth only five cents.
When Was the First US Nickel Made?
The first five-cent coins were made from silver and called “half dimes.” They were smaller and weighed half as much as a dime. The first nickel in the United States was minted in 1866 and was made of cupronickel (75% copper and 25% nickel).
Up until 1873, both a half dime coin and a “new” nickel were made and circulated throughout the USA. However, half dimes were tiny in comparison to nickels and thus much easier to lose.
Hence, even though nickels were originally meant to replace only the 5-cent paper notes circulating in those days, they ended up replacing half dimes, too. I guess that the fact nickels contained no silver and were thus much cheaper to produce had something to do with this as well!
Fun Facts About Nickels
- The word “nickel” has a German origin and stands for a “rascal.” “Kupfernickel” which translates to “false copper,” is the name miners first gave to nickel ore because it looked like copper but was not as valuable.
- The nickel is the only US coin named by its metal content.
- The first Jefferson nickel was issued on November 6, 1938, and handed to President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
- During World War II, all the nickel was used up in the war efforts, and consequently, nickles were made from an alloy of copper, manganese, and silver. They were nickelless nickels!
- Nickles made up to 2004 carry Jefferson’s portrait, based on a bust sculptured by the French artist called Jean-Antoine Houdon. This sculpture was created during Jefferson’s life and is deemed one of the truest to his actual appearance.
- The most valuable nickles are the Liberty Head V nickel, issued in 1913 (sold for a wooping $3,737,500), and a 7-D Buffalo nickel minted in 1918 ( worth about $350,000).
Final Words
Did you think you have a valuable 1803 nickel?
Sorry, but 1803 nickles do not exist since the first US nickel was made in 1866. So, what kind of coin do you really have?
There are two options: A 1803 Louisiana Purchase nickel, which is actually an ordinary nickel made from 2004 to 2006 and worth only five cents, and a 1803 half-dime coin. The latter can be sold for a significant amount of money, especially if it is in perfect condition.
Hence, if you are not sure what kind of 1803 coin you have, turn to a professional. You might get some good news.
I hope I have helped you determine the value of your 1803 nickel. If you have additional questions, feel free to share them in the comment section. Please share the article, too.
Hi! My grandson found a 1803 nickel in my mini van while helping to clean it out! We have had the van for almost 3 years!! We aren’t sure of its value but hoped you could help us!! We live in Florida.