The United States war effort during World War II resulted in various important commodities being blocked from use by average Americans. All possible efforts were taken to divert necessary commodities to the production of armament, planes, guns, bullets, and bombs. Among the important commodities the government stockpiled for the war effort was nickel. The 35% Silver War Nickel is currently available to you for purchase online at Silver.com.

The buy price of these nickels (silver nickels) is determined based only upon the actual silver content. The copper and manganese content is excluded in the price calculation - buyers essentially get those metals as a bonus. Check out all our coins for sale! Every dollar face value (20 coins) contains 1.125 troy ounces of silver. The CoinTrackers.com crew has compiled an awesome list we've dubbed 25 Most Valuable Nickels, and the page details the most valuable nickels minted in the United States from the late 1800's to the early 2000's. (Updated 2021) The values are descending so the most valuable are at the top. (so its a count up and not a countdown). Jefferson Nickel 1942 to 1945 Silver Alloy Variety. Unique to the entire five cent nickel denomination are the silver alloy nickels of 1942 to 1945. These represent a distinct variety and are very popular with collectors. Because they contain silver, each is a premium value nickel. The easiest way to check for a silver war nickel is the year-date on the coin. All nickels produced from 1942 to 1945 use the 35% silver composition. On the reverse (tails) side of the coin, you'll still find the familiar building known as Monticello, Jefferson's famous estate that he supposedly designed himself. Beginning in the middle of 1942 and through the end of the Great War, these 5 cent unique silver Wartime Nickels are coins struck in alloy of 35% silver, 56% copper and 9% manganese. The Jefferson Nickel actually had zero nickel content. Today these silver Jefferson Nickel coins are a great way to buy silver for those investing or coin collecting.

Coin Highlights:

Silver Nickels 1947

• Coins ship to you inside of paper rolls with a total of 20 coins!
• Struck by the US Mint from 1942 to 1945!
• Consists of 1.125 Troy ounces of actual silver content.
• Issued a face value of $.05 (USD) by the United States.
• The obverse side of the coins includes the original left-profile portrait of Thomas Jefferson.
• On the reverse face is the image of Monticello, Jefferson’s home in Virginia.
• Possible mint marks include an “S,” “D,” or “P.”

What exactly is a Silver War Nickel? Well, as mentioned above, the United States mandated the stockpiling of nickel in the country to redirect toward the production of armament for tanks and planes. As such, the United States Mint was ordered to remove all nickel from the production of the US five-cent piece. Beginning in late 1942, the US Mint shifted its nickels to a composition of 56% copper, 35% silver, and 9% manganese.

The Silver War Nickel was issued by the US Mint from late 1942 until the end of the war in 1945. The coins tend to have a slightly different coloration to them compared to nickels with their namesake metal included in the composition. Additionally, the Silver War Nickels have mint marks on the reverse above the design of Monticello. The Silver War Nickels were issued by the San Francisco Mint, Denver Mint, and Philadelphia Mint, with the latter mint not typically issuing circulation coins with a mint mark. In fact, after the end of Silver War Nickel production, no coin in US circulation featured a “P” mint mark again until 1979.

On the obverse of 35% Silver War Nickels, you’ll find Felix Schlag’s left-profile portrait of Thomas Jefferson. The third President of the United States, Jefferson’s bust has featured on the US nickel since 1938, with Schlag’s design running until 2004.

The reverse of 35% Silver War Nickels includes a design of Jefferson’s home at Monticello. The mint mark is included on this side and Schlag also created this artwork for the nickel in 1938. This design continues in use today.

These 35% Silver War Nickels are available to you with a total face value of $1 (USD) through this Silver.com listing. The coins are packaged together with a total of 20 individual coins.

Is A 1960 Nickel Silver

We encourage Silver.com customers to contact us with questions about buying silver at 888-989-7223. You can also connect with us online through our live web chat or email address features.

I have a large number of rolls of 35% silver WWII nickels. Can you refine them into a 100 oz silver bar for me? From Tim in Schuerch, Arkansas.

Hi Tim,

We can buy your nickels but we cannot refine them into a silver bar and send the bar back to you. We pay for 40% of their silver value by weight for “war” nickels.

Silver “war” nickels were produced by the United States from mid-1942 through 1945 and are in fact 35% silver and of course worth more than their currency value of .05 cents. The government used silver instead of nickel because nickel was in higher demanded for manufacturing military supplies. Today, nickels are made of about 75% copper and 25% nickel.

Knowing if your nickels are “war” nickels is to your advantage because they are worth more refined than spent in a vending machine. However, when the price of silver rose in the 1960s many of these valuable nickels disappeared, but every once in a while you can find one in your change. Here are a few ways you can tell the difference between “war” nickels and the others.

Silver Nickels 1943

• Usually war nickels are a little darker in color than others.
• On the backside of war nickels there is a P, D, or S marked above the building (Monticello’s dome) and under E Pluribus Unum. (On nickels distributed today this marking is on the face side under the year.)

Silver Nickels 1964

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