1942 (P) Jefferson Nickel - Wartime Silver Alloy - Repunched Mintmark RPM-021

Description

Cataloged as RPM-021 in the VarietyVista system with identifiers UVC-031 and DMR-026, this 1942 Philadelphia Mint Jefferson Nickel belongs to the Wartime Silver Alloy series and exhibits a P/P West repunched mintmark. The wartime Jefferson Nickels (1942-1945) were struck in a special 56% copper, 35% silver, and 9% manganese alloy to conserve nickel for military use, and they carry a distinctive large mintmark above Monticello on the reverse rather than the standard small mintmark to the right. Three die stages are documented: Stage A shows early die state obverse and reverse; Stage B at mid-die state exhibits a die crack from the right dome running south to the steps between pillars three and four; Stage C at late die state shows the crack extending through the E of MONTICELLO to the N of CENTS to the O of OF. The progressive die crack pattern across stages provides collectors with clear die state progression markers. The P mintmark on wartime nickels is historically significant — it was the first time Philadelphia used a mintmark on any denomination, breaking a tradition dating to the Mint's founding.

Die Markers

• UVC-031
• DMR-026
• Stage A:
• Reverse and Obverse are EDS
• Stage B:
• Die crack from Right dome South to steps between pillar # 3 and # 4 – MDS
• Obverse is MDS
• Stage C:
• Die crack extends through E of MONTICELLO to N of CENTS to O of OF – LDS
• Obverse is LDS

External References