Silver "War" nickels were manufactured from 56% copper, 35% silver and 9% manganese. This allowed the saved nickel metal to be shifted to industrial production of miltary supplies during World War II. In 1944, approximately 119 million coins were produced at the Philadelphia Mint, 32 million coins were produced at the Denver Mint and about 22 million coins were made at the San Francisco Mint.
Wartime events of 1944 include: Allied victory in Battle of Monte Cassino (May 18), Allied armies capture Rome (June 5), Allied armies land in Normandy France (June 6), Claus von Stauffenberg attempts to kill Hitler in his "Wolf's Lair" (July 20), Allies liberate Paris (August 24), Battle of the Bulge (December 16 - 26).
The silver content of these coins means they have greater inherent value than traditionally produced nickels, but they can still be easily added to your coin collection, either by finding them in pocket change (a rare but not impossible occurrence), by trading with other collectors or by obtaining low price specimens from dealers.
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Bust of Thomas Jefferson on obverse
view of the 1944 Silver Nickel.
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