This listing is for 1945 Jefferson War Nickels; Choose by Date, Mint Mark, and Grade. 35% Silver Nickels. Some additional history below.
With the entry of the United States into World War II, nickel became a critical war material, and the Mint sought to reduce its use of the metal. On March 27, 1942, Congress authorized a nickel made of 50% copper and 50% silver, but gave the Mint the authority to vary the proportions, or add other metals, in the public interest. The Mint's greatest concern was in finding an alloy which would use no nickel, but still satisfy counterfeit detectors in vending machines. An alloy of 56% copper, 35% silver and 9% manganese proved suitable, and this alloy began to be coined into nickels from October 1942. In the hopes of making them easy to sort out and withdraw after the war, the Mint struck all "war nickels" with a large mint mark appearing above Monticello.
First struck in 1913, the Buffalo nickel had long been difficult to coin, and after it completed the 25-year term during which it could only be replaced by Congress, the Mint moved quickly to replace it with a new design. The Mint conducted a design competition, in early 1938, requiring that Jefferson be depicted on the obverse and Jefferson's house Monticello on the reverse. Schlag won the competition, but was required to submit an entirely new reverse and make other changes before the new piece went into production in October 1938.
1945 Silver War Nickels - PDS, Choose by Mint Mark - 35% Silver War Nickels 1945 P 1945 D 1945 S Jefferson War Nickel Silver WWII Era Nickel
1944 S Jefferson, 1944 D Jefferson, 1944 P Jefferson, 1943 P Jefferson, 1943 D Jefferson, 1942 S Jefferson,