how much silver is in a war nickel

[LeRose]

A United States Jefferson nickel produced during World War II, commonly referred to as a "war nickel," has a specific and historically significant silver content. These coins were minted from the middle of 1942 through 1945. The change in composition was a direct result of the need to conserve nickel, a critical strategic material, for the war effort.

The metallic composition of a war nickel is a specific alloy consisting of 56% copper, 35% silver, and 9% manganese. Therefore, silver constitutes 35% of the coin's total mass. This composition is distinct from standard Jefferson nickels produced before and after this period, which contain no silver. These silver-alloy coins can be identified by the presence of a large mint mark (P, D, or S) located on the reverse side, directly above the dome of Monticello.

In terms of actual silver weight, a war nickel has a total weight of 5 grams. Based on its 35% silver composition, the precise amount of silver contained within each coin is 0.05626 troy ounces. This specific quantity is what gives the coin its intrinsic bullion value, which is separate from any numismatic or collectible value it may possess.