Two days ago I showed you two of my steel pennies, a peculiar numismatic remnant of World War II, when the U.S. mint was trying to cut down it's copper use to save it for the needs of war.
Today I have another remnant of the same period, this time a nickel from 1945. Like copper, nickep was also a critical war material, so the U.S. mint came up with a new composition for nickels that would require... no nickel 😅
After some trial and error, an alloy of 56% copper, 35% silver and 9% manganese was chosen for these coins, that are today known as war nickels.
Here's some brief history from Wikipedia:
With the entry of the United States into World War II, nickel became a critical war material, and the Mint sought to reduce its use of the metal. 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. An alloy of 56% copper, 35% silver and 9% manganese proved suitable, and this alloy began to be coined into nickels from October 1942. In the hopes of making them easy to sort out and withdraw after the war, the Mint struck all "war nickels" with a large mint mark appearing above Monticello. source
The coin in the photos above is my only, for now, war nickel in my collection. Dunno why but I have a really strong affection towards it. Maybe because of its rough looks or the history behind it. I will definitely add more to the stack when a good opportunity arises!
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These 35% silver nickels ("war nickels") were minted from the middle of 1942 through the middle of 1945.
For 1945, they may minted only as war nickels and thenminted as normal nickels in 1946.
For 1942, however, the minting as war nickels began in the middle of the year. This means that both normal nickels and war nickels were minted that year:
P/D/Sabove the dome as shown in the photo in the post.DorSat the bottom right of the monument (with noPfor Philadelphia mint).It could be a similar situation for 1945, but it's definitely an issue for 1942 nickels.
If you see one of these normal nickels, feel free to spend of keep as you want.
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Thanks for all the great info!
You're welcome. It's always good finding silver in your pocket!
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Yes, I remember these interesting treasures still circulating in the 1960s. I always check my change, and found one a couple of years ago. But they are probably going to become a once-in-a-lifetime find, in pocket-change, for those searching, soon. One can find them at a Local Coin Shop. Every once in a while, an extra fine, or better will pop up, for a $1.25 (melt value). About 18 will exceed one Troy Ounce. Thanks again, @trumpman.
stop stealing American money you Greek bastard!
🤪
lmao!
It makes you wonder how many more of these silver war nickels are in circulation or in old change jars.
35% silver 👎. But it’s better then zero.
Not bad for a 5 cents coin 🤪
I was surprised When I first noticed the coin's brown colour and I later realised that it was made of 57% copper
The silver percentage it's not bad as well, I love the pictures.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge
I don't think I have seen a war nickel but I think I may have heard about something like that in my history lessons. It's been a long time.
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They are pretty cool - I hadnt heard of those before !
!PIZZA
Now you have 🤗
I have this suspicion that even though nickel is abundant, it's extremely useful during times of war. It wasn't that long ago that nickel prices skyrocketed up unexpectedly and trading had to be frozen. Did the quiet part show itself? Canada has the only 100% pure nickel coins (if they're minted in the right years) and who knows, maybe they'll be worth as much as silver someday.
I need to get one of those 100% nickel coins!
strange times when silver was more available than nickel :)
Heh :)
What a nice piece my friend and everything behind it is very interesting, I can imagine the relics you have in your collection, it must be fascinating to have so many pieces like the few I have seen in your publications.
I wish i could saw my pen(n)is and be so popular like you 😆
I wish I had a penis 😭
😭😭😭
marriage can do that to a man :P
Well, I believe that history makes them 10 times more interesting to obtain! Great coin to have on your collection man
!PIZZA
Thenks fren !BEER
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BEER.It's no wonder why the coin is brown, it's not pure Silver. Does this affect the monetary value?
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Monetary values is just the 5 cents face value. Since it has 35% silver content, it will have the spot price of silver scaled for the mass of the nickel, then multiplied by 0.350.
Numismatic value will be hurt by the condition of that particular coin. Even so, it could still be worth as much as the spot price of silver or a bit higher based on other factors.
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Well said !
Greetings, but I consider it to have a very interesting historical value.
Yeah true, but well hahaha money above all.
Well that's right hahahahahahahahaha.
cool coin
Thanks!
Is that rust on the coin or the genuine look? Classy one tho!
I think it's the copper!
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You have created a Precious Gem!
It's a nice copper coin. Collectible perhaps rise in value !
If they got silver in them that means I need to get me at least one
I am surprised you don't have one 😅😂
Well I did not know they got silver I mostly stick to stuff with some sort of precious metal content and not counting copper
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I wonder how heavy this coin would be from the look.
I gifted $PIZZA slices here:
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The coin shared is amazing
that coin is very well preserved for its age, it is very pretty.
I wonder in total how many coins you have saved haha
A bronze appearance