1943-P Silver Wartime Jefferson Nickel AU

---

During the height of the Second World War, the United States altered the metal composition of its five-cent piece. This 1943 issue from the Philadelphia Mint contains 35 percent silver, a temporary change designed to conserve critical nickel for military production. These wartime issues are easily identified by their distinct silver alloy, which gives them a unique appearance compared to standard nickels. The obverse features a profile portrait of Thomas Jefferson, surrounded by the traditional mottos of liberty and trust. On the reverse, Jefferson's historic home of Monticello is depicted. Notably, a large letter P is positioned prominently above the dome of Monticello, marking the first time the Philadelphia Mint used a P mint mark on a United States coin. This bold letter was intended to help sorting machines easily distinguish the silver wartime alloy from regular base-metal coinage.