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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;RonSanderson, post: 3188938, member: 77413&quot;]This is the first of the set of so-called War Nickels, where the metallic composition was switched to a 35% silver, 56% copper, and 9% manganese. To quote NGC Coin Explorer,</p><blockquote><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 89, 179)">It was anticipated that these replacement coins would be withdrawn by the Treasury after the war, so a large distinguishing mark was needed for the ease of clerks. This took the form of an oversize mintmark that was placed directly above the dome of Monticello. For the first time on a United States coin the Philadelphia Mint marked its product with the letter P.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 89, 179)"><br /></span></p></blockquote><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The large mint mark might not have been sorted out by the Treasury, but it certainly helped collectors and non-collectors alike notice them and take them out of circulation.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">My first example, unfortunately, is not the best. I happen to find the planchet cracks on the obverse to be a good reminder that minting coins is first and foremost a manufacturing process, and that the materials and quality control vary accordingly. You can see that the marks run right up into the rim. </span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">This may be one coin in the Dansco that I might upgrade, since they are still plentiful even with full steps. One might just sneak through eBay at a bargain price.&nbsp; </span></p><p><br /></p><p><b><span style="color: rgb(11, 8, 23)">1942-P</span></b></p><p><b><span style="color: rgb(11, 8, 23)">[ATTACH=full]822844[/ATTACH] </span></b></p><p><b><span style="color: rgb(11, 8, 23)"><br /></span></b></p><p><b><span style="color: rgb(11, 8, 23)">[ATTACH=full]822845[/ATTACH] </span></b></p><p><b><span style="color: rgb(11, 8, 23)"><br /></span></b></p><p><span style="color: rgb(11, 8, 23)"><b>Edit: </b>Here is a closeup of the marks. Hammering the planchet with the dies can close them up somewhat, but it can&#039;t completely remove the evidence that there were irregularities in the metal to begin with. </span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(11, 8, 23)">[ATTACH=full]822865[/ATTACH]</span>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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