When Did Nickels Have Silver & How to Identify Them

The U.S. nickel, a familiar five-cent coin, has a rich history that includes a unique period when its metallic content significantly changed. While typically composed of a blend of copper and nickel, specific historical events led to a temporary alteration in its makeup. This modification resulted in a distinct series of coins that stand apart from their standard counterparts.

The War Nickel Period

The U.S. nickel underwent a compositional change during World War II, from 1942 through 1945. This alteration responded to strategic metal shortages caused by the war effort. Nickel, a crucial material, was in high demand for military equipment, including armor plating for tanks and planes.

To conserve this metal for wartime production, Congress authorized the U.S. Mint to modify the nickel’s composition. The resulting “War Nickels” were made from an alloy of 35% silver, 56% copper, and 9% manganese. This blend was chosen to save nickel and ensure coins functioned properly in vending machines, which relied on standard coinage properties.

Production of these silver-content nickels began in October 1942 and continued until the end of 1945. Once the conflict concluded, demand for strategic metals decreased, allowing the U.S. Mint to revert to the traditional coin composition. By 1946, nickels were again minted with their standard alloy of 75% copper and 25% nickel.

Identifying Silver Nickels

Distinguishing a silver “War Nickel” from a standard nickel involves examining its date and mint mark location. All nickels minted between 1942 and 1945 are candidates for containing silver, but the definitive indicator lies on the coin’s reverse side. The U.S. Mint deliberately made these coins easily identifiable so they could be sorted and potentially withdrawn from circulation after the war.

On silver nickels, a large mint mark—either a “P” for Philadelphia, “D” for Denver, or “S” for San Francisco—is prominently located above Monticello, the building depicted on the coin’s reverse. This placement is unique to the “War Nickels” and serves as the most reliable method of identification. Notably, the “P” mint mark for Philadelphia appeared on a U.S. coin for the first time on these wartime nickels.

In contrast, standard nickels from other periods either lack a mint mark (for Philadelphia issues before 1980, excluding war nickels) or have it in a different location, such as to the right of Monticello or below the date on the obverse. For 1942-dated nickels, check the mint mark, as some early 1942 coins were produced with the standard composition before the changeover. While silver nickels may exhibit a slightly different luster or color, the presence and location of the mint mark remain the conclusive identifier.