35% SILVER World War II Nickels (RANDOM LOT OF 2 coins from group pictured)

Description: This lot includes 2 random World War II Jefferson nickels, each with 35% silver content. These coins have been circulated and show signs of wear, but they are still valuable pieces of history. Mint location and grade are unknown, and the coins are not certified. The denomination is 5 cents, and the composition is silver. These coins were produced in the United States from 1942-1945, during a time when the country was at war. Add these unique pieces to your coin collection today! With the entry of the United States into World War II, nickel became a critical war material, and the Mint sought to reduce its use of the metal. On March 27, 1942, Congress authorized a nickel made of 50% copper and 50% silver, but gave the Mint the authority to vary the proportions, or add other metals, in the public interest. The Mint's greatest concern was in finding an alloy which would use no nickel, but still satisfy counterfeit detectors in vending machines. An alloy of 56% copper, 35% silver and 9% manganese proved suitable, and this alloy began to be coined into nickels from October 1942. In the hopes of making them easy to sort out and withdraw after the war, the Mint struck all "war nickels" with a large mint mark appearing above Monticello. The mint mark P for Philadelphia was the first time that mint's mark had appeared on a US coin. The prewar composition and smaller mint mark (or no mint mark for Philadelphia) were resumed in 1946. In a 2000 article in The Numismatist, Mark A. Benvenuto suggested that the amount of nickel saved by the switch was not significant to the war effort, but that the war nickel served as a ubiquitous reminder of the sacrifices that needed to be made for victory.[15]

Price: 4.99 USD

Location: Contoocook, New Hampshire

End Time: 2025-01-15T06:22:30.000Z

Shipping Cost: N/A USD