Ken Marich
This story starts in 1942 when WWII was underway. America’s back was against the wall as we faced Nazis in Europe and a militarist Japan in Asia. To fight the war required all of our resources and all our skill. Several of these important resources included nickel and copper. Our country needed nickel for armor and copper for electrical wiring, shell cases and radar equipment. It so happens that Jefferson nickels were made of 75% copper and 25% nickel. In the search for these metals, the government passed the Act of March 27, 1942 to change the composition of the Jefferson nickels to 56% copper, 35% silver and 9% manganese. This new alloy would save millions of pounds of copper and nickel but still would work in vending machines.
Because this switch to the new alloy occurred during the 1942 coin production, the mint had to find some means to distinguish wartime five-cent pieces when the time came to melt them. A simple fix was to place a large mintmark above Monticello’s dome on the reverse of the coin. This was the first time a “P” for Philadelphia was struck on a U.S. coin. Due to the difficulty in securing equipment and metals, the production of wartime five-cent pieces didn’t begin until October 21, 1942. Eventually all three mints, Philadelphia (P), Denver (D) and San Francisco (S) were striking the wartime five-cent pieces. The new silver alloy coins were minted from 1942 to 1945. By the time the war ended, the three mints had produced nearly 900 million of these wartime coins.
As an aside, it should also be mentioned that to help the war effort, in 1943 the mint changed the alloy of the Lincoln penny from 95% copper and 5% zinc and tin to zinc coated steel. Almost 500 million of the wartime pennies were minted in 1943.
The wartime five-cent pieces make a small but important collection in American coinage. It contains only 11 coins and all of them can be purchased for $6 to $8 each in uncirculated condition. Start this collection today and why not give a set to your children and grandchildren; a unique gift and an important part of American history. For more information on the SaddleBrooke Coin Club contact Ken at [email protected].