Price Guide for 1942 Nickel Variants

This guide presents price ranges for variants from three sources: eBay sales, third-party auctions, and PCGS guides. Values are shown for various conditions, allowing collectors to compare across different market segments. Price estimates may vary between sources, especially for rarer variants.

1942 Nickel Type 1 (Regular Strike)
  • 3rd Party Price
    Circulated: $20.00 – $9,987.50
    Uncirculated: $7.00 – $1,920.00
  • eBay
    Circulated: $3.25 – $34.33
    Uncirculated: $4.95 – $1,017.50
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Circulated: $1.00 – $6.00
    Uncirculated: $8.00 – $2,500.00
1942-P Nickel Type 2 (Regular Strike)
  • 3rd Party Price
    Circulated: $8.00 – $424.00
    Uncirculated: $10.00 – $4,112.50
  • eBay
    Circulated: $2.25 – $321.20
    Uncirculated: $0.99 – $5,950.00
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Circulated: $1.00 – $3.00
    Uncirculated: $6.00 – $3,600.00
1942-D/D Nickel D/Horizontal D (Regular Strike)
  • 3rd Party Price
    Circulated: $44.00 – $1,645.00
    Uncirculated: $112.00 – $15,275.00
  • eBay
    Circulated: $19.99 – $700.00
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Circulated: $20.00 – $900.00
    Uncirculated: $1,350.00 – $8,000.00
1942-S Nickel (Regular Strike)
  • 3rd Party Price
    Uncirculated: $10.00 – $1,495.00
  • eBay
    Circulated: $6.66 – $50.00
    Uncirculated: $2.25 – $2,625.00
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Circulated: $3.00 – $6.00
    Uncirculated: $7.00 – $5,000.00
1942-P Nickel Type 2 (Proof)
  • 3rd Party Price
    Circulated: $110.00 – $340.00
    Uncirculated: $27.03 – $12,600.00
  • eBay
    Circulated: $166.00
    Uncirculated: $9.99 – $1,250.00
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Circulated: $28.00 – $40.00
    Uncirculated: $55.00 – $32,500.00
1942-D Nickel (Regular Strike)
  • 3rd Party Price
    Circulated: $11.00 – $727.00
    Uncirculated: $14.00 – $960.00
  • eBay
    Circulated: $5.50 – $24.95
    Uncirculated: $7.00 – $1,800.00
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Circulated: $1.00 – $18.00
    Uncirculated: $22.00 – $250.00
1942-S Nickel, FS (Regular Strike)
  • 3rd Party Price
    Uncirculated: $15.00 – $4,888.00
  • eBay
    Uncirculated: $16.90 – $650.00
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Uncirculated: $8.00 – $8,500.00
1942-D/D Nickel D/Horizontal D, FS (Regular Strike)
  • 3rd Party Price
    Uncirculated: $3,055.00 – $32,200.00
  • eBay
    Circulated: $70.00 – $129.00
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Uncirculated: $1,500.00 – $14,500.00
1942 Nickel Type 1 (Proof)
  • 3rd Party Price
    Circulated: $25.00
    Uncirculated: $1.00 – $16,450.00
  • eBay
    Circulated: $48.00 – $74.00
    Uncirculated: $0.99 – $2,199.00
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Circulated: $12.00 – $20.00
    Uncirculated: $25.00 – $15,500.00
1942 Nickel Type 1, FS (Regular Strike)
  • 3rd Party Price
    Uncirculated: $9.00 – $11,500.00
  • eBay
    Circulated: $36.00 – $169.95
    Uncirculated: $12.00 – $642.16
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Uncirculated: $12.00 – $8,500.00
1942 Nickel DDO FS-101 (025) (Regular Strike)
  • 3rd Party Price
    Uncirculated: $235.00 – $763.75
  • eBay
    Uncirculated: $320.00 – $415.99
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Circulated: $20.00 – $85.00
    Uncirculated: $100.00 – $1,000.00
1942 Nickel DDO FS-101 (025), FS (Regular Strike)
  • 3rd Party Price
    Uncirculated: $493.50 – $646.25
  • eBay
    Uncirculated: $156.30 – $765.00
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Uncirculated: $115.00 – $2,500.00
1942 Nickel DDO FS-102 (Regular Strike)
  • 3rd Party Price
    Uncirculated: $90.20 – $199.75
  • eBay
    Uncirculated: $123.00 – $275.00
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Circulated: $5.00 – $58.00
    Uncirculated: $80.00 – $500.00
1942 Nickel DDO FS-102 (026), FS (Regular Strike)
  • eBay
    Uncirculated: $200.00
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Uncirculated: $85.00 – $850.00
1942-D Nickel, FS (Regular Strike)
  • 3rd Party Price
    Circulated: $600.00
    Uncirculated: $25.00 – $4,320.00
  • eBay
    Circulated: $29.00 – $1,000.00
    Uncirculated: $16.37 – $1,460.00
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Uncirculated: $24.00 – $6,250.00
1942-D/D Nickel D/ Horizontal D FS-501 (FS-027) (Regular Strike)
  • 3rd Party Price
    Circulated: $74.00 – $270.25
    Uncirculated: $1,006.00 – $5,760.00
  • eBay
    Circulated: $36.00 – $595.00
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Circulated: $15.00 – $800.00
    Uncirculated: $1,350.00 – $8,000.00
1942-D/D Nickel D/ Horizontal D FS-501 (FS-027), FS (Regular Strike)
  • 3rd Party Price
    Uncirculated: $1,140.00 – $30,550.00
  • eBay
    Circulated: $29.00 – $176.67
    Uncirculated: $3,300.00
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Uncirculated: $4,000.00 – $11,000.00
1942-P Nickel Type 2, FS (Regular Strike)
  • 3rd Party Price
    Uncirculated: $13.00 – $5,287.50
  • eBay
    Uncirculated: $15.05 – $1,600.00
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Uncirculated: $8.00 – $1,650.00
1942-P/P Nickel Type 2 RPM FS-501 (Regular Strike)
  • 3rd Party Price
    Uncirculated: $1,020.00
  • eBay
    Uncirculated: $66.00 – $1,050.00
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Uncirculated: $75.00 – $1,000.00
1942-S Nickel, PL (Regular Strike)
  • 3rd Party Price
    Uncirculated: $228.00
  • eBay
    Uncirculated: $35.00 – $211.09
1942-S/S Nickel RPM FS-501 (Regular Strike)
  • 3rd Party Price
    Uncirculated: $132.00
  • eBay
    Uncirculated: $300.00
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Circulated: $10.00 – $60.00
    Uncirculated: $70.00 – $800.00
1942-S/S Nickel RPM FS-501, FS (Regular Strike)
  • eBay
    Uncirculated: $2,000.00
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Uncirculated: $1,250.00
1942 Nickel Type 1, CAM (Proof)
  • 3rd Party Price
    Uncirculated: $1,527.50 – $6,613.00
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Uncirculated: $250.00 – $5,000.00
1942-P Nickel Type 2, CAM (Proof)
  • 3rd Party Price
    Uncirculated: $316.00 – $14,100.00
  • eBay
    Uncirculated: $2,250.00 – $2,499.95
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Uncirculated: $90.00 – $25,000.00
1942-P Nickel Type 2, DCAM (Proof)
  • 3rd Party Price
    Uncirculated: $5,405.00 – $6,462.50
  • PCGS Price Guide
    Uncirculated: $100.00 – $6,500.00

Design and Specifications of the 1942 Nickel

The 1942 Jefferson Nickel marks a significant change in U.S. coinage due to World War II. To conserve nickel for the war effort, the composition was altered to include silver, creating the ‘wartime nickel’. This change lasted from late 1942 through 1945.

The mint mark was moved to a prominent position above Monticello on the reverse, making it the first U.S. circulating coin to feature the P mint mark for Philadelphia.

Weight 5.0 grams
Diameter 21.2 mm
Mint Marks P, D, S (above Monticello on reverse)
Composition 56% copper, 35% silver, 9% manganese (wartime composition)
Obverse Design Portrait of Thomas Jefferson facing left, designed by Felix Schlag
Reverse Design Monticello, Jefferson's home, designed by Felix Schlag

Rarity Factors and Value Drivers

The condition of 1942 nickels significantly impacts their value, especially for the silver wartime composition. Coins in uncirculated condition (MS60 and above) command premium prices, with those in MS65 or higher being particularly valuable.

Full Steps examples, where the steps of Monticello are clearly defined, are highly sought after and can command substantial premiums.

Philadelphia, P

Mintage: 57,873,000

Rarity Scale: Common

Circulation Status: Widely Circulated

Preservation Rarity: Scarce in grades MS65 and above

Varieties Errors: Regular and wartime silver alloy varieties

Market Demand: Moderate, higher for silver composition

Denver, D

Mintage: 13,938,000

Rarity Scale: Common

Circulation Status: Widely Circulated

Preservation Rarity: Scarce in grades MS65 and above

Varieties Errors: Regular and wartime silver alloy varieties

Market Demand: Moderate, higher for silver composition

San Francisco, S

Mintage: 32,900,000

Rarity Scale: Common

Circulation Status: Widely Circulated

Preservation Rarity: Scarce in grades MS65 and above

Varieties Errors: Regular and wartime silver alloy varieties

Market Demand: Moderate, higher for silver composition

Composition variety is a crucial factor for 1942 nickels. Coins minted in the latter part of the year using the silver alloy are more valuable due to their silver content and historical significance.

Strike quality is important, with well-struck coins showing sharp details on Jefferson’s hair and Monticello’s columns being more desirable. Luster plays a significant role in determining value for uncirculated specimens, with coins exhibiting strong, original mint luster commanding higher prices.

For circulated coins, even wear and lack of major marks or damage are important for maintaining value. The presence of the mint mark above Monticello is crucial for authenticating the wartime composition.

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