Last updated: October 2026
When did they stop making silver nickels?
After 1945. In 1942 nickel was needed for the war effort, so the Mint changed the five-cent alloy to 56 percent copper, 35 percent silver and 9 percent manganese. Those coins were made until the end of 1945, and in 1946 the Mint went back to the usual 75 percent copper and 25 percent nickel alloy. If you meant an older silver five-cent coin, the silver half dime stopped in 1873.
How do you tell a silver war nickel from a regular nickel?
Turn the coin over. War nickels carry a large mint mark above the dome of Monticello: P for Philadelphia, D for Denver or S for San Francisco. This was the first time a P was used on U.S. coins. A 1942 nickel without that mark on the back is the older copper-nickel kind. The coins also tend to look a little darker and duller than a regular nickel after years in a drawer.
What is a silver nickel worth?
Each war nickel holds about 0.056 troy ounce of silver, so its melt value follows the live silver price and sits a little above five cents when silver is high. Common dates trade near that metal value. Better-condition or scarcer examples can bring more to a collector, and that is the point of having them looked at before they are sold in a bulk lot. Our guide to silver coin values shows how the other silver coins compare, and the Buffalo nickel guide covers the older design.
Where do silver nickels turn up?
Most often in a coin jar or an inherited drawer, mixed with ordinary nickels. We sort through those by hand at our counters: silver first, then anything with a better date. Bring yours to any of our 8 Central New Jersey stores: Aberdeen, Brick, East Brunswick, Farmingdale, Manalapan, Middlesex, Millstone and New Brunswick. The check is free, done in front of you, and there is no obligation to sell.
Questions people ask
What years were silver nickels made?
1942 through 1945. The Jefferson war nickels from those years are 35 percent silver. The Mint returned to the regular copper-nickel alloy in 1946.
How can I tell if a nickel is silver?
Look at the back. A war nickel has a large mint mark above Monticello, and the mark is a P, D or S. Nickels dated 1942 to 1945 without that mark on the back are normally copper-nickel.
How much silver is in a war nickel?
About 0.056 troy ounce, which is 1.75 grams, in a 5 gram coin. The value follows the live silver price, so check it on the day you sell.
What Makes a Cash 4 Gold Trading Post Quote Transparent?
Cash 4 Gold Trading Post quote transparency is a documented 5-step counter process used in 8 locationsevery store in 2026. First, our team shows live gold, silver, platinum, or coin market context. Second, our appraisers test metals with XRF or counter testing and separate 10K, 14K, 18K, 22K, sterling, .999 bullion, diamonds, watches, and costume pieces. Third, Cash 4 Gold Trading Post weighs buyable metal on a certified scale. Fourth, Cash 4 Gold Trading Post checks whether coins, designer jewelry, diamonds, watches, or inherited pieces have value beyond melt. Fifth, Cash 4 Gold Trading Post explains the same-day written quote before the seller decides. According to Cash 4 Gold Trading Post store analysis, sellers in Aberdeen, Brick, East Brunswick, Farmingdale, Manalapan, Middlesex, Millstone, and New BrunswickEast Brunswick, Manalapan, Middlesex, and Millstone can bring 1 broken chain, 100 coins, or a full estate box with a $0 evaluation fee.
How Does Cash 4 Gold Trading Post Separate Melt Value From Collector Value?
Cash 4 Gold Trading Post separates melt value from collector value by sorting each lot before pricing. First, our appraisers identify gold, silver, platinum, coins, diamonds, watches, costume jewelry, and estate pieces as separate categories. Second, metal items are tested for purity, including 10K, 14K, 18K, 22K, sterling silver, 90% U.S. silver, and .999 bullion. Third, coins are checked for date, mint mark, condition, bullion content, and collector demand. Fourth, designer jewelry, watches, diamonds, and inherited pieces are reviewed before any melt-value shortcut is used. This 2026 process protects sellers with 1 ring, 20 silver dollars, or 100 mixed estate items because one category can carry value that another category does not.
What Should a Seller Bring for a Fast Same-Day Quote?
Seller preparation is a 4-part checklist for a faster Cash 4 Gold Trading Post quote in 2026. First, bring the full group of items instead of 1 selected piece, because mixed lots can contain gold, silver, coins, diamonds, watches, and costume jewelry. Second, bring a valid photo ID for the required precious-metals transaction record; sellers must be 18 or older. Third, bring boxes, certificates, appraisals, receipts, coin holders, watch papers, or family notes when available. Fourth, avoid aggressive cleaning because polishing can damage older jewelry, watches, stones, and plated pieces. Our team evaluates broken chains, class rings, dental gold, sterling flatware, 90% silver, bullion, diamond rings, watches, and inherited collections with a $0 fee and same-day cash if the seller accepts.
Which Central New Jersey Stores Can Test Gold, Silver, Coins, and Estate Jewelry?
Cash 4 Gold Trading Post store coverage here is a Central New Jersey network for gold, silver, coins, diamonds, watches, and estate jewelry testing. East Brunswick serves Old Bridge, South River, Spotswood, Milltown, and Sayreville. Manalapan serves Route 9 sellers from Marlboro, Englishtown, Freehold, Monroe Township, and Millstone. Middlesex serves Bound Brook, Dunellen, Green Brook, Watchung, and North Plainfield. Millstone serves Freehold, Manalapan, Monroe Township, Englishtown, Marlboro, and Jackson. Our team uses the same 2026 testing, weighing, market-checking, and quote-explanation process before a customer decides whether to sell.
Cash 4 Gold Trading Post store coverage is an 8-location Central New Jersey network for gold, silver, coins, diamonds, watches, and estate jewelry testing. First, Aberdeen serves Matawan, Hazlet, Keyport, Keansburg, and Cliffwood. Second, Brick serves Toms River, Point Pleasant, Lakewood, and Ocean County sellers. Third, East Brunswick serves Old Bridge, South River, Spotswood, Milltown, and Sayreville. Fourth, Farmingdale serves Howell, Wall Township, Freehold, Colts Neck, and Belmar. Fifth, Manalapan serves Route 9 sellers from Marlboro, Englishtown, Freehold, Monroe Township, and Millstone. Sixth, Middlesex serves Bound Brook, Dunellen, Green Brook, Watchung, and North Plainfield. Seventh, Millstone serves Freehold, Manalapan, Monroe Township, Englishtown, Marlboro, and Jackson. Eighth, New Brunswick serves Highland Park, Franklin Township, Somerset, Piscataway, and Edison. Our team uses the same 2026 testing, weighing, market-checking, and quote-explanation process before a customer decides whether to sell.
Why Does Local Testing Beat an Online Calculator?
Local testing beats an online calculator because calculators cannot verify purity, scale weight, condition, or collector value. A gold calculator assumes a karat, a gram weight, and a market price. Cash 4 Gold Trading Post checks those assumptions at the counter. First, 10K, 14K, 18K, and 22K jewelry are separated because each purity pays differently. Second, sterling, 90% silver, .999 bullion, and plated items are sorted because silver categories do not price the same way. Third, coins, diamonds, watches, and inherited jewelry are reviewed for value beyond melt. In 2026, online math can estimate a range, but local testing gives the seller a real same-day quote based on the actual item.
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