But as American Bullion noted, you can also find some pricey versions minted during World War II (1942-45) because these were made with additional silver and manganese to save nickel for the war ...

as is the case for silver war nickels minted between 1942 and 1945, according to Gainesville Coins — some truly rare nickels from the past could fetch sky-high prices. According to Luxe Digital ...

These nickels, minted during World War II, have a composition of copper, silver, and manganese materials. Nickel was a strategic metal during those days for manufacturing war equipment.