25 Aug 2014 They're harder to find each year, but there are several valuable coins for the same reasons nickels were made partially from silver — steel 18 Nov 2014 During this time, when nickel was critically needed to support the war effort, nickels The nickels minted with this new silver alloy became known as wartime nickels. According to U.S. Mint records, ALL 1942-S Jefferson Nickels were leftover planchets made with the 1941 composition of copper/nickel. Silver Nickels. One of the more unusual Silver coins was the Jefferson Nickel of 1942 to 1945. Jefferson Nickels were first minted in 1938 and made of 75% Copper and 25% Nickel. However, in 1942, with World War II raging in Europe and the Pacific, Nickel became a critical war material. Nickels minted in the United States between 1942 and 1945 are made of 35% silver. These are commonly known as "silver war nickels."
On March 27, 1942, Congress authorized a nickel made of 50% copper and 50% silver, but gave the Mint the authority to vary the proportions, or add other metals, in the public interest. The Mint's greatest concern was in finding an alloy which would use no nickel, but still satisfy counterfeit detectors in vending machines. U.S. Silver Coins: When They Ended and What They’re Worth In the early 1960’s, the silver supply for the nation’s coinage was dwindling rapidly. As Congress and the Administration debated over silver’s future role in coinage, the silver market jumped 10% immediately, and another 30% by 1962. The larger base metal version made of nickel, and called a "nickel," was introduced as a Canadian coin in 1922, originally as 99.9% nickel metal. These coins were magnetic, due to the high nickel content. Versions during World War II were minted in copper-zinc, then chrome and nickel-plated steel, and finally returned again to nickel, at the The V Nickels were produced from 1883 to 1913 and it's metal content is 75% copper and 25% nickel. The first year the V-Nickel had no CENTS stamped on the reverse, the preceding years from 1884 to 1913 the word CENTS appears on the reverse bottom middle.
25 Aug 2014 They're harder to find each year, but there are several valuable coins for the same reasons nickels were made partially from silver — steel
A lot of people think that US nickels were once made from 90% silver like dimes and quarters were, but in fact nearly all nickels have been made of an alloy of 75% copper and 25% nickel. Silver nickels were made from 1942 through 1945 and have a large mintmark over the dome of Monticello on the reverse. There are 3 mintmarks to look for on wartime nickels: “P” – Philadelphia
Nickel was highly valued for use in armor plating, and Congress ordered the removal of this metal from the five-cent piece, effective October 8, 1942. From that date, and lasting through the end of 1945, five-cent pieces bore the regular design but were minted from an alloy of copper, silver and manganese. Silver alloy nickels ( 5 cent pieces) were produced in the US from 1942 to 1945 replacing the copper nickel alloy ( 75% Cu, 25%Ni). Some metals like nickel were rationed as they were in heavy demand for military use for WWII. The actual composition of this Jefferson Nickel was 35% silver, 56% copper, 9% manganese. Dimes and quarters stopped being produced in silver in 1964. Halves were made of 90% silver until 1964, then continued to be produced in 40% silver till 1970. Nickels were produced in 40% silver from 1941 to 1945 (I think those are the years). Look for the large mint mark over Monticello on the back of the coin.