1942-P Silver Wartime Jefferson Nickel Type-II Proof

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In 1942, the composition of the United States five-cent piece underwent a significant transformation. To conserve nickel for war efforts, the mint altered the alloy to a mixture containing 35 percent silver. This particular specimen is a proof strike from the Philadelphia Mint, representing a mirror-like execution of a historic transition. Only 27,600 of these proof coins were struck, making them a scarce find for those studying mid-century American coinage. The obverse features the profile of Thomas Jefferson, facing left. Accompanying his portrait is the word LIBERTY and the date of 1942, alongside the national motto IN GOD WE TRUST. The design is the work of Felix O. Schlag, whose interpretation of the third president became a staple of pocket change for decades. On the reverse, Jefferson's historic Virginia estate, Monticello, is depicted in fine detail. Above the dome of the mansion, a large letter P is positioned, indicating its origin at the Philadelphia Mint. This placement of the mint mark was a novel feature introduced with the silver wartime alloy. The reverse also bears the traditional inscriptions E PLURIBUS UNUM, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, and the denomination, FIVE CENTS.