The wartime nickel calculator provides you with total silver value and total silver content corresponding to the measure of silver contained in uncirculated war nickels with no wear. If your war nickels have been worn from circulation, they will not include of as much silver. These are commonly known as "silver war nickels.". Normally all other nickels are composed of 75% copper and 25% nickel. Due to the pressing need for industrial metals like nickel during World War II, five-cent coins were actually made from 35% pure silver during the duration of the war. 1942-1945 Silver War Nickels During World War II, the Jefferson Nickel series underwent a significant change. Since nickel was identified as a strategic metal for the war effort, the composition of the five cent piece was changed to a composition of 35% silver, 9% manganese, and 56% copper.