Silver War Nickels, from 1942 to 1945, are in high demand among coin collectors and numismatists. These nickels are interesting because of their 35% silver content and due to the historical aspect to World War II. Any minting faults make them precious. Herein lies discussion on Silver War Nickels, uncommon coins with minting mistakes made in the years 1942-1945, and why one should collect these. Understanding the worth of a rare nickel can lead you to hidden treasures in your pocket change whether or not you have been collecting nickels for years.
Silver War Nickels
Silver War Nickels are those U.S. nickel coins minted from the years between 1942 and 1945. In order to conserve nickel used during World War II, the five-cent piece was composed of 35% silver, 56% copper, and 9% manganese, rather than its pre-war composition of 75% copper and 25% nickel. They were minted in light of critical shortages in the production of ammunition, tanks, as well as other war supplies for the U.S. military.
This date saw the minting of nearly 1.1 billion Silver War Nickels. Collectors seek some 1942-1945 nickels, especially with flaws, as they are so common. The silver nickels represent America’s contribution during WWII and possess value for their historical sake.
The Important Years: 1942-1945
Silver War Nickels were issued in 1942, 1943, 1944, and 1945. The U.S. Mint made so many nickels a year that they were used in everyday life. Some of these coins have minting errors-not necessarily flaws when being minted. Some nickels are worth thousands of dollars because of such flaws. See each key year and take a look at those collectors consider.
1942 Silver War Nickels
The series began with the 1942 Silver War Nickel, which altered the composition of the coin. Of course, the most plentiful of the War Nickels is the 1942 nickel, but some were made with a copper-nickel alloy rather than silver. Because they were minted briefly before the silver composition, these are worth money.
The 1942-D and 1942-S coins are extremely popular. This year’s favorite is the 1942 “D” Over “S” error, in which a coin was minted with the “D” stamp instead of the “S” stamp.
1943 Silver War Nickels
A good series coin is the 1943 Silver War Nickel. Coins from the year 1943 are valuable due to the significance of the metal silver during World War II. In mint state, the 1943-S and 1943-D coins command much more than face value on grade and mintmark.
Another error appeared in 1943 with some nickels being struck using a **doubled die**, which doubles the date. These double die coins can be worth hundreds or thousands of dollars in good condition.
1944 Silver War Nickels
Silver War Nickels such as the 1944 are considered among the least valuable. However, there are unusual minting faults with overstrikes, off-center strikes, and misaligned dies that can be watched for. If you ever do find one, your coin might be more valuable than you would have ever thought.
1945 Silver War Nickels
The final in the series, the 1945 Silver War Nickel is much more common than its siblings but still fetches strong money in better grades or with mint imperfections. The 1945-D proof is quite sought after by collectors. Good enough and with matching mintmarks or off center striking may fetch a few extra dollars.
Errors of Silver War Nickels
Silver War Nickels, like most U.S. coins, are important because of their historical significance and minting errors. These defects occurred during the coin’s striking due to equipment malfunction, die damage, or human mistake. Well-known and valuable nickel mistakes include: #-#1. Double-Die Errors
A doubled die error is when a struck die hits a coin twice, making a double image on the design. This is a pretty rare error and for Silver War Nickels very valuable. The most visible duplicated die errors are in 1943 and 1944 coins, when the date is doubled and sometimes other design characteristics as the mint mark.
D over S or D over D overmint marks
Coin mintmarks are normally on the reverse, at the bottom. A coin minted with one mintmark over another is an overmint mark error. Of all the faults found on Silver War Nickels, one of the most highly sought is the 1942-D over S error, where a coin was minted with a **D mintmark** instead of a **S mintmark**. These coins can sell for thousands, depending on grade and condition.
Off-Center Strikes
Mishitting a coin causes off-center mistakes, or the design will misalign. These faults are common on all U.S. coins, but Silver War Nickel off-center striking are rare and valuable. When the strike is strong enough, you’ll see parts of the coin’s design leaking outside of the traditional border, pointing to the inaccuracy.
Misaligned Dies
Misaligned dies happen when coins are struck out of alignment or the dies. Such coins with incorrectly designed coins may appear misshapen or incomplete. Coin collectors adore these unusual pieces because their value may increase based on the severity of the error.
Other Minting Errors
Silver War Nickels can also be graded on double strikes, collided dies, as well as planchet errors. While less common, these types of errors are incredibly valuable.
Why Collect Silver War Nickels?
Silver War Nickels are collected for many reasons:
Historical Value: They were minted during the World War II era, a time of national significance. They represent the war effort and the sacrifices of Americans.
Content: The composition of the Silver War Nickels makes them more valuable than face value as they contain 35% silver. Silver content can enhance the price value of these coins during fluctuation.
Minting errors: In contrast, many U.S. coins come with minting errors; this makes Silver War Nickels scarce and therefore highly sought after among collectors.
Scarcity: Erroneous Silver War Nickels are scarce and, therefore an important part of any collection.
5. **Investment Value**: Silver War Nickels, but more so those with rare errors, increase in value. Collectors will often purchase error coins to complete their collections, which rises their value.
How to Get Silver War Nickels
Silver War Nickel collecting is an activity that requires much patience, knowledge, and detail. How to start collecting:
How to start collecting:
Learn About Coins: Learn about Silver War Nickel types, dates, mintmarks, and errors. Learning about these coins will help you find uncommon ones in your collection.
Look for Errors: As mentioned, minting errors produce numerous rare and expensive Silver War Nickels. Watch for doubled dies, overmint markings, and off-center striking.
Attend coin shows and online auctions for rare Silver War Nickels. Many of these venues sell graded and ungraded coins, including rarer kinds.