1942-S Jefferson War Nickel BU

First Year 1942 Jefferson War Nickel From The San Francisco Mint

Though America's 5-cent Nickel coin gets its name from its traditional metal contents, there was a time when the coin contained no nickel at all! That's because during World War II, our nation's coinage did more than just line the pockets of citizens on the home front going about their business. They also helped us win the war. Perhaps the most famous example of this is the Jefferson "War Nickel," struck from 1942 to 1945. Because nickel was a valuable component in guns, tanks and airplanes, these coins were struck for the very first time in 35% fine silver since the metal was less valuable to the war effort.

The U.S. Mint Does Its Part In The War Effort

Because nickel was so valuable to the war effort, hoarding the metal to strike coins would have been an incredibly unpatriotic, and potentially dangerous, thing for the United States Mint to do! Instead, the mint stepped up and donated its nickel supply, helping win the war and giving us a unique variety of Jefferson Nickel. To help identify these unique "War Nickels" from non-silver nickels, a prominent distinguishing feature in the form of very large mintmarks were added above the dome of Monticello on the coin's reverse. This also represented the very first time the letter "P" was used as a mintmark on a U.S. coin!

Key-Date, First-Year Jefferson "War Nickels" That Escaped The Melting Pots

Silver nickels were minted from 1942 until the war ended in 1945, at all three U.S. Mints–Denver, Philadelphia, and San Francisco. Here you can get the key-date, first-year 1942-S Jefferson War Nickel in gleaming Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) condition struck at the San Francisco Mint. These coins have been out of issue for more than 80 years, and many have joined the millions of silver coins that've been melted over the years for their precious silver bullion, leaving just a fraction of the original coins for today's collectors! Secure yours now!

COIN HIGHLIGHTS:

• PATRIOTIC WARTIME NICKELS – Due to the need for nickel for the war effort, the United States Mint changed the composition of Jefferson Nickels struck from 1942-1945. This "War Nickel" is a key-date, first-year coin struck in 1942 at the San Francisco Mint.
• FIRST–AND ONLY–NICKELS STRUCK WITH SILVER – Nickels issued only from 1942 to 1945 were struck with 35% silver, the first–and only–time nickels contained silver in their composition.
• LEGAL TENDER U.S. COINAGE – Each War Nickel is five cents legal tender in the United States and measures 21.2 mm in diameter.
• BRILLIANT UNCIRCULATED CONDITION – Your first-year 1942-S Jefferson "War Nickel" will come in gleaming Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) condition.

The U.S. Mint came to the rescue during World War II, and these "War Nickels are the proof. No U.S. or World War II coin collection is complete without one!