Expert: Dan Moore - 1/14/2012

Question
Dear Sir, I found a 1942 Nickel in G-4 condition.It has no mint mark on the Reverse above the DOME.According Wikipidia and other sources online,they all say that due to the silver content only this time a P,D or a S Mint Mark was used on the Reverse.This to distinguish the Silver ones from the Ordinary ones and perhaps recover them later.Are these records correct,that all nickels in the year 1942-1945 have Mint Marks above the DOME?

Did I find something valuable?
I even read the story about Mr.Henning who made counterfit types for the years 1939,1946 and I believe 50's and one other unidentified date.
There are storys about some guy found a usual 5 cents with a S mint mark placed else where on the side of the DOME in 1961.Only ONE found!
It seems to be a bit of DDO on the Obverse but its very hard to tell due to its age and wear.The 2 in 1942 showing something sticking out underneath it.Numbers are Flatish.The nose seem to be showing something sticking after it, too.
Should I have it weighed,it should weigh 5.00 grams correct?
Look foward to your advise,help...God Bless.

Beck,
Kissimmee FL

Answer
Hi Beck,

While they did make the silver nickels in 1942 with either a P or S above the dome, they did also make 50 million 1942 plain and 14 million 1942-D NON-SILVER nickels that year.  The mint did not switch to the silver alloy until October of 1942 -- they actually made almost as many non-silver nickels in Philadelphia that year as they made silver ones.  Considered common, in the condition described it has no collector value.

All the other years, 1943-1945, are silver composition only.

Mintages of these nickels can be found here :

http://www.coinfacts.com/nickels/jefferson_nickels/jefferson_nickels.html

I hope this helps,

Dan