It's worth about a dollar just for the silver.
July 25, 2009 The value of a circulated Jefferson war nickel is based mainly upon the value of the silver they contain which is $0.78 today. In uncirculated collector coins the values vary greatly with the year and mint mark. To establish an estimated value for an uncirculated Jefferson war nickel, the year and mint mark must be known.
Values for a circulated war nickel are $1.00-$2.50 depending on the grade
What you actually have is a counterfeit nickel, known as a Henning nickel. This isn't a war nickel, but instead was a counterfeit nickel created in the mid-1950s, there is a thriving collectors market for them. I've attached a link with more information about the Henning nickels.
All US nickels (except for silver war nickels) are 75% copper and 25% nickel, with a present melt value of 4.9 cents.
The large "P" above the dome means it's a "war nickel" that is struck in 35% silver. The nickel was removed for the war effort and silver was used as a replacement, this was done from 1942 - 1945. Because it has a small amount of silver the value is about $1.00. NOTE: The 1942 war nickel is the first US coin to ever use a "P" Mintmark.
That's a silver war nickel, containing 35% silver, and it's worth at least $2.
That's a silver war nickel. On average, it's worth about $2, or upwards of $4 if uncirculated.
the value of the nickel is 5 cent
All nickels except "war nickels" from 1942-45 are made of copper-nickel, not silver. What you have is an ordinary coin worth 5 cents.
That is known as a "war nickel" to save nickel for the war effort, the US government replaced some of the nickel in the nickel with silver. At the time of writing the silver content in them is around $1.70. The reason for the mintmark over the Monticello was that the idea was that people would know they contained silver.
The only nickels to contain any silver were the so-called "war nickels" minted from 1942 to 1945. Your nickel, and all others ever minted except for war nickels, is made of 75% copper and 25% nickel.
Please don't assume that because a coin is old it has to be made out of silver. These coins are called "nickels" because ... they're made from nickel (and copper). The only nickels to contain any silver were the so-called "war nickels" minted from 1942 to 1945. Your nickel, and all others ever minted except for war nickels, is made of 75% copper and 25% nickel. There's more information at the question "What is the value of a 1940 US nickel?"