War Nickel Melt Value Today
Current melt value: $3.69 per coin
Last updated: 8/11/2026, 4:51:42 AM · Live data
War Nickel (35% Silver) Melt Value Calculator
Prices last updated: 8/11/2026, 4:51:42 AM
Dealers typically pay 80–95% of melt for common silver coins.
| War Nickel (35% Silver) Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Years Minted | 1942–1945 |
| Composition | 35% Silver, 56% Copper, 9% Manganese |
| Fineness | 0.35 |
| Total Weight | 5.00 g |
| ASW (Silver Content) | 1.750 g (0.0563 ozt) |
| Face Value | $0.05 |
| Current Melt Value | $3.69 |
How to Identify the Silver Version
Look for a large mintmark above Monticello on the reverse. If the mintmark is above the dome, it is a War Nickel (1942–1945, 35% silver). Regular nickels have the mintmark to the right of Monticello or no mintmark. The "P" mintmark was used for the first time on War Nickels. The edge is smooth (like all nickels), not reeded.
Key Dates — Do Not Sell for Melt
No significant key dates. All 1942-P, 1942-S, 1943-P, 1943-D, 1943-S, 1944-P, 1944-D, 1944-S, 1945-P, 1945-D, and 1945-S War Nickels are common and trade near melt value. The 1942-P is the first US coin to bear a "P" mintmark.
About the War Nickel (35% Silver)
During World War II, nickel was a critical war material needed for armor plating and military equipment. To conserve nickel, the US Mint changed the composition of the Jefferson Nickel from 75% copper / 25% nickel to 35% silver, 56% copper, and 9% manganese. These "War Nickels" were minted from late 1942 through 1945.
Each War Nickel contains 0.0563 troy ounces of pure silver. The total weight is 5.0 grams — the same as a regular nickel — but the composition is different. The melt value is the silver content multiplied by the current spot price, shown in the spec table above. War Nickels are the only US nickels to contain silver.
War Nickels are easy to identify because the mintmark was enlarged and placed above Monticello on the reverse — the only time a mintmark appeared in that position on a US nickel. The mintmarks are "P" (Philadelphia, the first use of a P mintmark on a US coin), "D" (Denver), and "S" (San Francisco). If the mintmark is above the dome of Monticello, the coin is a War Nickel.
Because War Nickels contain only 35% silver (not 90%), they are not included in standard junk silver bags, which are priced based on 0.715 ozt per $1 face value for 90% coins. War Nickels are usually priced separately, by the coin or by the roll (40 coins = $2 face value). At $1 face value, War Nickels contain approximately 1.125 troy ounces of silver — more per dollar than 90% silver coins.
War Nickel (35% Silver) FAQ
What is the melt value of a War Nickel?
The melt value is 0.0563 troy ounces of silver multiplied by the current spot price. Use the calculator on this page for the exact value. War Nickels are 35% silver, not 90%.
How can I tell if my nickel is a War Nickel?
Look for a large mintmark above Monticello on the reverse. If the mintmark is above the dome, it is a War Nickel (1942–1945) and contains 35% silver. Regular nickels have the mintmark to the right of Monticello or no mintmark at all.
Are War Nickels included in junk silver bags?
Usually not. Junk silver bags are typically 90% silver coins (dimes, quarters, halves). War Nickels are 35% silver and are usually priced separately. However, $1 face value of War Nickels contains more silver than $1 face value of 90% coins.