1942 Nickel Value: “D”, “S”, “P”, No Mint, History, & Error

The 1942 P Nikle value is one dollar in average condition and the minted state is 70 dollars. The 1942 nickles made during World War II time are high-value are high value. Due to the use of nickles in the military, the composition of nickles in coins made during this time was different than other nickel coins. So let’s get started with 1942 Nickel Value.

1942 Nickel Value:

1942 Nickel Features

Obverse Design

The front side of the 1942 nickel comes with a photo of Thomas Jefferson. It faces left and comes with a hairstyle commonly used in colonial America. The photo also has a thick coat, used to accent the image. The motto In God We Trust is written over the coins and LIBERTY with the minted mark 1942 added on coins

Reverse Design

The back side of the coin has the president’s house, Monticello. With that, the phrase E PLURIBUS UNUM is on this side and the country name ‘United States of America is written there. The denomination FIVE CENTS is also there. On the uncirculated 1942 nickel, there can be easily seen the first step of the Monticello building.

Some details are listed here

  • Total 154,557,200 made by three minting places S, P, and D.
  • The back side design was made by Felix Schlag and the front design was made by Felix Schlag
  • It has a diameter of 21.2 mm and a weight is five grams.
  •  It is a Jefferson Five Cents type of coin and made with use of Copper, Silver Manganese, Nickel

1942 Nickel Value Chart

1942 Nickel Good Very good Fine Very fine XF AU MS 60 MS 65 PR 65
1942 nickel Without the mint mark $0 $0.00 $0.00 $1.00 $2 $3 $5 $17 $105
1942 P nickel $2 $1.91 $2.20 $3.83 $4 $5 $8.52 $24 $124
1942 S nickel $2.00 $2.20 $2.78 $4 $4.43 $5.08 $9.80 $29
1942 D nickel $1 $1.46 $1.75 $3 $5.84 $9.35 $23 $68
1942 D nickel D Over D $40 $52.00 $64 $85.00 $233.00 $572 $1,754 $6,850

1942 Nickel Features

History Of 1942 Jefferson Nickel

The composition of nickel coins changed in mid-1942 year after their creation in 1886. This composition was used until 1945. The change in composition was made due to the USA’s involvement in World War and military instruments that used nickels. A total of 154,557,200 nickel coins were made in 1942 out of them 49,789,000  1942 No Mint mark nickel (pre-war composition). 57,873,000 1942 P nickel (wartime composition), 29,600 1942 No Mint mark proof nickel,  27,600 1942 P proof nickel, 32,900,000  1942 S nickel (wartime composition) 13,938,000 1942 D nickel (pre-war composition).

1942 No Mint Mark Nickel Value

The P mint made 1942 nickels without mint marks before the change in composition. It made about 49,789,000  coins. Value of 1942 No mint mark nickel for different grade is

  • Good condition =0.10 dollar
  • Fine =0.20 dollar
  • XF=0.50 dollar
  • Uncirculated condition is 4.50 to 17 dollar

1942 P Nickel Value

There were 57,873,000 nickels made after starting the war. The coins Type 2 were the first US coins to have a P mint mark on the backside. They have a value of about one dollar for circulated coins and 60 dollars for MS67 grades.

  • Uncirculated condition value =1$
  • MS67= 60$
  • Full steps 20 to 240 dollars
  • MS68= 2000 dollars
  • Type 2 with P mint mark coin sold for 5950 dollars

1942 D Nickel Value

The Denver Mint made nickles before changing the composition till mid-1942. There are no 1942 D nickles made with new compositions. Their larger number makes their value about 0.20 dollars in good condition and in extremely fine condition value is 2.50 dollars. In 1942 D nickles could have a value of $31 to $65.

The features of the 1942 D nickle are

  • It is made with a D mint mark and wartime nickel
  • Total of 13,938,000 coins made
  • Its face value is 0.05 dollars
  • Its edge is smooth and its value is from $1.75 to $100 higher

1942 S Nickel Value

The 1942 S nickle made at San Franscisco has less composition than other mints that are of high value. A total of 32,900,000 1942 S nickels made and they made after the change in composition.  

  • Good condition coins are two dollar
  • Fine grade = two dollar
  • XF condition 3.35 dollar
  • Low uncirculated condition =8.40 dollar
  • High Uncirculated conditon = 28 dollar

1942 Proof Nickel Value

The 1942-proof coins were made for collectors and not used for circulation. There were 29,600  proof coins made before the composition change and after the composition change 27,600. They have a value P mint mark of 228 dollars and without a mint mark value of 107 dollars

1942 Nickel Error List

Frith 1942 Nickel

The 1941 S reverse coin with this error was found in 1961. it is 35 percent silver coins and used in wartime have a value of $175,000.

Re-Punched Mint Mark Error

In this error, there is a re-punched P, D, or S mint mark on the back side of the coins. The commonly found error is 1942 D over horizontal D coins error having double struck mint mark vertically. Due to the rarity of nickels coins with this error are of high value.

  • The coins with this error of regular 192 nickle have a value from 135 to 5570 dolars and sold for 15275 dollars in 2013.
  • 1942 P/P MS 66 Type 2 RPM Nickel sold for 1050 dollars in 2022
  • Regular 1942 Nickel (Full Steps) has a value ranging from 3000 to 7250 dollars and sold for $32,200 in 2006.

Nickel With Silver & Mint Mark Error

This error exists in coins used before the war and their composition is before the war. They are of high value and sold for $9,000!

 Most Valuable Jefferson Nickels

  • 1954 S S over D value is $30 – $100
  •  1943 P 3 over 2 value is  $250 – $750
  • 1997 P Special is $200 – $275
  • 1955-D D over S has a value of $40 – $100
  • 1939 D has a value of $60 – $130

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Faqs

Are 1942 Nickels Rare?

The 1942 nickles have two material compositions. The first one made before the war has fewer values than those made after the war. In a new composition, silver is used and made during war. The value of pre-war 1942 nickels is five to twenty dollars and a nickel made during wartime is a few hundred dollars having the same condition. The MS65 grade nickles are of rare and high value.

How Much Is A 1942 Nickel Worth?

The value is based on condition and mint state, 1942 nickels in circulated condition have a value from 0.10 to 3.50 dollars.  In uncirculated condition, they have a value of $160. Some rare nickles sold for $33,000 or higher.

What Is Special About The 1942 Nickels?

The series of 1942 nickels made during the war was called war nickels and had 35 percent silver. Jefferson nickels are collector lovers due to their good condition. The 1942 silver nickel in the mint state has a value of $20,000 or higher.

How Can You Tell If 1942 Has Silver?

For this check the location of the mint mark on the coins if it is with the Monticello building it was made pre wartime and if the mint mark is over the dome of the building that means the coins are silver nickel. Just 1942 silver nickels come with mint marks over the Monticello building.

What was the composition of the 1942 nickel?

There are two compositions of 1942 nickles. The first one is pre-war which has 75 percent copper and 35 percent nickels. In October 1942 the coin started to be made with the use of copper (56%), silver (35%), and manganese (9%)

What is the error on the 1942 Nickel?

The common types of error in 1942 nickels are D over horizontal D, a double die error, and a mint mark error. These coins defined the value of nickels

What year of nickels are worth keeping?

The nickels from the years 1880, 1919, 1921, 1885, 1936, 1942, 1944, and 1937 are high value and the most valuable nickel is the 1913 Liberty Head V nickel.

What 1942 nickel is worth money?

1942 Nickel Value Year Sold
D/D MS 64 FS D/horizontal D nickel $32,200 2006
P MS 68 nickel Type 2 $5,950 2021
PR 68+ nickel Type 1 $16,450.00 2,023
D/D MS 66 D/horizontal D nickel $15,275.00 2,013
P PR 67 CAM nickel Type 2 $14,100 2,014
PR 68+ nickel Type 2 $12,600 2,021
MS 67 FS nickel Type 1 $11,500 2,007
G 6 nickel Type 1 $9,988 2,016
PR 66 CAM nickel Type 1 $6,613 2,004
P PR 66 DCAM nickel Type 2 $6,463 2,021
P MS 67+ FS nickel Type 1 $5,288 2016
D MS 68 FS nickel $4,320.00 2,021
D MS 67+ nickel $1,800.00 2,019
P/P MS 66 Type 2 RPM nickel $1,050.00 2,022
MS 65 FS DDO nickel $765 2,018

 

What is the value of the 1942 No Mint Mark Jefferson Nickel Worth?

Nickel Composition Mint Mark
(Without Full Steps)
1942 Cupronickel Type 1 Cupronickel No Mint $3 – $125
1942 Silver Type 2 (P Mint) Silver P $1 – $60
(With Full Steps)
1942 Cupronickel Type 1 Cupronickel No Mint $30 – $750
1942 Silver Type 2 (P Mint) Silver P higher

What is the most valuable Jefferson nickel?

Valuable Nickels Price Grade
1954 S $35,250
MS 67 FS nickel Type 1
1949 D/S $32,900
MS 67 nickel Type 1
1964 SMS $32,900.00
SP 68 FS nickel Type 1
1942 D/D D/Horizontal D $32,200.00
MS 64 nickel Type 1
1960 D $32,200.00
MS 64 nickel Type 1
1969 D $33,600
MS 65 FS nickel Type 1
1938 D $33,600.00
MS 68+ FS nickel Type 1

What is a 1942 D nickel worth?

The 1942 circulated condition coin has values of $0.25 and $18.50. 1942 D in uncirculated condition has a value of $1350.

How much is a 1942 Indian head nickel worth?

Condition 1942 nickel value
Good $0
Very good $0.28
Fine $0
Condition 1942 S nickel Value
Good $2
Very good $2.20
Fine $2.78

Are all 1942 nickels 35% silver?

The nickels made from 1942 to 1945 used 35 percent silver composition. 

How much is a 1942 to 1945 nickel worth?

The use of high silver in war nickle coins their face value is about 5 cents. One war nickle has a value from one to 1000 dollars in perfect condition. The low mintage years of silver war nickels were 90,773,000.

 

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