🪙
War Nickel (1942-1945, 35%)
0.0563 oz total · 35% fine · Silver · 1942–1945
Live Melt Value
—
0.0197 pure oz × $—/oz
Spot updates every 60 seconds
Last verified: March 14, 2026
About This Coin
War nickels from 1942 to 1945 contain 35% silver with 0.0563 troy ounces of actual silver weight (0.0197 oz pure). They were minted with a copper-silver-manganese alloy (56% copper, 35% silver, 9% manganese) to conserve nickel for the war effort during World War II.
War nickels are easily identified by the large mintmark (P, D, or S) positioned above Monticello on the reverse — regular nickels have a small mintmark to the right of the building. The Philadelphia mintmark (P) was used on nickels for the first time during this period.
These coins offer the lowest per-coin silver content of any US silver coin, making them ideal for small transactions or beginning stackers. They trade at modest premiums over melt value. Not all 1942 nickels are silver — only those with the large mintmark above Monticello. The non-silver 1942 nickels have the standard small mintmark to the right.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much silver is in a war nickel?▾
War nickels (1942-1945) contain 0.0563 troy ounces of 35% silver, yielding 0.0197 troy ounces of pure silver per coin. Identified by the large mintmark (P, D, or S) above Monticello on the reverse.
What is a War Nickel (1942-1945, 35%) worth today?▾
The War Nickel (1942-1945, 35%) contains 0.0197 troy ounces of pure silver. Its live melt value is calculated by multiplying 0.0197 oz by the current silver spot price, which updates every 60 seconds on MetalMetric.
Does the War Nickel (1942-1945, 35%) have numismatic value?▾
Trade at small premiums over melt. The 1943/2-P (overdate) is the key variety. Most dates are common and affordable for stackers.
How do I track this in my portfolio?▾
Add it to your free MetalMetric vault at
metalmetric.com/vault. Enter the weight (0.0563 oz), purity (0.35), and purchase price. MetalMetric tracks live melt value and unrealized P&L automatically.