Historical Context

During World War II, nickel became a critical war material needed for armor plating and other military applications. From mid-1942 through 1945, the U.S. Mint produced nickels with a silver composition to conserve nickel for the war effort. These “War Nickels” are identifiable by a large mintmark (P, D, or S) above Monticello on the reverse.

Composition and Silver Content

War Nickels contain 35% silver, 56% copper, and 9% manganese, weighing 5 grams total. The silver content per coin is 0.0563 troy ounces. This unique composition makes them the only Jefferson Nickels to contain silver and gives them a slightly different appearance than regular nickels.

Collectibility

War Nickels are popular with both collectors and silver stackers. The large mintmark above Monticello makes them easy to identify when searching through pocket change, though they’re rarely found in circulation today. Most trade close to melt value in circulated grades, making them an affordable entry point for junk silver investing.