War nickels (1942-1945) were struck in a special alloy of 56% copper, 35% silver, and 9% manganese to conserve nickel for the war effort. These coins feature a large mint mark (P, D, or S) above Monticello on the reverse — the first time a P mint mark appeared on a US coin. The unusual composition and wartime production created many collectible errors.
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Scan My CoinThe 3 in the date was punched over a 2, showing remnants of the previous digit beneath the 3.
How to check: Examine the lower portion of the 3 in the date. Traces of the underlying 2's curved base should be visible under magnification.
$50 - $400Multiple doubled die varieties exist across the war nickel years, with doubling on MONTICELLO, E PLURIBUS UNUM, and the date.
How to check: Use a loupe to examine MONTICELLO and E PLURIBUS UNUM on the reverse. Check the date digits for shelf doubling.
$20 - $200The large mint mark above Monticello was hand-punched and frequently shows repunching with doubled or shifted impressions.
How to check: Examine the large P, D, or S above Monticello. Look for a secondary impression or shadow of the mint mark.
$10 - $100The coin struck off-center due to misalignment, showing blank planchet on one side.
How to check: Look for shifted design with a crescent of blank metal. The large mint mark and Monticello help identify these as war nickels.
$20 - $250The war nickel alloy was prone to lamination peeling and flaking due to the unusual metal composition.
How to check: Look for peeling, flaking, or separated layers of metal on either side. The silver-manganese alloy was less stable than standard nickel.
$10 - $75War nickels (1942-1945) have a large mint mark (P, D, or S) above Monticello on the reverse. Note: Only 1942 nickels with the large mint mark are war nickels — early 1942 production used the standard nickel alloy.
At minimum, war nickels are worth their silver melt value (approximately $1.50-$2.00 depending on silver prices). Error varieties can command $20 to $400+.
Nickel was a critical war material needed for armor plating and ammunition. The US Mint switched to a silver-copper-manganese alloy from mid-1942 through 1945 to conserve nickel for the war effort.
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