How to Identify WWII Coins

Find the date on the coin. All U.S. coins from the World War II period have dates on the front, or obverse side, of the coin. Using the magnifying glass may help. If there is no date on the front of the coin, or if the date is found on the back of the coin, it's not from the World War II period.

Identify the date of the coin. If the date is 1941, it is not considered a World War II coin, even though the United States entered the war in 1941. Coins with this mint date were minted before the nation entered World War II, although a small amount may have been minted after Dec. 7, 1941. No means exist to distinguish between coins minted before and after this date in 1941.

Check if the date is between 1942 and 1945. These are coins from the World War II period. Pennies minted in 1943 were minted from zinc-plated steel and look very different from other pennies, having a silvery color. Pennies minted in 1944 and 1945 look very similar to pre- and postwar pennies, but are minted from a brass alloy manufactured from huge amounts of spent shell casings from the conflict. Nickels from 1942 to 45 are 35 percent silver due to a shortage of nickel during the war. Any other U.S. coin from 1942 to 1945 can be considered a World War II coin.