1942-P Silver Wartime Jefferson Nickel Value: What Is It Worth in 2026?
Every war nickel is 35% silver, so even a worn one is worth several dollars. Sell it individually on eBay, or bundle silver nickels together — dealers buy them by the roll.
Value by condition
| Good (G-4, heavily worn) | $4.16 |
| Very Good (VG-8) | $4.48 |
| Fine (F-12) | $4.80 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | $6.54 |
| Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $7.18 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50) | $7.88 |
| Mint State (MS-63, uncirculated) | $28 |
In late 1942 nickel was needed for the war effort, so the alloy changed to 35% silver. These 'war nickels' carry a LARGE mint mark above Monticello's dome — the first time Philadelphia ever used a P. The big letter above the building is the whole identification.
See the full page for this coin (mintage, how to identify it, where to sell)This is a silver nickel — here is how to be sure
From late 1942 through 1945 the Mint removed nickel metal from the five-cent piece (it was needed for the war effort) and switched to an alloy of 35% silver, 56% copper, and 9% manganese. Every one of these war nickels is worth several dollars on its silver content alone — roughly 0.056 troy ounces of silver per coin.
The identification takes five seconds: flip the coin over and look at Monticello. A war nickel has a large mint mark above the dome — a big P, D, or S. Regular nickels of other years have a small letter to the right of the building, or none at all. See the full list on the silver nickel years guide.
Two kinds of 1942-P nickel: how to tell them apart in five seconds
Philadelphia made both kinds of nickel in 1942. The early ones are ordinary copper-nickel with no mint mark anywhere. The later ones are 35% silver — and they carry a LARGE letter P above the dome of Monticello on the back, the first time Philadelphia ever marked its coins. Flip the coin over and look at the building: big P above the dome means silver.
That difference matters. The copper-nickel 1942 is a common coin worth about a quarter in worn condition. The silver 1942-P contains 35% silver and starts at several dollars no matter how worn it is. If yours has the big P, it belongs on the silver page with the other war nickels.
How to confirm it's genuine
- The mint mark is the LARGE letter above Monticello's dome on the reverse — that big letter is exactly what makes it a silver war nickel.
- Never clean the coin: cleaning destroys the original surface and can cut the value in half.
- For any coin worth more than $200, PCGS/NGC grading fees (~$20–50) are money well spent.
Where to sell this coin
- eBay works best in the $1.00–$200 range. Take clear photos of both sides in natural light, and put the year, mint mark, and approximate grade in the title.
- A local coin dealer is the fastest way to cash out, but expect 60–70% of guide prices. Best for selling common dates in bulk.
- Silver war nickels also sell by silver content: dealers quote them as a multiple of face value or by the roll, pegged to the silver spot price.