CollecTons Keepers #5: 1994-P Jefferson Nickel Special Uncirculated Matte Finish Certified in Exclusive ANACS Brilliant Uncirculated Holder

Click for More Images

We are excited to release the fifth coin in the CollecTons Keepers program, an exclusive series only offered by CollecTons.  The fifth coin we present, CollecTons Keepers #5 in Series, features the rare 1994-P Jefferson Nickel Special Uncirculated Matte Finish.

In addition to being the third President of the United States and being the author of the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson played a key role in United States numismatics. Jefferson joined a special congressional committee in 1776 which was tasked with researching the establishment of a national coinage.  He was appointed chairman of the congressional currency committee in 1782 during which time he drafted "Notes on the Establishment of a Money Unit, and of Coinage for the United States', later referred to as Notes on Coinage.  In Notes on Coinage, Jefferson suggested a revolutionary system of units for US coinage, the world's first science based decimal system of weights and measures, the American decimal coinage system.  Congress approved of Jefferson's system and passed it into law on July 6, 1785, laying the ground work for the United States first national coinage.  Jefferson was also heavily involved in the Mint Act of 1792 which established the United States Mint and it was under his authority as Secretary of State that the first United States Mint (the Philadelphia mint) was born.

To honor all that Thomas Jefferson had done for the numismatic community and to celebrate the 250th anniversary of his birth, the US Mint issued a Coin and Currency Set containing a 1994-P Jefferson Special Uncirculated Matte Finish Nickel, a 1993-P Jefferson Uncirculated  Silver Dollar, and a Series 1976 $2 Federal Reserve Note. Collectors were unaware that the nickel would have a different finish than the standard 1994 business strikes, but quickly began to notice the difference.  The offering  was a great seller for the mint due to the demand for the one of a kind nickel. The mint had to halt the sales of the set at 167,703 because they had reached their maximum number for the silver dollar included in the collection. Congress had designated a limit of 600,000 Jefferson Silver Dollars.  Between the set sales and the individual sales of the proof and uncirculated silver dollars the maximum was quickly hit. This resulted in a very low mintage for the nickel (for reference, over 722 million 1994-P nickels were minted with the standard business strike).  The 1994-P Special Uncirculated has the second lowest mintage of any Jefferson nickel.

The matte finish technique had not been used since 1922.  It was the first time it had been utilized on a Jefferson Nickel.  Matte finish coins have a satiny dull textured appearance as opposed to a highly polished reflective surface with proof coins.  This is done to showcase the details of the design.  To achieve this effect the mint will either sandblast or acid treat the dies. This gives the dies a rougher finish.  The coins are then struck multiple times to bring out crisp details of the design..  

Today, the 1994-P Jefferson Special UNC Matte Finish Nickel is still a highly sought after modern rarity due to the low mintage and high demands. It is a Key Date coin and an essential piece to any Jefferson Nickel set.

Coin Specifications

• Year: 1994
• Mint: Philadelphia
• Mintage: 167,703 (only sold in Thomas Jefferson Coinage and Currency Set)
• Designer: Felix Schlag 
• Composition: 75% copper, 25% nickel
• Weight: 5.00 grams
• Diameter: 21.2mm
• Edge: Plain

Here at CollecTons, we work hard researching coins that should be part of every collection. Our goal is to utilize our knowledge in the numismatic industry to select coins worthy of being in everyone's collection! Therefore, the CollecTons Keepers program will only feature those Coins Worth Keeping.

Each coin is hand selected and given to ANACS (America's Oldest Grading Service) for grading and authentication. The coins are then sealed in an ANACS certified proprietary slab holder for long-term storage, with our limited edition label marking it a CollecTons Keeper.