U.T. writes:Â I found a 1943 nickel and it has an “S” on the back above the building. What significance is this? Is it worth much?
From 1942 to 1945 nickel was in dire need by the U.S. military for munitions. Silver was temporarily substituted for this important metal. To signify the change of alloy, the Mint placed a large mint mark above Monticello on the reverse of the Jefferson Nickel. The “S” means the coin was minted at the San Francisco Mint. You will also find two other mint marks on these nickels. “P”, for the Philadelphia Mint and “D” for the Denver Mint.
The coins always bring a premium depending on condition from about silver value (.05626 oz. pure silver) to hundreds of dollars for the famous 1943/2 Philadelphia overdate, or the 1945 Philadelphia double die reverse.
