Bought this at a LCS last week for $2 because I thought the color was interesting, and it was relatively cheap. Now that I've got it out of the 2x2...I'm seeing some reflective fields underneath. So, I put it to you: is this an impaired proof? (additional shot of the reverse at a slight angle)
I vote no. The rims would be squared and the strike much sharper on a proof. I don't see the reflectivity you mention, but there are PL war nickels out there, so that is important to keep in mind as well.
this is NOT a war nickel, it's a nickel composition 1942. The best thing to check is the rims. If they are rounded at all, it is a circulation strike, if they are squared, post a pic and show us. My vote is not a proof.
Pretty coin, but not a proof strike. Beyond the roundness of the rims, the weaknesses on Monticello are pretty clear that it is a business strike. I'd have bought it for two bucks.
I was being sloppy in my post and used words imprecisely. This is not the silver alloy. What I meant is that it is from the WWII era (1939-1945) and that there are proof like specimens and semi PL specimens known for the time period so that is something to consider (although I am not opining that it is anywhere close to PL).
The lettering isn't fully struck up either, notice the bifurcations at the top of the U and T's in UNITED and STATES, and below the upright of the E and L in E PLURIBUS.