No Digging Required For 1942

[Againstmywill]

Out to a local ballfield with the Deus II today that I have been clearing with the Equinox 10x5 lately. Just before packing it up due to the melting taking place in my clothes thanks to the Florida humidity and heat, I got a strong signal that screamed surface. I was really hoping for a ring, expecting a pull tab, and would never have guessed it would be a 1942 nickel resting in the dirt hidden by the grass. It likely was deposited in the last 2 weeks as I have been over that spot recently. You just never know! Update: A member of the forum PMed me and gently informed me that my nickel was not technically a war nickel due to the fact that there was no mint mark above the dome. I love learning something new every day, so the info was greatly appreciated. 

[F350Platinum]

Nice find, odd that it would be there suddenly. Must be tough to dig in that St. Augustine grass. 👍

[Gold Seeker]

Nice find!

 

[Againstmywill]

21 minutes ago, F350Platinum said:

Must be tough to dig in that St. Augustine grass.

It looks like St. Augustine grass, but it is mostly weeds. The ground is incredibly easy to dig in as the sandy soil is VERY wet right now and the digger goes in like butter.

[Rick N. MI]

Silver war nickel, great find

[GB_Amateur]

3 hours ago, F350Platinum said:

...Odd that it would be there suddenly.

Yes, well, sort of.  The Jefferson nickel is our oldest 'modern' coin.  Wheat pennies stopped being minted in 1958 and eventually the reverse gave them away -- got Hoovered.  Dimes, quarters, and halves became clad in 1965 so everything minted before that got Hoovered.  (Kennedy halves from 1965 thru 1969 minted for circulation were silver clad -- evenutally Hoovered.)  The so-called 'Warnicks' (35% silver with those large mintmarks over the dome) had a gray patina and were easily recognized and Hoovered.  But the 1938 thru early 42 (both alloys were used in 1942) and 1946 onward had nothing to give them away except the date+(small)mintmark.  Yes, in the 21st Century there were variations on both obverse and reverse but there was no driving reason for the public to pull out the 20th Century versions.  It's unusual to find pre-1960's in circulation, but it's considerably more likely than many of Jeffy's younger alternate denomination cousins.

[Valens Legacy]

Nice find on the nickel and it looks to be in good shape.

Good luck on your next outing.