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 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 | $6,850 |
History Of 1942 Jefferson Nickel
The composition of nickel coins changed in mid-1942 year after their creation in 1886. This composition was used until 1945. The change in composition was made due to the USA’s involvement in World War and military instruments that used nickels. A total of 154,557,200 nickel coins were made in 1942 out of them 49,789,000 1942 No Mint mark nickel (pre-war composition). 57,873,000 1942 P nickel (wartime composition), 29,600 1942 No Mint mark proof nickel, 27,600 1942 P proof nickel, 32,900,000 1942 S nickel (wartime composition) 13,938,000 1942 D nickel (pre-war composition).
1942 No Mint Mark Nickel Value
The P mint made 1942 nickels without mint marks before the change in composition. It made about 49,789,000 coins. Value of 1942 No mint mark nickel for different grade is
- Good condition =0.10 dollar
- Fine =0.20 dollar
- XF=0.50 dollar
- Uncirculated condition is 4.50 to 17 dollar
1942 P Nickel Value
There were 57,873,000 nickels made after starting the war. The coins Type 2 were the first US coins to have a P mint mark on the backside. They have a value of about one dollar for circulated coins and 60 dollars for MS67 grades.
- Uncirculated condition value =1$
- 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
Read Also:
- 1954 Nickels Worth $30,000? (D”, “S”, No Mint Mark, History & Error)
- What is 2004 nickel value? P”, “D”, “S”, No Mint, Error & History
- What is 1963 nickel value? (P”, “D”, No Mint Mark, Error List & History)
- What is the value of a 1948 nickel? (Errors, “D”, “S” & No Mint Marks)
- Have A 1941 Nickel? See How Much It’s Worth (Some 1941 Nickels Are Worth More Than $10,000!)
- 1964 Nickel Value: (Price Chart, Error List, History & Varieties)
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.