1942 Nickel Value Checker: Errors List, “D”, “S”, “P” & No Mint Mark Worth

1942 Nickel value ranges from $0.05 face value to $32,200. That record sale was a Grade 64 example sold through Heritage Auctions in January 2006. Think yours might be worth checking out? Upload a photo of your coin below for a quick value range, then scroll down to see what recent eBay sales reveal about what collectors are paying right now.

 

1942 Nickel Value By Variety

Here’s the breakdown by type and grade. If you know the grade of your coin, you can find the exact price below in the Value Guides section.

Also Read: Top 100 Most Valuable Jefferson Nickels Worth Money List (1938-Present)

 

Top 10 Most Valuable 1942 Nickel Worth Money

The 1942-D/D over Horizontal D variety owns the top spot. An MS-64 example brought $32,200 at Heritage Auctions in January 2006. Even lower-grade pieces of this same error pull $12,075 to $30,550 depending on condition and whether the coin carries Full Steps (FS).

Silver proofs and top-end regular strikes do well too. A 1942 Type 1 Proof graded PR-68 realized $11,750 at Heritage Auctions in June 2013. The 1942-P Silver Proof in PR-68+ brought $12,600 at Heritage Auctions in 2021.

One grade point can mean thousands of dollars on these coins. Errors and proof finishes push values into five figures fast.

 

History of the 1942 Nickel

By 1942, the Jefferson nickel had been in production for four years, replacing the Buffalo nickel with Felix Schlag’s competition-winning design of Thomas Jefferson and Monticello.

Then Pearl Harbor changed everything. The December 7, 1941 attack pulled the U.S. into World War II and created massive demand for strategic metals. Nickel was essential for armor plating, artillery shells, and military equipment. Using it for pocket change suddenly felt wasteful.

On March 27, 1942, Congress passed legislation letting the U.S. Mint swap out nickel for an alternative alloy. This fell under the Second War Powers Act — specifically Title XII, § 642 — giving the Mint flexibility to adjust coin compositions. The Act originally considered a 50/50 copper-silver mix but left room for the Mint to tweak ratios.

After months of testing, the Mint landed on 56% copper, 35% silver, and 9% manganese. That manganese was the secret ingredient — it kept the same electrical conductivity and weight as regular nickels, so vending machines across the country wouldn’t need any modifications.

Silver nickel production kicked off in October 1942. That made this year a true one-off in U.S. coinage. It was the first time silver appeared in a five-cent coin since the half dime’s last strike in 1873. It was also the only time different mints were simultaneously cranking out nickels with completely different compositions.

Philadelphia was the only mint that struck both types in 1942. Denver made only regular copper-nickel nickels all year. San Francisco made only silver nickels — none in the standard composition. To help people tell the silver coins apart, the Mint placed oversized mintmarks above Monticello. That move put a “P” mintmark on a U.S. coin for the very first time in 150 years of Philadelphia Mint history. Pretty cool detail.

The silver composition ran through 1945. Regular nickel production picked back up in 1946. Numismatic historian Q. David Bowers has noted that dealer Harry Forman coined the nickname “wartime nickels.”

Also Read: Top 60+ Most Valuable Buffalo Nickels Worth Money

 

Is Your 1942 Nickel Rare?

Want to know exactly where your coin ranks? Our Coin Identifier and Value App gives you the rarity score in seconds.

 

Key Features of the 1942 Nickel

Two composition types were struck in 1942, and knowing the design details on each side helps you figure out which one you’ve got — and what it’s worth.

The Obverse of the 1942 Nickel

You’ll see Thomas Jefferson facing left in a colonial-era coat and wig — Felix Schlag’s original design. “IN GOD WE TRUST” runs along the left side of the portrait. “LIBERTY” and “1942” sit to the right, separated by a small five-point star.

Jefferson’s cheekbone and the hair above his ear are the high points. Those wear first. On uncirculated coins, look for complete detail in the hair curls and a sharp collar edge.

The Reverse of the 1942 Nickel

Flip it over and you’ll see Monticello in elevation view. “MONTICELLO” sits beneath the building. “E PLURIBUS UNUM” curves along the top rim, “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” follows the bottom, and “FIVE CENTS” appears between the building and the bottom inscription.

Here’s the key: on silver wartime nickels, a large P or S sits right above Monticello’s dome — you can’t miss it. On regular copper-nickel pieces, look for a small “D” to the right of Monticello, or no mintmark at all for Philadelphia strikes.

Other Features of the 1942 Nickel

Composition: Regular 1942 nickels contain 75% copper and 25% nickel. Silver wartime nickels contain 56% copper, 35% silver, and 9% manganese. Both types weigh 5 grams with a 21.2mm diameter.

Appearance: Silver nickels look brighter and more lustrous when new. Over time they develop greenish or iridescent toning — sometimes vivid rainbow colors that collectors love. Regular nickels keep that typical copper-nickel look.

Full Steps (FS): Collectors prize specimens showing all six steps of Monticello clearly defined on the reverse. These “Full Steps” examples command significant premiums. The Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) and Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) are the two main third-party grading services that assign the FS designation. NGC also certifies Five Full Steps (5FS) separately from Six Full Steps (6FS).

Silver Melt Value: Each war nickel contains approximately 0.05626 troy ounces of pure silver. The melt value fluctuates with the silver spot price — check current prices to calculate the baseline worth of your war nickel.

Also Read: Top 100 Rarest Nickels Worth Money (Most Expensive)

 

1942 Nickel Mintage & Survival Data

The regular copper-nickel issues had the biggest runs. Philadelphia struck 49,789,000 no-mintmark pieces, and Denver added 13,938,000. San Francisco made zero regular copper-nickel nickels in 1942.

Philadelphia’s silver war nickels totaled 57,873,000 — the highest single mintage of any 1942 type, yet also the lowest mintage year across all four years of silver war nickel production (1942–1945). Only about 10.37% survived, roughly 6 million coins. Post-war silver melting wiped out the rest. Think of it this way: for every ten struck, nine are gone.

Proofs tell a completely different story. The 29,600 regular proofs have a 77.70% survival rate — but only 75 CAM (Cameo) specimens survive from that same mintage, just 0.25%. Silver proofs follow the same pattern: 27,600 minted, about 22,000 surviving in standard brilliant proof form, but CAM and DCAM examples number just 100 and 50 respectively.

Also Read: Jefferson Nickel Value (1938-Present)

 

The Easy Way to Know Your 1942 Nickel Value

Start by checking the mintmark location on the reverse. A large P or S above Monticello’s dome means you’ve got a 35% silver wartime nickel — worth a lot more than regular copper-nickel pieces. A small D to the right of Monticello, or no mintmark at all, means standard composition.

Next, look at condition. Circulated pieces with visible wear start around $1–$3. Uncirculated examples can reach $80–$260 or higher. Then check for errors like repunched mintmarks or doubled dies — those bump the value up fast.

For instant, accurate assessment, use our Coin Identifier and Value App to identify grade, detect errors, and get real-time market pricing.

 

1942 Nickel Value Guides

The 1942 Nickel comes in nine distinct varieties:

• 1942 No Mint Mark Nickel: Philadelphia, copper-nickel
• 1942-D Nickel: Denver, copper-nickel
• 1942-S Nickel: San Francisco, silver wartime composition
• 1942-P Silver Nickel: Philadelphia, wartime silver
• 1942 Proof Nickel: Collector proof, copper-nickel
• 1942 CAM Nickel: Cameo proof, copper-nickel
• 1942-P Silver Proof Nickel: Collector proof, silver
• 1942-P Silver CAM Nickel: Cameo proof, silver
• 1942-P Silver DCAM Nickel: Deep Cameo proof, silver

The series splits into two camps: regular copper-nickel coins and wartime silver issues. Regular strikes trade near face value in circulated grades. Silver versions carry a built-in premium from their metal content. Proofs were made for collectors and show sharper detail with mirror-like fields.

CAM (Cameo) and DCAM (Deep Cameo) refer to the contrast between frosted raised designs and mirror-flat fields on proof coins. More contrast means more value — and far greater rarity.

 

1942 No Mint Mark Nickel Value

Most collectors overlook this one, but it has a quirk worth knowing. It’s the only 1942 Philadelphia strike with no mintmark at all — the standard 75/25 copper-nickel composition from early in the year, before the October switch to silver.

Check both mintmark spots on the reverse: nothing to the right of Monticello, nothing above the dome. If both are blank and the surfaces look normal (not mirror-like), you’ve got this variety.

Circulated examples trade near face value. Mint state coins start around $1–$5 in lower grades, with MS-65 and above climbing fast. Full Steps pieces — all six Monticello steps sharply defined — can reach into the thousands at the top end.

PCGS notes that both types of 1942 nickels are “very common and can be found in high grades with relative ease.” But Full Steps specimens are a real challenge. The steps go soft even on otherwise well-preserved coins.

Watch out for scratches, cleaning marks, or environmental damage on circulated pieces. Any of those will tank the value regardless of technical grade.

Here are auction records that can give you a clear understanding of its value.

This variety sees increasing collector demand as an affordable entry point into the 1942 series.

 

1942-D Nickel Value

Here’s a surprise: a coin with nearly 14 million struck is actually a key date. Denver never switched to silver in 1942 — it ran copper-nickel all year. The small “D” sits to the right of Monticello, same spot as always.

So why is it scarce? Wartime coin shortages meant these got used hard. PCGS numismatist Jaime Hernandez calls the 1942-D “a key date in the Jefferson Nickel circulation strike series.” He notes that MS-60 to MS-63 examples command about $50 each — a big premium for what looks like a common date on paper.

Circulated pieces still trade close to face value, so they’re great for new collectors. Mint state coins start around $1–$5 in lower grades. MS-65 and above can reach several hundred dollars. The auction record is $4,320 for an MS-68 Full Steps specimen at a Stack’s Bowers auction in August 2021.

Top-graded pieces remain scarce, with the highest certified examples selling for big multiples over typical mint state coins.

Steady demand from type collectors and folks building complete 1942 sets keeps this one active.

 

1942-S Nickel Value

Every single 1942-S is a silver war nickel. San Francisco made zero copper-nickel nickels that year. The large “S” above Monticello’s dome confirms it instantly.

What sets this issue apart is how well many survived. PCGS CoinFacts reports that as of January 2012, 64 MS-67 non-Full Steps examples and 10 MS-67 Full Steps had been certified. The 1942-S “is one of the better-preserved of all the ‘War’ Nickels,” with most Mint State survivors sitting at Gem MS-65 and MS-66 levels.

Full Steps versions make up roughly 10% of certified coins. The auction record is $4,888 for a PCGS MS-67 at Heritage Auctions in August 2011. For Full Steps, PCGS lists $725 for an MS-67 FS and $8,500 for an MS-68 FS. That’s a huge gap between regular and FS at the same grade.

Historical auction results provide insight into market pricing for this date.

Market patterns over the past year reflect ongoing collector interest in this silver issue.

 

1942-P Silver Nickel Value

Did you know this was the first U.S. circulation coin to ever carry a Philadelphia “P” mintmark? For 150 years, Philly left its coins unmarked. The wartime switch broke that tradition, and the large “P” above Monticello’s dome made it obvious.

Jefferson nickel specialist Bernard Nagengast wrote in The Jefferson Nickel Analyst (2nd Ed., 2002) that the silver alloy nickels had “an entirely different, more appealing look than the earlier nickels,” which encouraged collectors to save them. He specifically noted that 1942-P silver nickels are “always very nice, without the surface roughness of the copper nickel issue. Gems are easy to find.”

The silver alloy gave these coins smoother, brighter surfaces than standard copper-nickel planchets. PCGS CoinFacts confirms that even MS-67 examples are “somewhat plentiful,” and none have graded finer than MS-67 by PCGS — with or without Full Steps. But coins showing all six steps are “very rare.” Nagengast estimated only 1 in 10 display five full steps. In May 2021, an MS-68 specimen realized $5,950 at auction.

Major auction houses have documented strong results for high-grade specimens.

Growing recognition of the historic first P mintmark continues to attract new collectors to this landmark issue.

 

1942 Proof Nickel Value

These were the last regular-composition proof nickels until 1950. Philadelphia struck 29,600 of them in copper-nickel before wartime priorities shut down the collector coin program for eight years.

No mintmark on the reverse — that’s how you identify them. Hand-polished planchets and multiple strikes created those deep mirror fields that separate proofs from business strikes. The auction record is $11,750 for a PR-68, sold at Heritage Auctions in June 2013.

About 77% survive today, so they’re more accessible than you’d expect for a pre-war proof. Grade drives the price hard here — PR-65 and above pieces bring two to three times what PR-63 examples sell for. I think the dual appeal as both the final pre-war proof and the last copper-nickel proof for nearly a decade makes this one a smart pickup for Jefferson specialists.

Grade and surface preservation create significant price variation within the same variety.

Recent trading patterns provide useful context for timing acquisitions and understanding current demand levels.

 

1942 CAM Nickel Value

Only about 75 of these exist. That alone tells you everything about the price.

CAM stands for Cameo — PCGS and NGC award it when a proof shows frosted white raised devices against deeply mirrored flat fields. The frosting only appeared on the first few dozen strikes from a fresh die. After that, it wore off and subsequent strikes came out uniformly brilliant. That’s why genuine CAM examples from the 1936–1942 era rank among the scarcest proof varieties in all of U.S. coinage.

Look for unbroken white frost on Jefferson’s portrait and Monticello, paired with deep reflective fields on both sides. From the entire 29,600 copper-nickel proof mintage, only about 75 specimens survive with the CAM designation — a 0.25% survival rate. PR-66 CAM specimens have reached $5,000, roughly 30–50 times what non-cameo counterparts bring in similar grades.

The handful of certified examples that reach auction generate significant collector interest.

Market activity over the past year provides insight into availability patterns for this scarce variety.

 

1942-P Silver Proof Nickel Value

A double first: the first Philadelphia proof with a “P” mintmark, and the only proof struck in the 35% silver wartime alloy that year. It was almost an afterthought — struck after regular proof set production wrapped up and sold only as individual pieces, not in sets.

The 27,600 examples minted show a high overall survival rate of about 80% in standard brilliant proof form. But only a single specimen has reached PR-69. A PR-68+ example realized $12,600 at Heritage Auctions in 2021.

Registry set competition keeps demand strong for top-graded pieces. We think the combination of historical significance, limited top-pop supply, and crossover appeal to silver investors makes this one worth watching.

Past auction data provides valuation context for this issue.

The market activity demonstrates active interest among collectors and institutions alike.

 

1942-P Silver CAM Nickel Value

How rare is this? By 2014, population reports showed just 9 CAM specimens and 1 DCAM. Under 0.2% of the certified silver proof population carries the Cameo designation. That’s a completely different kind of rare.

A PR-67 CAM example realized $14,100 at Heritage Auctions in April 2014 — roughly 140 times the melt value of the silver content. That result still stands as one of the strongest for this variety.

Standard brilliant proofs of this type trade near $100 in mid-grade. But those nine known CAM examples and the single DCAM live in a different universe. Advanced registry collectors chase them and pay extraordinary premiums for documented provenance and verified frosting.

The auction records reveal how condition creates dramatic value differentials within this silver cameo series.

Its rarity is increasingly recognized in the market activity chart below.

 

1942-P Silver DCAM Nickel Value

Don’t buy one of these raw. Ever. DCAM — Deep Cameo — demands outstanding frosted white devices against deeply dark fields, with zero breaks or brilliant patches anywhere on the raised design, on both sides simultaneously. Grading services won’t assign the designation unless everything is exceptional.

The silver alloy creates tricky surface aging that takes specialist knowledge to evaluate. Q. David Bowers’ book A Guide Book of Buffalo and Jefferson Nickels (Whitman Publishing, 2017) covers the technical standards for authenticating wartime proof varieties. With only about 50 DCAM examples estimated to survive from the entire wartime silver proof production, each slabbed specimen is an extreme rarity.

In 2021, a PR-66 DCAM example realized $6,463 at auction. Stick with professionally certified examples that have documented provenance. A raw coin claimed to be DCAM at this level needs third-party verification before you spend a dime.

Historical auction data reveals the scarcity premium attached to properly designated DCAM examples.

Collectors continue pursuing certified specimens with verified Deep Cameo designation.

Also Read: 22 Rare Nickel Errors List with Pictures (By Year)

 

Rare 1942 Nickel Error List

The 1942 series has some great errors to cherrypick. Many stem from wartime production pressures and the fact that mint employees hand-punched every mintmark onto each working die until about 1989. That manual process guaranteed misalignments, repunchings, and positioning mistakes.

1. 1942 DDO FS-101 And FS-102

These are Doubled Die Obverse (DDO) varieties on regular 1942 nickels. A doubled die happens when the die gets multiple impressions during hub transfer with slight misalignment between strikes. The design elements come out doubled or shifted on the finished coin.

The FS-101 shows doubling on Jefferson’s profile and nose, plus the lower-left portion of the “2” in the date, with minor doubling on “GOD.” The FS-102 is a separate variety with its own distinct doubling pattern. You need magnification to tell genuine doubled dies from machine doubling or post-strike damage.

An MS-64 example of the FS-102 reached $275 at auction in 2015. Most mid-grade examples sell for a few hundred dollars. Grab a loupe and start with the date numerals and lettering.

2. 1942-D/D D/Horizontal D

This is the king of 1942 nickel errors — and one of the most famous Jefferson nickel varieties ever found. A Denver Mint worker punched the “D” mintmark sideways onto the die, caught the mistake, then corrected it with a properly oriented vertical “D.” The horizontal “D” stayed visible underneath.

You can see this one with the naked eye. That’s part of its appeal. PCGS CoinFacts describes it as “quite scarce, with possibly less than a few hundred examples known,” and notes that in uncirculated condition it “becomes very scarce with probably less than 100 examples known.”

The all-time record is $32,200 for an MS-64 at Heritage Auctions in January 2006 — and that’s not even close to the top of the grading scale. An MS-66 sold for $15,275 at Heritage Auctions in April 2013. Circulated examples range from $135 to several thousand dollars. Full Steps examples run $3,000 to $7,250.

3. 1942-P/P Silver RPM FS-501

This one’s special for a reason beyond the error itself. It’s a repunching on the very first “P” mintmark ever used on a U.S. coin, on the very first silver war nickel composition. The mint worker applied the “P” punch twice, with the upper impression offset to the left.

Both “P” impressions are right-side-up but offset — a true repunching, not a rotation. The PCGS auction record is $1,020 for an MS-66, sold at Heritage Auctions in April 2018. Look above Monticello with magnification and the doubled impression jumps out.

Go after examples with clear repunching and minimal wear. Circulation wears down the doubled mintmark quickly, so well-preserved pieces with strong eye appeal carry the best premiums.

4. 1942-S/S RPM FS-501

Here’s a cherrypicking tip: look for a diagnostic spike sticking out from the back of Jefferson’s neck on the obverse, pointing toward the space between the “9” and “4” of the date. That’s your marker. On the reverse, the repunched “S” shows doubling above Monticello’s dome.

Later die stages develop a die crack running from Monticello’s base down through the right side of the “N” in CENTS to the “O” of OF — closer to the “E” of MONTICELLO than to the “L.” These diagnostics make authentication pretty straightforward once you know what to look for.

An MS-65 example reached $300 at auction in 2019. This is a solid entry point for collectors wanting a wartime nickel error without breaking the bank. Since it’s a silver war nickel, even beat-up examples hold melt value above face.

5. The “Frith” 1942 Nickel — The Rarest Error of All

This is the holy grail. The Frith nickel is a 1942-S war nickel where the large “S” mintmark was punched to the right of Monticello — where a regular small mintmark would go — instead of above the dome.

At first glance it looks like a regular-type S nickel, but it carries the silver wartime composition. That combination shouldn’t exist. Only one example is known. It hasn’t been officially certified by PCGS or NGC, but experts have estimated its value at approximately $175,000.

If you ever find a 1942-S nickel with the “S” to the right of Monticello rather than above the dome, stop what you’re doing and get expert authentication immediately.

 

Where To Sell Your 1942 Nickel?

Whether you’re looking for quick cash or top dollar from seasoned collectors, knowing the right marketplace makes all the difference.

Check out now: Best Places To Sell Coins Online (Pros & Cons)

 

1942 Nickel Market Trend

*Market Trend Chart showing the number of people paying attention to this coin.

 

FAQ About the 1942 Nickel Value

1. What makes a 1942 Jefferson nickel rare?

Most 1942 nickels are common and cheap. A few things change that fast.

The rarest known specimen is the Frith 1942-S error — a silver war nickel with the “S” punched to the right of Monticello instead of above the dome. One example known, estimated at around $175,000, not certified by PCGS or NGC.

Other rarity drivers: the 1942-D/D D over Horizontal D repunched mintmark error (fewer than 100 known in uncirculated), Full Steps designation on any 1942 variety (roughly 10% of certified coins), and Cameo or Deep Cameo designation on proofs (as few as 9–75 examples known across varieties).

2. Which 1942 Jefferson nickels are the most valuable?

Here are the top auction results:

The 1942-D/D MS-64 Full Steps D over Horizontal D example sold for $32,200 at Heritage Auctions in January 2006 — the all-time record for any 1942 nickel.

The 1942-D/D MS-66 D over Horizontal D sold for $15,275 at Heritage Auctions in April 2013.

The 1942-P Silver PR-67 CAM Type 2 proof brought $14,100 at Heritage Auctions in April 2014.

The 1942-P Silver PR-68+ proof realized $12,600 at Heritage Auctions in 2021.

The 1942 Type 1 PR-68 copper-nickel proof sold for $11,750 at Heritage Auctions in June 2013.

The 1942 No Mint Mark MS-67 (Type 1) realized $11,500 at Bowers & Merena in March 2007.

3. How much is the 1942 No Mint Mark Jefferson nickel worth?

The 1942 no-mintmark copper-nickel nickel (Type 1) typically sells for $3 to $125 depending on condition, ranging from lightly circulated through high-end uncirculated.

Full Steps specimens range from $30 to several hundred dollars in most grades. The finest examples reach into the thousands.

The 1942-P Silver Nickel (Type 2, with the large “P” above Monticello) is a completely different coin. It starts around $1.88 or higher in circulated condition based on silver melt value alone, and Full Steps examples command much larger premiums.

4. How do I tell if my 1942 nickel is silver?

Check the mintmark location on the reverse. A large, bold P or S above Monticello’s dome means silver — always.

A small D to the right of Monticello, or no mintmark at all, means copper-nickel.

Color helps on uncirculated coins: silver war nickels look brighter with a whiter sheen. Over time they develop greenish or rainbow toning like 90% silver coins. When in doubt, the mintmark location is your definitive test.

5. What is the silver content value of a 1942 war nickel?

Each 1942 war nickel contains exactly 0.05626 troy ounces of pure silver. Melt value moves with the spot price.

At $33.50 per ounce, that’s approximately $1.88. Even heavily worn war nickels always beat face value thanks to that silver content. Check current spot prices before buying or selling in bulk.

6. What is Full Steps (FS) and why does it matter for 1942 nickel value?

Full Steps (FS) means all six steps at the base of Monticello on the reverse are sharply and completely defined. It tells you the coin was struck from fresh dies at full pressure with no central softness.

The FS designation can multiply value dramatically. A standard 1942-S MS-67 is worth a few hundred dollars. An MS-68 Full Steps can bring $8,500. NGC separately certifies Five Full Steps (5FS) and Six Full Steps (6FS), with 6FS commanding the highest premiums.

Only about 10% of certified 1942 silver war nickels carry Full Steps. Careful examination pays off.

7. Is the 1942-D nickel a key date?

Yes. Despite nearly 14 million struck, PCGS considers the 1942-D a key date in the Jefferson nickel circulation strike series. Wartime shortages meant these circulated heavily, and uncirculated examples are genuinely scarce.

MS-60 to MS-63 grades command about $50 each — unusual for a common-date type. The condition rarity gets even more pronounced with Full Steps, where the record is $4,320 for an MS-68 FS at a 2021 Stack’s Bowers auction.

If you find a 1942-D that looks uncirculated, get it slabbed.

8. Did Denver ever produce silver war nickels in 1942?

No. Denver made only copper-nickel nickels throughout 1942. No silver transition happened there that year.

Philadelphia struck both types. San Francisco struck only silver. Denver’s silver war nickel production started the following year and ran through 1945 — but 1942-D silver nickels don’t exist as a regular issue.

Any coin claimed to be a “1942-D silver war nickel” with a large D above Monticello deserves extreme skepticism. Send it for professional authentication.

9. What is the “Second War Powers Act” and how does it relate to the 1942 nickel?

Federal legislation passed in 1942 giving the government broad emergency powers during WWII. Title XII, § 642 specifically authorized the Mint to use an alternative alloy for five-cent coins.

The Act initially considered a 50/50 copper-silver mix but gave the Mint room to adjust. The final formula was 56% copper, 35% silver, and 9% manganese — used on all 1942–1945 war nickels.

It also indirectly created the first-ever “P” mintmark, since the Mint needed a way to tell the new silver coins apart from older copper-nickel pieces.

10. Should I clean my 1942 nickel before selling it?

Never. Even gentle wiping leaves microscopic hairlines visible under magnification. Graders spot them instantly.

A cleaned coin gets a “details” grade from PCGS or NGC, which crushes its market value. A 1942-S in MS-65 might be worth $30–$40 problem-free, but only $10–$15 with cleaning damage.

The only safe move is rinsing in distilled water to remove loose surface dirt. No chemicals, no polishing cloths, no abrasives. Ever.