5 Cents "Jefferson Wartime Nickel" 1st portrait

Features

Issuer	United States
Period	Federal Republic (1776-Date)
Type	Standard Circulation Coin
Years	1942-1945
Value	5 Cents (0.05 USD)
Currency	Dollar (1785-Date)
Composition	Billon (.350 Silver) (56% Copper, 35% Silver, 9% Manganese)
Weight	5 g
Diameter	21.2 mm
Thickness	1.95 mm
Shape	Round
Technique	Milled
Orientation	Coin Alignment ↑↓
Number	N# 45
References	KM# 192a,  Schon# 196a

Obverse

The portrait of Thomas Jefferson, the 3rd President of the United States from between 1801 to 1809, facing left surrounded with the lettering "LIBERTY" and the motto "IN GOD WE TRUST"

Script: Latin 

Lettering: 
IN GOD WE TRUST
LIBERTY * 1943
FS 

Engraver: F. Schlag 

Reverse

A representation of Monticello, President Thomas Jefferson's Virginia home, accompanied by the legend "MONTICELLO" and surrounded with the face value in full, the motto "E PLURIBUS UNUM" and the lettering "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA".

Script: Latin 

Lettering: 
E PLURIBUS UNUM
P
MONTICELLO
FIVE CENTS
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 

Translation: 
Out of Many, One
p
Monticello
Five Cents
United States of America 

Engraver: F. Schlag 

Edge

Smooth

Mints

Comments

The high demand for nickel during World War II resulted in the temporary change of the nickel (5 cent coin).

There are many varieties for the 1943 P Double Die Obverse, including a 1943/1942 overdate.

1943P

1945P


These coins can be differentiated between other coins from 1942 that were made of copper-nickel by seeing where the mintmark is located. If there is a mintmark on the reverse above Monticello, it is a war nickel (this coin). If it is not, then it belongs to the transition year (KM#192)

Genuine coins of certain dates struck in nickel by error are known to exist.