1945-S Jefferson Silver 'War' Nickel

This is a United States five-cent piece, commonly known as a Jefferson Nickel, dated 1945. During World War II, specifically from mid-1942 through 1945, the composition of the nickel was changed to conserve nickel for the war effort; these coins are composed of an alloy of 35% silver, 56% copper, and 9% manganese. The obverse features a profile of Thomas Jefferson facing left, with the inscriptions 'IN GOD WE TRUST' to the left and 'LIBERTY' followed by the date '1945' to the right. Based on the user's note, the reverse features a prominent 'S' mint mark above the dome of Monticello, signifying it was minted at the San Francisco Mint. The coin shows signs of circular wear and localized abrasions, particularly on the higher relief points of Jefferson's hair and cheek. The surface displays a dull, greyish-white luster characteristic of circulated silver-manganese alloys, which often develop a darker, 'greasy' patina compared to standard cupro-nickel coins. The strike appears average for the period, with soft details visible on the hair lines. There are no obvious signs of cleaning, but various small contact marks and nicks are visible across the fields, consistent with moderate circulation in commerce.

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