The Jefferson Silver Nickel, also known as the Wartime Nickel, was struck by the United States Mint from 1942-1945 from a composition of 35% silver. As struck, each coin contained .05626 ounces of the precious metal.
Silver Nickels 1941
The coins actually first appeared in 1938, but at that time were produced from a cupro-nickel composition. The design on the coins was taken from the work of Felix Schlag who won a competition against hundreds of other artists. His portrait of Jefferson was based on a marble bust of the third President of the United States by Jean-Antoine Houdon.
The standard composition of the 5-cent piece continued until 1942 when a critical shortage of the metal nickel (owing to World War II) forced the United States Mint to change the composition of the strikes to instead contain 56% copper, 35% silver and 9% manganese, thus resulting in 'wartime' Jefferson Silver Nickel.
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). Silver Nickel Puppies works with trusted breeders to provide competitive pricing and beautiful healthy puppies for sale in Bergen County, NJ Silver Nickel Puppies works with trusted breeders to provide beautiful healthy puppies. Silver Nickel Puppies works with trusted breeders to provide competitive pricing and beautiful healthy puppies for sale in Bergen County, NJ. Since nickel was identified as a strategic metal for the war effort, the composition of the five cent piece was changed to a composition of 35% silver, 9% manganese, and 56% copper. The Silver War Nickels ( Buy on eBay ) minted from 1942 to 1945 create an interesting short set within the broader series.
To differentiate these coins from the standard composition releases, the United States Mint included a large mintmark above the image of Monticello on the reverse. It also pressed a ‘P' mintmark for those produced at the US Mint's facility in Philadelphia, the only time the ‘P' was used on a circulating coin until 1980.
Silver Nickels And Golden Dimes
The standard composition of the 5-cent piece continued until 1942 when a critical shortage of the metal nickel (owing to World War II) forced the United States Mint to change the composition of the strikes to instead contain 56% copper, 35% silver and 9% manganese, thus resulting in 'wartime' Jefferson Silver Nickel.
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). Silver Nickel Puppies works with trusted breeders to provide competitive pricing and beautiful healthy puppies for sale in Bergen County, NJ Silver Nickel Puppies works with trusted breeders to provide beautiful healthy puppies. Silver Nickel Puppies works with trusted breeders to provide competitive pricing and beautiful healthy puppies for sale in Bergen County, NJ. Since nickel was identified as a strategic metal for the war effort, the composition of the five cent piece was changed to a composition of 35% silver, 9% manganese, and 56% copper. The Silver War Nickels ( Buy on eBay ) minted from 1942 to 1945 create an interesting short set within the broader series.
To differentiate these coins from the standard composition releases, the United States Mint included a large mintmark above the image of Monticello on the reverse. It also pressed a ‘P' mintmark for those produced at the US Mint's facility in Philadelphia, the only time the ‘P' was used on a circulating coin until 1980.
Silver Nickels And Golden Dimes
Silver continued to be used in the coins through 1945 when the end of the war alleviated metal shortages and the US Mint returned to their pre-war standard composition.
The obverse of the 5-cent piece contains a portrait of the third President of the United States, and a founding father of the country, Thomas Jefferson. The portrait was completed by Felix Schlag with the inscriptions of IN GOD WE TRUST, LIBERTY and the year surrounding it.
Silver Nickels
For the obverse, an image of Jefferson's home known as Monticello is shown. It was also completed by Felix Schlag and included the inscriptions of UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, E PLURIBUS UNUM, FIVE CENTS and MONTICELLO. The Wartime Nickels also included a large mintmark above Monticello.
