1943-P Silver Wartime Jefferson Nickel Avg Circ

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During the height of the Second World War, the composition of the United States five-cent piece underwent a dramatic transformation. To conserve nickel for the war effort, the government altered the metal alloy of these coins. This 1943-P Jefferson Nickel is a fascinating survivor from that era, struck with a mixture containing 35 percent silver, which gives it a distinct luster and historical appeal. The obverse features Felix O. Schlag's classic portrait of Thomas Jefferson, facing left, accompanied by the familiar inscriptions "IN GOD WE TRUST" and "LIBERTY 1943". On the reverse, Jefferson's historic Virginia home, Monticello, is depicted in the center. Surrounding this vignette are the legends "E PLURIBUS UNUM", "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA", and the denomination "FIVE CENTS". One of the most notable features of this wartime issue is the placement and size of the mint mark. To easily distinguish these silver-alloy coins from regular issues, a large "P" indicating production at the Philadelphia Mint was placed directly above the dome of Monticello on the reverse. This marked the very first time a "P" mint mark was used on a United States coin, making this 1943 issue a highly significant piece of American numismatic history.