1942-P Silver Jefferson Nickel Value

Mintage: 57,873,000
Finest Known: MS68+ (NGC) MS68 (PCGS)
Auction Record: $3,878 (MS68)

The 1942-P Type 2 silver Jefferson nickel did not enter production until late in the year. This was the first 35% silver “war nickel” produced at the main US Mint in Philadelphia, and the first coin to have a P mintmark. Until the 1942-P Jefferson nickel, mintmarks were only used for branch Mints.

It was planned to remove the silver nickels from circulation after the war, and some way was needed to easily tell them apart. The solution was to place an oversized mintmark on the reverse of the coin, above the dome of Monticello.

It was decided after the war that it would be too much trouble to find and remove the silver “war nickels” from circulation. They were still common in change until the 1960s, when rising silver prices led the public to hoard all silver coins.

1942-P wartime Jefferson nickel. Image: USA CoinBook

The Value of A 1942-P Silver Jefferson Nickel

The novelty and silver content, as much as the first appearance of P mintmark, led large numbers of Type 2 1942-P Jefferson nickels being hoarded by the roll. This means that even high Mint State coins are plentiful.

Most strikes are sharp, thanks to the softer silver alloy. The proportion of Full Steps examples are about average.

1942-P Silver Jefferson Nickel Price Guide

1942-P Full Steps Silver Jefferson Nickel Price Guide

Finest Known: MS67 FS (NGC) MS68 FS (PCGS)
Auction Record: $5,288 (MS67+ FS)

The information on this page does not constitute an offer to buy or sell the coin(s) referred to. Proof and prooflike examples of this issue may have greater or lesser "finest known" and different record auction prices.