Jefferson war nickel (1942–1945) melt value

Wartime nickels from mid-1942 to 1945 contain 35% silver. Here's what the silver inside is worth at today's live price.

Melt value per coin—Silver at — / troy oz · Loading…
Total melt value—
What a dealer would likely pay—
Show the math
Waiting for the live price…
Open the full calculator

Related coins

All coins →
Washington quarter (1932–1964)90% silver—Roosevelt dime (1946–1964)90% silver—Kennedy half dollar (1964)90% silver—Kennedy half dollar (1965–1970)40% silver—

Common questions

How do I know if my jefferson war nickel is silver?

Look for a large mint mark (P, D or S) above Monticello on the back. That marks the silver wartime nickels.

Why does a dealer pay less than melt value?

Dealers need room to cover refining, shipping and resale costs, so most pay a percentage of melt value for common-date coins.

What is "junk silver"?

Common-date 90% silver coins that are bought and sold for their silver content rather than their collector value.

Is it legal to melt coins?

US rules prohibit melting one-cent and five-cent coins, and that includes these wartime nickels. They are usually sold whole to dealers instead.