War Nickel
War Nickel Value (1942-1945)
How much is a war nickel worth? Melt value of 35% silver Jefferson war nickels (1942-1945) across spot prices, plus how to identify them.
Calculate coin valueDuring World War II, the U.S. removed nickel from the five-cent coin for the war effort and made "war nickels" from a 35% silver alloy. Minted from mid-1942 through 1945, each war nickel contains about 0.0563 troy ounces of silver - the only circulating U.S. nickels that contain silver.
You can identify a war nickel by the large mint mark (P, D, or S) above Monticello on the reverse. The chart below shows their melt value across silver spot prices.
Coin facts
| Coin | Years | Silver | Weight | Pure silver |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35% Silver War Nickel | Mid-1942-1945 | 35% | 5 g | 0.0563 ozt |
Melt value at different silver prices
Melt value = pure silver content × silver spot price. Figures are for common-date coins; rare dates and high grades can be worth more to collectors.
| Silver spot | 35% Silver War Nickel |
|---|---|
| $25.00/ozt | $1.41 |
| $30.00/ozt | $1.69 |
| $35.00/ozt | $1.97 |
| $40.00/ozt | $2.25 |
| $45.00/ozt | $2.53 |
| $50.00/ozt | $2.81 |
| $60.00/ozt | $3.38 |
| $70.00/ozt | $3.94 |
For a live figure at the current spot price, use the coin silver calculator or weigh a lot in the main calculator.
War Nickel questions
Which nickels are silver?
Only the wartime "war nickels" minted from mid-1942 through 1945 contain silver (35%). All other U.S. nickels are copper-nickel with no silver.
How do I identify a war nickel?
Look for a large mint mark - P, D, or S - above the dome of Monticello on the reverse. That large mint mark indicates the 35% silver wartime composition.
How much silver is in a war nickel?
A war nickel contains about 0.0563 troy ounces of pure silver. Its melt value is 0.0563 ? the silver spot price.
How much is a war nickel worth?
At a $58 silver spot, a war nickel holds about $3.26 in melt value. Better dates and grades can carry a collector premium.