Silver War Nickel · Melt value · Silver spot
Live data by APIVerveSilver War Nickel Price
Typical retail — (+5–30% typical premium)
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per coin (melt)A Silver War Nickel, minted from mid-1942 to 1945, holds 0.0563 troy ounces of pure silver. The coin is 35% silver, 56% copper and 9% manganese, weighing 5 grams, and its melt value is that content times the live silver spot price.
How the melt value is worked out
Melt value counts only the pure silver: 0.0563 troy oz × spot. The alloy metal is ignored, and the figure assumes a coin at full weight; worn coins can hold slightly less.
Spotting a war nickel
Wartime Jefferson nickels carry a large mint mark (P, D or S) above Monticello on the reverse. Nickels without it, including early 1942 strikes, contain no silver.
Frequently asked questions
How much silver is in a Silver War Nickel?
0.0563 troy ounces of pure silver. The coin is 35% silver, 56% copper and 9% manganese, weighing 5 grams.
Can a Silver War Nickel be worth more than melt?
Yes. Melt value is the floor for a common, circulated coin. Scarce dates, mint marks and coins in high grades sell to collectors for well above their metal, so check a coin's date and condition before selling it for scrap.
What premium does a Silver War Nickel usually carry?
Historically a Silver War Nickel tends to trade about 5–30% over its melt value at retail, though premiums spike when demand is high and compress when it's quiet. Treat the range here as a guide, not a quote.
Is the melt value what I'll pay or get for a Silver War Nickel?
No. Melt value is the intrinsic worth of the metal — live spot price times the coin's pure content. A dealer sells above melt (their premium) and buys slightly below it (their spread). The melt figure here is the honest baseline; actual retail and buy-back prices move with demand.