One 2017-P nickel graded PCGS MS70 Full Steps sold for $2,520 — yet most circulated examples are worth exactly 5 cents. The difference? A perfect strike with every step line on Monticello unbroken. This free guide tells you which category your coin falls into, what errors to look for, and how to get the most money if you decide to sell.
The Full Steps (FS) designation is the single biggest value driver for 2017 nickels — it can multiply a coin's worth by 3 to 10 times. Use this checker to assess your coin's steps before submitting to a grading service.
Step lines are flat, merged together, or interrupted by a strike weakness or contact mark. This is the vast majority of 2017 circulation strikes. Value: face value to $3 in MS63 without FS.
All five or six horizontal lines at Monticello's base run completely from left to right with zero breaks. Sharp, crisp, boldly struck. PCGS FS or NGC 5FS/6FS eligible. Value: $25–$2,520+ depending on grade.
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Despite over 1.37 billion 2017 Jefferson nickels being struck, a handful of minting anomalies escaped quality control and entered circulation. These genuine mint errors attract significant collector premiums — some worth 400× face value or more. Below are the five most important varieties to look for, with authentication details for each.
Most Famous
An off-center strike occurs when the planchet is not properly centered beneath the dies at the moment of striking. The result is a coin where the design is displaced to one side, leaving a blank crescent of planchet on the opposite edge. The error happens when an incorrectly positioned blank escapes the collar and the press still strikes it.
Severity matters enormously: minor off-centers of 5–15% with the full date visible sell for $15–$50. Dramatic examples displaced 20–50% command $50–$150. The most spectacular strikes — displaced over 50% while still retaining the complete date and mint mark — can exceed $220, with extraordinary examples reaching higher at major auction houses.
Collectors specifically demand that the date (2017) and mint mark (P or D) remain fully visible. A dramatic off-center that has obliterated the date loses most of its premium. Any genuine off-center 2017 nickel should be authenticated by PCGS or NGC before sale, as post-mint alterations are common in this error category.
Most Valuable Error
A Doubled Die Obverse forms during the die-hubbing process when the working die shifts slightly between successive hubbing operations, creating a secondary image impressed at a slightly different angle or position. On 2017 nickels, known DDO varieties (catalogued as WDDO-001 by Variety Vista) show subtle but confirmable doubling primarily on the word "LIBERTY," the date, and portions of Jefferson's portrait, particularly around the eye and nostril area.
Visual identification requires a 10x loupe minimum. Look for a secondary, slightly offset image of the lettering — especially the "L," "I," and "B" of LIBERTY — that appears as a ghost shadow or thickened letter edge rather than a single clean strike. Distended Hub Doubling (Class VI) varieties show extra thickness on design elements rather than full separation, requiring careful examination.
A 2017-D DDO sold for $80 at a 2020 Heritage Auctions sale, establishing a documented market benchmark. Strongly visible examples with clear letter separation command $100–$150 or more; subtler Class VI varieties bring proportionally less. The key is confirming the doubling is in-die (die variety) rather than mechanical doubling, which has no numismatic premium.
Best Kept Secret
A broadstrike error occurs when the coinage collar — the ring-shaped die that confines the planchet during striking and forms the coin's edge and rim — fails to close properly or the planchet escapes before the strike. Without the collar's restraint, the metal flows outward under press pressure, producing a coin with a larger-than-normal diameter, a weak or absent rim, and a flattened overall appearance.
The degree of spread determines visual impact and value. Minor broadstrikes show only a slight diameter increase and partial rim weakening ($10–$20). Major broadstrikes with significant diameter expansion — where the coin measures noticeably larger than the standard 21.21mm — and dramatic rim loss create the most striking examples ($25–$75). At uncirculated grades with sharp design detail despite the missing rim, these coins are particularly desirable.
The broadstrike category is sometimes confused with "stretched" post-mint damage. Authentic broadstrikes show uniform thinning and spreading of the metal with no tool marks or stress fractures, while damaged coins show irregular distortions. A well-centered broadstrike retaining full date and mint mark visibility in MS64 or better condition commands significant premiums from error coin specialists.
Auction-Proven
A grease struck-through error occurs when die lubricant, metal dust, or other debris accumulates in the recesses of a working die and is not fully cleared before striking. When the press strikes a planchet through this grease-filled die, the design detail in the affected area is partially or completely suppressed — the planchet cannot flow into the die's cavities because the grease blocks it.
The visual result is a coin with one or more areas where the design simply isn't there — not worn away but never struck in the first place. The flat, featureless surface in the affected area contrasts sharply with the normally struck surrounding design. On 2017 nickels, dramatic examples show large portions of Jefferson's portrait or the reverse inscription rendered as a blank, flat plain.
Heritage Auctions sold a 2017-P nickel graded MS61 with a grease struck-through error for $132 in 2019, making this one of the most auction-documented 2017 nickel error types. The premium is driven by the size of the affected area, the drama of the suppressed design, and the overall condition of the coin. Examples affecting LIBERTY or IN GOD WE TRUST are particularly popular with collectors.
Rarest Type
A clipped planchet error occurs during the blank-punching phase of coin production, before striking ever takes place. When the punch that cuts circular planchets from a metal strip overlaps an already-punched hole or the strip's edge, it creates a blank with a curved or straight section missing. This incomplete planchet is then fed into the press and struck normally, producing a finished coin with a notch or curved bite missing from its edge.
The curved clip — where the missing section follows the arc of the punch — is the most common form and the most visually striking. A key diagnostic is the Blakesley Effect: a weak or missing rim area directly opposite the clip on a genuine clipped planchet. This weak spot occurs because metal cannot flow properly toward the clip during striking. If the opposite rim area is strong and normal, the "clip" may be post-mint damage rather than a genuine mint error.
Small 2017 clips in MS62+ condition typically sell for $20–$60, while large, well-centered examples showing the complete date, mint mark, and major design elements can reach $75–$200. The combination of clip size (larger commands more), Blakesley Effect presence, and overall grade drive prices. Any suspected clip should be verified by PCGS or NGC to distinguish a genuine planchet error from a damaged coin.
Use the calculator to estimate its value — select your mint mark, condition, and check the error type.
For a complete illustrated 2017 nickel identification breakdown covering every variety and designation, see this detailed 2017 nickel identification guide and reference. The table below covers all major varieties across condition tiers — Full Steps (FS) values shown separately where the designation significantly changes pricing.
| Variety | Worn / Circ. | AU50 | MS60–MS63 | MS65 | MS66–MS67 | MS68–MS70 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-P (Standard) | $0.05 | $0.50–$0.80 | $0.90–$3 | $10–$12 | $13–$37 | $53–$80 |
| 2017-P Full Steps FS ⭐ | — | $1–$2 | $3–$10 | $25 | $45–$100 | $450–$2,520 |
| 2017-D (Standard) | $0.05 | $1 | $1–$3 | $10 | $11–$45 | $53–$80 |
| 2017-D Full Steps FS | — | $1 | $2–$10 | $25 | $33–$100 | $259–$800 |
| 2017-D FS Proof-Like | — | $5–$9 | $11–$25 | $45 | $77–$110 | Rare |
| 2017-S Proof DCAM 🔴 | — | — | — | — | $7.50–$18 | $30–$35 |
| 2017-S Enh. Uncirculated | — | — | — | — | $8–$20 | $34–$50 |
⭐ Signature variety row highlighted. 🔴 Collector-issue row highlighted. Values based on PCGS, NGC, Heritage, and GreatCollections data — 2026 edition. Auction results vary; submit high-grade coins for professional appraisal.
📱 CoinHix lets you snap a photo of your 2017 nickel and get an instant value estimate without needing to know the grade first — a coin identifier and value app.
| Mint | Mint Mark | Type | Mintage | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | P | Business Strike | 710,160,000 | Circulation issue; most common 2017 nickel |
| Denver | D | Business Strike | 663,120,000 | Circulation issue; slightly scarcer than P in top grades |
| San Francisco | S | Proof (DCAM) | 979,477 | Collector issue only; not released for circulation |
| San Francisco | S | Enhanced Uncirculated | ~225,000 | Included in S total; special finish for collector sets |
| Total | — | All types | ~1,374,484,477 | Over 1.37 billion coins across all formats |
Condition grade is the primary value driver for standard 2017 nickels — a single grade point at MS67 can mean hundreds of dollars. Use this visual guide to assess your coin.
High points on Jefferson's portrait — cheekbone, hair above the ear, and shoulder — show visible flatness. The rim may show minor dings from circulation. Monticello's steps are typically flat or merged. Nearly all 2017 nickels found in pocket change fall here. Value is exactly 5 cents regardless of mint mark.
Trace wear on the very highest points only — Jefferson's cheekbone and the peak of his hair. Most of the original mint luster remains visible in the protected areas of the fields. At AU58, the coin may look uncirculated to the naked eye. Steps on Monticello may show partial definition.
No wear, but contact marks from bag handling are visible at MS60–MS63. The coin's cartwheel luster rotates under a moving light source. MS65 ("Choice Uncirculated") coins have minimal marks and strong eye appeal. At this tier, the Full Steps designation begins adding meaningful premiums — an MS65 FS is worth roughly 2.5× an MS65 non-FS.
At MS66, the coin has only very minor contact marks visible at 5× magnification. MS67 requires exceptional surface quality and strong strike. MS68 and above are genuinely rare despite the enormous mintage. At MS70 with Full Steps — a theoretically perfect coin — the single auction record stands at $2,520. The FS designation is essentially required for any coin above MS65 to attract serious collector interest.
🔎 Cross-check your condition assessment using CoinHix — compare your coin's surfaces against graded reference examples — a coin identifier and value app.
The right venue depends on your coin's grade and whether it has the Full Steps designation. Here are the four best options ranked by suitability.
The best venue for gem MS67+ examples with Full Steps or documented error coins. Heritage's large collector audience ensures competitive bidding on genuinely scarce specimens. Commission applies (typically 15–20% buyer's premium), so raw value must justify the listing.
Best for: MS67 FS, MS68, error coins, 2017-S SP70
The largest market for certified 2017 nickels at every grade level. Browse recently sold prices for 2017-P Jefferson nickels on eBay to price your coin competitively before listing. Fixed-price listings work well for MS66 FS coins in the $20–$50 range; auction format suits rarer pieces.
Best for: MS65–MS67 FS, certified slabs, error coins
Convenient for bulk lots of circulated 2017 nickels (worth face value) or if you want immediate payment without shipping risk. Expect offers around 50–70% of retail value — dealers need margin. Local shops are rarely the best option for gem FS coins; those do better online where competition drives prices up.
Best for: Bulk circulated, quick cash, lower-grade lots
An active peer-to-peer marketplace for moderate-value certified coins in the $10–$100 range. Lower fees than eBay; buyers are knowledgeable collectors who understand the FS premium. Good for MS66 FS examples once you have verified photos of the steps and a clear description.
Best for: MS65–MS66 FS, knowledgeable buyer audience
Answers based on PCGS, NGC, Heritage Auctions, and GreatCollections data — 2026 edition.
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