This nickle was in a plastic flip and had a paper holder as well. The paper holder is labeled 1942P Nickle TYPE 2.

First Question: Is there a type 2? I saw nothing notated in the Red Book.

Second Question: There is a chalky coating on the coin. Is is PVC? Can it be removed? I think there is a nice, shiny coin under that film.



Thanks,

Linda

I've never heard it called a type 2, but in 1942 there were normal nickels from Philadelphia (no mintmark) and then they switched to the silver composition later in the year, resulting in the 1942-P nickel (large P,D or S mintmarks above the dome of Monticello). Yours is a silver war nickel. As for the white gunk, I have no idea what it is, though PVC should have more of a greenish tint.

Type 1 would be the regular issue of 75% copper and 25% nickel.

The Type 2 you have is the silver wartime issue which is 56% copper, 35% silver and 9% manganese.

I am 99.9% sure the coating is not PVC residue but frost... I'd leave it be.

Frost becomes tone.

Yes, that looks like frost to me too. Leave it alone and the coin will be more appealing to collectors.

Good advice from everyone.
Not counting errors or the normal die varieties, there were seven different types of nickels minted in 1942.
The "no mintmark", the "no mintmark proof, the 1942-D, the '42-P, the '42-P proof, the '42-S (large mintmark above Monticello) and the '42-S (small mintmark beside Monticello).
And I agree with the others, don't "shine" your coin.
It looks like a beautiful almost uncirculated example.
It'd be a shame to ruin it.