Coins of the 40s & 50s

Penny

• The "wheat penny," featuring two wheat stalks on the reverse and Abraham Lincoln's profile on the obverse, or front, was in use for most of this period. The Mint changed the reverse to feature the Lincoln Memorial in 1959. Copper comprised 95 percent of the coin for most of these decades, except for in 1943 when steel was primarily used during World War II. The 1955 penny demands closer examination, since some rare examples feature a double-stamped date. Even in poor conditions this coin can fetch more than $1,000.

Nickel

• The Jefferson nickel was put into place in 1938 and the design remain unchanged through the end of the 1950s. The composition did differ during the World War II years, as a silver alloy with 56 percent copper, 35 percent silver and 9 percent manganese was used to produce the nickel from 1942 to 1945.

Dime

• The coin called the "Mercury dime" was minted until 1946, when the Mint switched to a design featuring a profile of Franklin D. Roosevelt on the obverse and a torch and oak and olive branches on the reverse. The "Mercury dime" actually depicts Lady Liberty and not the Roman god. Silver comprised 90 percent of the dime during this period. Some copies of the 1942 dime include a "2" stamped over the "1" in the original erroneous date of 1941 and fetch high prices with numismatists.

Quarter

• The Washington design had been used since 1932 and remained unchanged until the statehood quarters were released beginning in 1999. During the 1940s and 1950s, silver comprised 90 percent of the coin. Some copies of the 1942 and 1943 quarters feature double stamped obverses, while the 1950 coin includes some copies stamped with the wrong mint mark that were later corrected. Both "S" over "D" and "D" over "S" varieties exist.

Half Dollar

• The 1940s began with the half dollar featuring one of the most striking examples of American coinage. The "walking Liberty" coin features Lady Liberty on the front with a flowing robe and an eagle on the reverse with wings spread. This was changed to the Franklin design in 1948 that featured Benjamin Franklin in profile on the obverse and the Liberty bell on the reverse. Both designs are comprised of 90 percent silver.