I am fairly new and still very much in the learning process of coins. I have a bunch of pre-1965 nickles. Just one of them has a different color. It is like a light gold tint. I have no idea what that means and why its different from the other nickles I have. Any help or advice on this is greatly apreaciated. Thanks Cecilia
Your 1944 Nickel is made of a silver alloy rather than copper and nickel. This was done during the war years 1942-1945. Probably it has just toned a different color due to the different alloy.
Thank you for your response. I was really bugged by this. Another question: I have a few presidential coins with writing on the rim. I have never seen a coin with the writing there. Is this a new thing the mint is doing?
Not really "new". Some of our earliest coinage had writing on the rim, as did some coins in early 20th Century. It's a nice alternative IMO to reeding.
There's a 1943 and a possible 1942 as they made both kinds in 1942. Flip those three over (44,43,42) the large mintmark (P, D,S) over the dome is silver. And let's a see a photo of the reverse.
Aha, I only looked at the smaller photo showing fewer coins. Note the 42 and 43 both show different toning than the others. The way silver nickels tone is unique to the series.
You never know about the 42 though. Only the S is silver, and they often show a lot of wear like this one and it's hard to tell. I think it's silver, but you have to flip it over.
Yes. Only the 42 D was not 35% silver that year. 42 P there are regular no mint mark 75% copper/ 25% nickel AND a 35% silver large P over the dome.
It does not have the dirt on it that you'd expect from a worn war nickel, so it may have been cleaned at one time, and might even have been treated or plated to look like that.
We were mentioning that there were 2 other war nickels in that group photo. 1943 and the 1942 is possible. Always take photos of both sides.
Two things......it's either 'toning' or someone messed with it..........I'm tending toward the latter....
