$55.87 / troy oz
Spot as of Oct 22, 2026 3:50 AM · $1 move in silver changes this coin by $0.0563
What this coin is
The Jefferson war nickel (1942–1945) is 35% silver, 56% copper, 9% manganese. 5.00 g, 0.05626 oz ASW. The only US nickel with silver.
What is written on the coin
MONTICELLO, FIVE CENTS, and a large P, D, or S mintmark above the dome on the reverse. 1942 nickels without that large reverse mintmark are not silver.
Metal content (the melt spec)
Mint specification: 5.0000 grams at 35% fine, which is 0.05626 troy oz of pure silver (ASW). Formula: grams × fineness ÷ 31.1034768. Date and mintmark do not change that number. Melt today is $3.14 per coin at $55.87 silver.
Mintage
High wartime mintages. Usually near melt. Full steps and gem examples can bring more.
A little history
Nickel metal was diverted in World War II. Silver-manganese alloy 1942–1945 only.
How to tell you have this type
Large mintmark over Monticello. That is the silver flag. Ordinary Jefferson nickels are copper-nickel.
Date and mintmark do not change the metal on this page. Collector value is a different market — a shop looks at date, mint, and condition. Melt is the floor.
Year that changed the metal: 1943 nickel — war nickel silver
Shop-counter notes (not a second melt formula): Jefferson and war nickels.
Melt / coin$3.14
Silver spot$55.87
ASW0.05626 oz
Gross weight5.000 g
Fineness35%
Gross troy oz0.1608
Face$0.05
Coins / oz17.77
If you want to sell Find a shop near you
A local coin shop can make an offer. Melt is the metal floor, not a quote. Many shops buy generic gold and silver as a percent of that number.
Before you sell
Usually near melt
Weigh or count by face for a bag. Pull anything that looks proof, uncirculated, or an odd date before selling the rest as 90% silver.
Melt is the metal floor. A shop looks at date, mint, and condition. We list 437 types and ~11,000 melt values.
Quick amounts
Using $55.87 silver.
| You have | Pure oz | Melt |
|---|---|---|
| 1 coin | 0.0563 | $3.14 |
| 10 coins | 0.5626 | $31.43 |
| 20 coins | 1.1252 | $62.86 |
Silver chart
Where silver has been.
Melt alert
Email me if this coin’s melt crosses a number I set.
Related types
Same metal, nearby coins.
Seated Liberty half dime
1837–1873 · 0.03877 ASW
$2.17
Flowing Hair half dime
1794–1795 · 0.03845 ASW
$2.15
Draped Bust half dime
1796–1805 · 0.03873 ASW
$2.16
Capped Bust half dime
1829–1837 · 0.03873 ASW
$2.16
Gettysburg half
1936 · 0.36170 ASW
$20.21
Antietam half
1937 · 0.36170 ASW
$20.21
US commemorative silver dollar (modern)
1983–date · 0.77345 ASW
$43.21
Civil War commemorative dollar
1995 · 0.77345 ASW
$43.21
Questions people ask
How much pure silver is in a Jefferson war nickel?
Mint spec is 5.000 grams at 35% fine, which is 0.05626 troy oz of pure silver (ASW). Date and mintmark do not change that.
What is a Jefferson war nickel worth in melt today?
At silver spot of $55.87 per troy oz, one coin’s melt is $3.14. Multiply by how many you have. A rare date or a nice grade can sell for more than melt.
How many Jefferson war nickels equal one ounce of silver?
About 17.77 coins equal 1.00 troy oz of pure silver at mint weight.
Does mintmark change the melt value?
No. A Philadelphia, Denver, or San Francisco coin of this type has the same metal. Melt is type × composition, not date or mintmark.
Is melt what I should sell this Jefferson war nickel for?
Common circulated pieces of this type are typically bought and sold close to silver. Exceptional condition or a scarce date can still bring more. Weigh or count by face for a bag. Pull anything that looks proof, uncirculated, or an odd date before selling the rest as 90% silver.
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