Nickels in the United States were only made with silver for a short period during World War II: from late 1942 through 1945.

Quick Scoop: When Were Nickels Silver?

If you’ve heard of “silver nickels” or “war nickels,” you’re talking about Jefferson nickels minted during World War II.

Key timeline:

  • Before 1942:
    • Standard composition was 75% copper and 25% nickel (no silver).
  • Mid‑1942 to 1945 (the silver years):
    • Congress approved a composition change on March 27, 1942, due to wartime nickel shortages.
* The Mint settled on an alloy of 35% silver, 56% copper, and 9% manganese.

* Silver nickels were produced from October 1942 through the end of 1945.
  • 1946 onward:
    • The Mint went back to the regular 75% copper / 25% nickel composition, so post‑1945 nickels are not silver.

How to Think of It (Mini Story)

During World War II, nickel metal itself became strategically important for armor and other military uses. To free up that nickel for the war effort, the U.S. Mint temporarily removed most of the nickel from the five‑cent coin and replaced part of the metal with silver and manganese.

So if you imagine a pile of nickels from the 1940s, only the ones minted from late 1942 through 1945 are the “war nickels” with silver in them; everything before and after is the standard non‑silver mix.

Quick Identifiers (If You’re Checking Coins)

  • Years to look for: 1942 (late), 1943, 1944, 1945.
  • They are often called “war nickels” or “silver war nickels” in collecting guides and dealer listings.

Simple HTML Table of Silver Years

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Years Silver in Nickels? Approximate Composition
Before 1942 No 75% copper, 25% nickel
Late 1942–1945 Yes (War Nickels) 56% copper, 35% silver, 9% manganese
1946 and later No Back to 75% copper, 25% nickel
**TL;DR:** If someone asks “when were nickels silver,” they’re talking about U.S. Jefferson nickels minted from late 1942 through 1945, the World War II “war nickels” that contain about 35% silver.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.