Guide
What is a war nickel worth?
During World War II the U.S. Mint took the nickel out of nickels and used silver instead. War nickels, struck from late 1942 to 1945, are 35% silver.
Updated October 28, 2026 · Prices as of November 3, 2026, 4:45 p.m. Pacific
What war nickels are worth today
Silver is trading at $49.46 per troy ounce (the Kitco bid). We pay 70% of the silver content for war nickels and other lower-purity silver coins:
| War nickels | Silver content | We pay today |
|---|---|---|
| 1 nickel | 0.0563 ozt | $1.95 |
| Roll of 40 | 2.25 ozt | $77.91 |
| 100 nickels | 5.63 ozt | $194.78 |
How to spot a war nickel
- The date: 1942 to 1945.
- The large mint mark above Monticello's dome on the back: P, D, or S. That big letter is the sign of silver. It was the first time a P for Philadelphia appeared on a U.S. coin.
- Some 1942 nickels aren't silver: those struck before the change have a small mint mark beside the building, or none.
- The metal: 35% silver, 56% copper, and 9% manganese, which often tones them darker than regular nickels.
Check these before you sell
Sort war nickels from regular nickels before you count them.
U.S. silver coins: Dimes · Quarters · Half dollars · Walking Liberty · Franklin · Kennedy · Mercury dimes · Peace dollars · Silver dollars · Eisenhower dollars · War nickels · Junk silver · Canadian silver coins · Which coins are silver
Coin guides: Krugerrands · American Gold Eagles · American Gold Buffalos · Maple Leafs · Philharmonics · Britannias · American Silver Eagles · Sovereigns · Morgan and Peace dollars · Silver half dollars · Libertads · Pandas · Kangaroos · All 1 ozt gold coins · Mexican 50 pesos · Old U.S. gold coins · All gold coins · All 90% silver
We pay more for silver than pawn shops and jewelers, at a published percentage of the Kitco bid. The best place to sell silver
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