Hunting Silver War Nickels: My 6-Month Journey Collecting America’s Most Overlooked Coins (And Why They’re Disappearing Fast)

I’ve Been Searching Casino Floors for Months – Here’s My Honest Experience With War Nickels

Six months ago, I stumbled into what became an unexpected treasure hunt. Let me tell you what I wish someone had told me before I spent countless hours sorting through nickels. It started when a dark, oddly heavy coin landed in my palm at a Vegas casino cage. That mysterious 1945-P nickel with the oversized mint mark launched me down a rabbit hole of silver hunting – through dusty estate sales, endless coin rolls, and conversations with refinery workers that changed how I see pocket change forever.

Discovering America’s Most Overlooked Silver Coins

The Casino Find That Started It All

Picture this: You’re tired, it’s 2 AM, and the slot machine cashier hands you a stack of worn coins. One nickel stands out – blackened, almost greasy feeling. My thumb automatically rubbed the date: 1945. The mint mark loomed large above Monticello. I’ll admit, I nearly tossed it back before realizing I was holding my first 35% silver war nickel.

Understanding the Wartime Nickel

Here’s what makes these coins special: During WWII, we needed nickel for tanks, not coins. From 1942-1945, the Mint used a silver-manganese blend instead. What collectors often miss:

• Each contains nearly a dime’s weight in silver (0.05626 troy oz)
• That large mint mark? Only wartime nickels have it positioned above Monticello
• San Francisco minted the rarest ones (look for the ‘S’ mark)

Yet most people – even coin enthusiasts – walk right past these silver treasures in their change.

The Reality of Hunting Silver War Nickels

Where to Find Them (And Where Not To)

After searching $10,000+ in nickels, here’s what actually works:

• Casino Cashouts: Older coins cycle through slot machines for years
• Small Credit Unions: Their coin counters don’t filter silver like big banks
• Estate Sales: I found 14 war nickels in a $5 Mason jar last month

Skip commercial banks – their machines reject silver coins. Focus where coins bypass modern processing.

The Dirty Truth About Handling War Nickels

No one warned me about this:

‘You’ll smell like a struck match after handling them. The manganese creates this sulfur-like odor that lingers on your fingers.’

I now keep microfiber cloths in my car to wipe coins immediately. The black residue stains everything.

The Shocking Market Reality

Why Dealers Hate Silver War Nickels

When I tried selling my first 100 coins:

• 3 dealers literally wrinkled their noses at the smell
• One offered $1.75 each – barely half their silver value
• “We don’t buy bulk war nickels” became a familiar refrain

This rejection sends thousands of silver nickels to refineries weekly.

The Refining Process Demystified

At a Nevada refinery, the manager showed me:

Actual Payout: (Your Coins × 0.35) × Silver Price × 0.95

He shattered a big myth while pointing at the furnace:

‘People think manganese complicates refining? Nonsense. We melt everything together – it actually makes harder, more valuable industrial bars.’

The Disappearing Act: Survival Rate Analysis

Conducting My Own Population Study

Combining Mint records with refinery data paints a dire picture:

• 869+ million minted during WWII
• Maybe 1 in 10 still exist today
• Refineries melt 3-5% more each year

Last month, I searched $500 in nickels and found just two war issues – both badly worn.

The Rarity No One Discusses: Condition Census

Common in junk bins, but try finding:

• Uncirculated examples (under 500 exist across all dates)
• 1943/2-P overdates – my white whale for 3 months
• 1945-P doubles (found one in a casino roll last week!)

These conditional rarities melt first – few people even look.

Lessons From 6 Months in the Trenches

What I Wish I’d Known on Day One

• Varieties over volume: That weird 1943 nickel? Might be a $200 overdate
• Refineries pay better: 95% spot if you accept silver bars instead of cash
• Store smart: My airtight ammo cans with silica gel contain the smell

The Collector’s Dilemma: Preserve or Profit?

Tracking melt numbers changed everything:

‘Saving a war nickel from refining feels like rescuing history for $2. When else can you buy WWII artifacts at bullion prices?’

I now focus on saving key dates bound for furnaces.

The Future of Silver War Nickels: A 10-Year Outlook

Why 90% Won’t Survive the Next Decade

At current rates:

• By 2034, maybe 1 in 20 war nickels remain
• Only heavily worn coins circulating
• All key varieties gone from public hands

Industrial demand is erasing these faster than collectors can save them.

How Smart Collectors Can Adapt

My new hunting tactics:

• Carry a 10x loupe everywhere – varieties hide in plain sight
• Befriend casino cashiers (free coffee goes far)
• Test suspicious coins with neodymium magnets (silver doesn’t stick)

These let me rescue 17 rare nickels from circulation last month alone.

Conclusion: Why Your Grandchildren May Never Hold a War Nickel

After half a year chasing these disappearing relics, the math is brutal. We’re losing 3-5% of surviving war nickels annually to industry. My key takeaways:

• Casino floors hold more silver than bank rolls
• Learning five key varieties saves rare coins from melt piles
• Every year, your chances of finding one drop dramatically

Take it from someone who’s handled thousands: Check your change tonight. Visit that local credit union tomorrow. These WWII-era survivors vanish faster than people realize. That blackened nickel in your car’s cupholder? It might be the last piece of silver currency you ever touch.

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