Between the years 1942 and 1945, the United States Mint produced the Jefferson Silver Nickel, which was also referred to as the Wartime Nickel. This particular nickel was made from a composition of 35% silver. All of the coins had a total weight of.05626 ounces of the precious metal when they were made.
In reality, the coins were introduced for the very first time in 1938; however, at that time, they were made from a mixture of copper and nickel.
In a competition that included hundreds of other artists, Felix Schlag emerged victorious, and the design that was used on the coins was drawn from his work. Jean-Antoine Houdon's marble bust of Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States, served as the inspiration for his image of Franklin D. Roosevelt.
The 5-cent piece's standard composition lasted until 1942, when World War II caused a nickel shortage, forcing the US Mint to change the composition to 56% copper, 35% silver, and 9% manganese, creating "wartime" Jefferson Silver Nickel.
The United States Mint placed a prominent mintmark on the reverse of these coins, which was placed over the picture of Monticello, in order to separate them from the ordinary composition releases.
Additionally, it imprinted a 'P' mintmark on coins that were created at the facilities of the United States Mint in Philadelphia. This was the only time that the 'P' was used on a currency that was in circulation until the year 1980.
Silver continued to be used in the coins until 1945, when the conclusion of the war relieved metal shortages and the United States Mint returned to the usual composition of the coins that they had originally used before the war.
The 5-cent coin's obverse features Thomas Jefferson, the third US president and founding father. Felix Schlag added IN GOD WE TRUST, LIBERTY, and the year to the picture.
The obverse depicts Monticello, Jefferson's residence. Felix Schlag added the words UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, E PLURIBUS UNUM, FIVE CENTS, and MONTICELLO. Some Wartime Nickels have a huge mintmark over Monticello.