1942

The 1942 Philadelphia Jefferson nickel was produced in two distinct compositions during the year, reflecting the wartime metal rationing that prompted a fundamental change in the coin's alloy. The first portion of 1942 production used the standard 75% copper, 25% nickel composition that had been standard since 1938. This coin, listed as simply "1942," was struck before the October 1942 transition to the Wartime Silver alloy. Philadelphia delivered 49,818,600 coins with the original copper-nickel composition.

The motivation for the composition change was war demand for nickel. The strategic metal was essential for armor plating, aircraft engines, and other military applications, and the War Production Board determined that removing nickel from the five-cent coin would free up critical supplies for the war effort. Congress authorized a new composition of 56% copper, 35% silver, and 9% manganese, which could be struck on existing presses without requiring new dies and maintained similar electrical properties for vending machines and coin-operated devices.

The standard 1942 copper-nickel coin is common in all grades and readily available in Mint State. Collectors building complete Jefferson nickel sets acquire the 1942 without difficulty, though the coin is distinct from the 1942-P Wartime Silver that was produced later in the year. The two coins together document the wartime composition transition and are both required for comprehensive 1942 representation.