Last Updated on August 29, 2022
The 1944 nickel is a special coin due to its composition and year of circulation.
World War II was going on, and every country was busy keeping its assets and resources safe.
Therefore, the currency coins were also affected.
The 1944 nickel was one of the most popular coins of its time.
That is why every collector wants to have this coin in their collection.
So, make sure to get one for your collection as well.
How Much Is 1944 Nickel Worth?
The 1944 nickels with P, D, and S mintmark are around $1.38 in just condition. In very fine conditions, the value can go up to $2.53. In addition, the value of extremely fine condition 1944 nickels is around $3.06.
However, in the uncirculated condition, the value differs for every variant. For example, the 1944 nickel with a P mintmark is worth $8.13 if it has an MS60 grade.
In addition, the same nickel holds a value of around $28 in MS65 grade. The 1944 nickel with a D mark is valued at around $6.90 in MS60 grade and $28 for MS65 graded nickel.
Lastly, the 1944 nickel with S mintmark is worth around $5.95 if it is in MS60. On the other hand, you can see a premium value of about $23 for an MS65-graded 1944 nickel.
| Coin Type | Good | Very Fine | Extremely Fine | Uncirculated MS60 | Uncirculated MS65 |
| 1944 P Nickel | $1.38 | $2.53 | $3.06 | $8.13 | $28 |
| 1944 D Nickel | $1.38 | $2.53 | $3.06 | $6.90 | $28 |
| 1944 S Nickel | $1.38 | $2.53 | $3.06 | $5.95 | $23 |
What Is Special About the Composition Of 1944 Nickel?
The 1944 nickel was produced while World War II was going on, and every country was busy with the war. In addition, it was very important for every country to save resources, so the US government decided not to waste a good amount of copper and nickel in their coins.
Therefore, a new composition for 1944 nickel known as the Wartime composition was introduced. The composition consisted of three elements; copper, silver, and manganese.
The 1944 nickel had 56% copper, 35% silver, and 9% manganese. Due to this composition, the nickel has a unique color compared to other denomination coins of 1944.
How Many 1944 Nickels Were Made?
The 1944 nickel coins were made in three various mints. So, every mint had a number of coins to produce and circulate in the economy. However, the 1944 nickel was produced in millions.
If you want to know how many nickels each mint produced, here is the list to help you.
- Philadelphia: 119,150,000
- Denver: 32,309,000
- San Francisco: 21,640,000
Philadelphia mint produced the highest quantity as it is a bigger mint known as the capital mint of all.
Looking for the value of other coins from 1944? Read more of our guides:
- How Much Is a 1944 Half Dollar worth?
- How Much Is 1944 Penny Worth?
- How Much is 1944 Quarter Silver Coin Worth?
Is There Any Melt Value For 1944 Nickel?
Yes, there is a good melt value for 1944 nickel as it contains silver. No doubt, the percentage of silver may be less than other coins that have 90% silver in them, but the 35% silver content is also worth some melt value.
The melt value is only considered when the coin is in bad condition and you are unable to sell it at a good price. Coins in bad condition are usually worth much as a collectible, so people try to sell them at their melt value usually to jewelers or pawn brokers.
Is There Mintmark Present on 1944 Nickel?
Yes, there is a mintmark present on every 1944 nickel. The best thing is that the mintmark on the reverse side is in big font.
So, you wouldn’t need a closer look compared to other coins. It is in the center of the reverse side, right above the portrait of Monticello. It will be P, D, or S.
This will tell you where the 1944 nickel was produced and make it easier for you to valuate it.
Why Is the 1944 Nickel So Rare?
The nickels minted in the years 1942 to 1945 have a different composition than the normal Jefferson nickels. This is because of the fact that they were minted during wartime.
As the war was going on, the treasury decided to reduce the copper content in the coin from 75% to 56% and included 35% silver and 9% manganese instead of 25% nickel.
