how much silver is in a 1940 nickel

[BryceLee]

A standard 1940 nickel does not contain any silver. The composition for a Jefferson nickel from that year is 75% copper and 25% nickel, which was the standard alloy for the coin at the time.

The practice of including silver in nickels was a temporary measure enacted during World War II. To conserve the strategically important metal nickel for the war effort, the U.S. Mint changed the coin's composition for a limited period.

These special silver-alloy nickels, often referred to as "war nickels," were produced only from the middle of 1942 through 1945. They are identifiable by their different composition of 56% copper, 35% silver, and 9% manganese, as well as a large mint mark placed above the dome of Monticello on the reverse side. Therefore, a nickel dated 1940 falls outside of this production window and is made of the traditional copper-nickel alloy.