What it is
A wartime silver nickel struck from a die whose 1942 date was re-punched as 1943, leaving part of the 2 visible.
How to identify it
- Look at the 3: traces of the underlying 2 show within its lower part.
- Large P mint mark above Monticello, marking a 35% silver war nickel.
- Check the whole date under at least 10x magnification.
A 5x to 10x loupe and good, angled light make the details much easier to see. For anything that looks genuine, a digital scale and a certified comparison coin help.
What gets mistaken for it
Die chips near the 3 can look like an overdate. Compare with a certified example.
The regular 1943-P coin
The variety appears on the 1943-P Jefferson Nickel, which had a total mintage of 271,165,000. That figure counts the whole issue, so it does not tell you how many coins show the variety.
How a 1942 die became a 1943 die
Wartime production put heavy demand on the Philadelphia die shop. A working die that had been hubbed with a 1942 date was later hubbed again with a 1943 hub, leaving part of the 2 under the 3. The large P mint mark was then punched in by hand. The die struck silver war nickels at Philadelphia in 1943.
The war nickel alloy of 56% copper, 35% silver and 9% manganese was introduced in late 1942 to save nickel for the war effort. These coins carry a large mint mark above Monticello's dome. The P on them was the first P mint mark on any United States coin. The 1943/2-P is the best-known variety of that short series.
A step-by-step check
Use a 10x loupe and a lamp angled from the left. Find the 3 and look at its lower left, where the diagonal stroke of the 2 shows beneath it. Then examine the rest of the 3 and the area just around it for any other remains of the 2. The underlying digit is raised and has the same smooth texture as the date.
Turn the coin slowly in the light. A genuine overdate keeps its shape as the light moves, while a scratch or a nick changes shape or disappears. Then confirm the large P mint mark above the dome on the reverse.
Weight will not prove the variety, because war nickels weigh about 5.0 grams like other nickels, but a coin far from 5.0 grams needs a much closer look.
The doubled eye and other 1943 varieties
1943 Philadelphia nickels are also known for the Doubled Eye variety, a doubled die that shows a second outline on Jefferson's eye. It is a separate die from the overdate. The two are sometimes confused because both are 1943-P war nickels with obverse doubling, so check the date and the eye separately on every 1943-P.
Collectors who own one often look for the other, as they make a natural pair from the same mint and year.
What gets mistaken for it
Die chips and die cracks near the 3 can look like the remains of a 2. So can damage on the edge of the 3 from circulation. A genuine overdate shows a smooth, raised curve that follows the shape of a 2 and is the same on every coin from the die. Compare your coin with certified images, paying attention to exactly where the curve sits.
Altered coins are less common than for the great Buffalo nickel varieties, but any coin offered without certification should be examined with care.
Grades and surfaces
War nickels tone readily. The alloy can develop dark or uneven color. Collectors look for coins with original luster and attractive, even toning. Full Steps examples, with five or six complete steps on Monticello, are scarcer and more desirable.
War nickels also look different from ordinary nickels when worn or toned, because the manganese in the alloy tends to darken. A dark gray war nickel is normal, but heavy black spots or green deposits are corrosion and lower the grade.
Many war nickels were pulled from circulation for their silver content and melted over the years. Original Uncirculated examples of the overdate are therefore especially welcome in collections.
Authentication
PCGS and NGC certify the 1943/2-P and it is listed in the Cherrypickers' Guide. Request variety attribution when you submit so the overdate is named on the label.
Related war nickel coins
The war nickel series ran from late 1942 to 1945 at Philadelphia, Denver and San Francisco. Besides the 1943/2-P and the 1943-P doubled eye, collectors look for the 1945-P doubled die reverse. A full set of war nickels with the 1943/2-P is a satisfying goal for Jefferson nickel collectors.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if I have a 1943/2-P Jefferson Nickel Overdate?
Look at the 3: traces of the underlying 2 show within its lower part. Large P mint mark above Monticello, marking a 35% silver war nickel. If your coin passes these checks, have it authenticated by PCGS or NGC before buying or selling.
Is the 1943/2-P Jefferson Nickel Overdate valuable?
Genuine examples sell for a premium over regular coins of the same date. The amount depends on how strong the variety is, the coin's condition and whether it is certified. Compare recent sold auction results for certified coins in the same grade.
What is a overdate?
An overdate shows one date punched or hubbed over another, usually because the Mint reused a die from the previous year. Read more about overdates.
Do 1943 nickels have silver?
Yes. Nickels dated 1942 to 1945 with a large mint mark above Monticello contain 35% silver, including the 1943/2-P overdate.
Is there a 1943/2 nickel from Denver or San Francisco?
No. The overdate is known only on Philadelphia nickels with the P mint mark.