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Question about '42 nickels

PostPosted: Sat Dec 25, 2010 4:15 pm
by twentybux
On the coinflation website it is noted "** The U.S. Mint issued two compositions of the nickel in 1942. The standard copper-nickel composition used today and the 35% silver composition listed here."

My question, being new to playing with the nickels, is how in the world do you know when you have run across a '42 silver nickel as opposed to the copper-nickel composition? Thanks and Merry Christmas! :D

Re: Question about '42 nickels

PostPosted: Sat Dec 25, 2010 4:35 pm
by 999Ni
if it has a large P or S on the reverse above monticello, its silver ;)

Re: Question about '42 nickels

PostPosted: Sat Dec 25, 2010 6:25 pm
by TheJonasCollegeFund
I just found one the other day...the non-silver. The mintmark will be to the right of the building. All silver war nickels have the great big mintmark top, dead center, above the building....you can't miss it...if you do...it's not silver. The one I found was pretty worn down, I haven't checked it with the loupe yet but I know it's not silver.

Re: Question about '42 nickels

PostPosted: Sat Dec 25, 2010 6:38 pm
by TXBullion
Theres also that one that was made during the war years, (i forgot which year) but it has no mintmark because some guy was counterfeiting them in bulk. I know someone here has found them sorting. I think the bulk of them ended up in a river somewhere

Re: Question about '42 nickels

PostPosted: Sat Dec 25, 2010 6:42 pm
by TheJonasCollegeFund
1944..they are call Hennings..named after the guy who made them. They look really cruddy like pennies do coming out of the ground.

Re: Question about '42 nickels

PostPosted: Sat Dec 25, 2010 8:59 pm
by twentybux
Thanks guys! Found two '42's today in CWR's. One was silver (large P above Monticello) and the other was not. Merry Christmas guys!

Re: Question about '42 nickels

PostPosted: Sat Dec 25, 2010 10:48 pm
by Corsair
twentybux wrote:Thanks guys! Found two '42's today in CWR's. One was silver (large P above Monticello) and the other was not. Merry Christmas guys!


Merry Christmas to [i]you]/i], Twenty; you're the one that found the silver.