1943 Nickel

They are 35% silver, 56% copper, and 9 % manganese

dirt dick said:

They are 35% silver, 56% copper, and 9 % manganese

Click to expand...

+1

and there was a date range for that specific composition, here is a quote from an article -

(quote)
During 1942 through 1945, the U.S. removed nickel from the 5-cent coin in order to help save the metal for the war effort. Therefore, the U.S. used a special metallic alloy in the 5-cent coin during those 4 years.
The 1942 to 1945 five-cent coins are often called war nickels, wartime nickels, or silver nickels

Why? Because 1942 to 1945 5-cent coins contain a combination which includes 56% copper, 35% silver, and 9% manganese. 1942 to 1945 nickels are distinctive from others with a darker gray color than most other circulated nickels and a large mint mark over the dome of Monticello on the reverse (tails side).
(end quote)

above quote from -

https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/pennies_nickels_silver_coins/


Now the 1943 date reminded me that was the year they made steel cents (1943 and 1944) and what would be nice to find is one of the extremely few rare 1943 copper cents that got made.

http://www.coinweek.com/expert-columns/greg-reynolds-classic-rarities/why-are-1943-copper-and-1944-steel-lincoln-cent-errors-so-valuable/

Yes, all 1943-1945 are 35% silver. 1942 had both nickel and silver nickels. The tell is the Mint Mark above the dome.

Cool! If they have a mint mark above the dome, War Nickel! Worth about $1 in silver...worth the sort out, even in pocket change......

Also theres a thing called a "Henning Nickel" that you should definitely be on the lookout for...Some guy actually counterfeited nickels back then!

Silver War Nickels

Here is a forum group link with information on 'War Nickels'.

https://metaldetectingforum.com/group.php?do=discuss&group=&discussionid=8483

GKL said:

+1

Now the 1943 date reminded me that was the year they made steel cents (1943 and 1944) and what would be nice to find is one of the extremely few rare 1943 copper cents that got made.

http://www.coinweek.com/expert-columns/greg-reynolds-classic-rarities/why-are-1943-copper-and-1944-steel-lincoln-cent-errors-so-valuable/

Click to expand...

Thanks for the information. I had no idea that 1943-44 copper cents existed. That's an interesting article.