1945 nickel with p on back?

This is a "war nickel" - a US 5 cent piece dated between 1942 and 1945. During World War II the metal nickel was a war commodity used for nickel plating steel and iron items. During these years all nickel was sent into war production and the US mints replaced the 35% nickel in 5 cent pieces with silver. Planning to reclaim the silver and melt down nickels after the war, the mint made these easily identifiable with the mint mark above the dome of Monticello on the back - instead of behind Jefferson's pony tail as on all other nickels. I don't believe the planned melt down/reclamation ever happened.

As of today (3/25/11) silver has a value of $36+ an ounce - making the "melt value" of the 35% silver in a war nickel $2.09 REGARDLESS OF CONDITION. War nickels in fine condition should rate at least an extra buck to the collector.