World War II made nickel irresistible for the US Mint because nickel was an essential part of military equipment manufacture. In fact, the Mint altered the composition of the five-cent coin to wartime nickels from 1942 to 1945. The coins composed of a silver alloy were thus put into the numismatic history.
New Composition of Wwii Nickel from Pre-1942 to 1942 Under War Era
Nickel coins were regularly made of 75 percent copper and 25 percent nickel before 1942; but, in order to conserve as much nickel as possible during the war, the entire five-cent coin was changed by the US Mint on March 19, 1942.The new coins consisted of 56% copper, 35% silver, and 9% manganese. Moreover, such changes protected the nickel part inside the coin and ensured that the coin could comfortably be used in vending machines or even other coin-operated machines without much trouble.
These were the indelible imprints of wartime nickel: Mint Mark and Features of Design.
One of the most remarkable features of the Wartime Nickel was that it bore on the reverse a sizable mint mark placed above the dome of Monticello. Perhaps most significantly for collectors, this was the first time the Philadelphia Mint had ever used that mint mark on any coin, having only begun stamping it on this one provided it also bore a “P” mint mark. It was supposed to make things relatively easy to identify and accumulate along with other coins after the war, but unfortunately, many remained in circulation for years.
| Year | Mint | Mintage |
|---|---|---|
| 1942 | P | 57,900,600 |
| 1942 | S | 32,900,000 |
| 1943 | P | 271,165,000 |
| 1943 | D | 15,294,000 |
| 1943 | S | 104,060,000 |
| 1944 | P | 119,150,000 |
| 1944 | D | 32,309,000 |
| 1944 | S | 21,640,000 |
| 1945 | P | 119,408,100 |
| 1945 | D | 37,158,000 |
| 1945 | S | 58,939,000 |
years of shortage – during and after World War 2 – that credits the ingenuity of the population as a whole.
Collectible Value and Importance of Wartime Nickels
Wartime Nickels have become very popular with collectors. They are impressed by their history and also by their unusual metal makeup. Silver alloy contained therein is not the only reason for value because several other aspects influence the price, like coin condition, scarcity, and demand for it. At present, just the silver content attaches an initial value to it, but perfectly nice specimens, especially those showing full steps of Monticello, can fetch a pretty penny.
FAQs
1. Why was silver added to Wartime Nickels?
This change was made to save nickel so it could be used for the war effort, and silver was used instead.
2. How to Identify Wartime Nickels?
To identify Wartime Nickels, look for the large Mint Mark above the dome of Monticello on the reverse side; only Wartime Nickels have this feature.
3. Are Wartime Nickels worth much?
They have a base price because of their silver content, but coins in good condition or special varieties may be worth more.
4. What are the major mistakes in wartime nickels?
The major mistakes are the 1943/2-P overdate and the 1943-P doubled die obverse, which are very popular among collectors.
5. Did all 1942 nickels contain silver?
No, only the post-1942 coins with a mint mark had a silver alloy; the early 1942 coins used the older alloy.
Conclusion
Wartime Nickels are continues to be some part of the interesting story of the U.S. coins up until now, which reflect the resourcefulness of the nation as a whole during years of shortage – during and after World War