1942 Nickel no mint mark?

I found a 1942 nickel today. I know it has silver in it but it doesn't have the big mint mark on the back like it should. Any comments?

• Answer:

  A wartime silver alloy 1942 nickel is 35% silver. The fact it has no mint mark means it was minted in Philadelphia before they used the P mint mark. No mint mark means your nickel was made before they eliminated nickel from the coins so it is not a wartime silver alloy nickel. It's worth between .30? and 10.00 depending on the condition. The big mint marks indicate wartime nickel, small mint marks are not wartime nickels.