Odd war nickel...

[CZconnoisseur]

Wondered if any of you guys have ever found a coin that SHOULD fall into a specific VDI range - but in fact doesn't come close. I recently found a 1944 P war nickel which IDed at "80" in 8 kHz. In my soil in 8 kHz all other nickels ID around 42-46 EVERY TIME!

I kept looking for the penny but no other targets were nearby - and then I scanned just the nickel itself..."80" solid as a rock. Counterfeit?

 

[DukeOBass]

I know that some of the read higher than others. I tested some that I have awhile back on another detector and there is a difference. Maybe, now with the Deus, I won't miss those!

 

[HuntinDog]

WAR Nickels (42-45) are 35% silver

 

[DukeOBass]

Yes and for some reason some read higher than others.

 

[Jeff in Pa]

I have one of those too. Reads very high, not even close to a normal nickel.

 

[CZconnoisseur]

I have one of those too. Reads very high, not even close to a normal nickel.

What year, mintmark? Im glad Im not the only one! Guessing an improperly mixed alloy, much like Indians and early Wheats can sometimes read differently than regular copper small cents

 

[Jeff in Pa]

Its a 45P reads 75 at 8K while a 43S reads 46.

The 45 even looks different in color with a thin tall P but the S is shorter and thick.

 

[canman678]

Had a couple with the E-Trac that came up in the Zincoln range.

 

[beez0404]

I would expect all war nickels being 35% silver will have a much higher TID then a regular nickel. I'll probably never find one because I don't dig the 76-80 TID range. They are usually Zincolns in my soil conditions. The one my friend dug rang in at 79 on my machine when I air tested it.

 

[canman678]

Actually, most war nickels read slightly higher than a normal nickel. So your chances of finding some are good.