US nickels made from 1866 to mid-1942 and from 1946 to the present are made of a copper-nickel alloy, not silver.
From mid-1942 to 1945 nickels did contain a small amount of silver because nickel metal was needed for the war effort. Those "war nickels" are the ONLY ones that have any silver in them.
Because dimes, quarters, and halves contained silver up till 1964 many people erroneously believe that nickels did, too. But after all, the coin is called a nickel because it's partly made of nickel!
Please don't assume that because a coin is old it has to be made of silver. It's made of copper-nickel like all other nickels except the WWII ones with a large mint mark above the dome of Monticello. 1941 is not a rare date for Jefferson nickels. There's more information at the question "What is the value of a 1941 US nickel?".
No. The only nickels to contain silver are those minted 1942-45, though not all of them from '42 have silver. The way to tell is that all silver nickels have a large mint mark on the reverse, above Monticello.
None have any silver value. US nickels made from 1866 to mid-1942 and from 1946 to the present are made of a copper-nickel alloy, not silver.
8-22-11>>> The only US nickels to contain any silver are the "War-Nickels" that were struck in 35% silver from late 1942 through 1945 and can be identified by the large mintmarks above the dome of Monticello on the reverse. Please see the question "What is the value of a 1941 US nickel?" for more information.
No, there were no silver US nickels made in 1964. Prior to 1965, the composition of US nickels included 25% nickel and 75% copper. However, starting in 1965, the composition changed to a mixture of copper and nickel clad.
No, the only US nickels to have silver are the "War Nickels" from 1942 to 1945
Please don't assume that because a coin is old it has to be made of silver. It's made of copper-nickel like all other nickels except the WWII ones with a large mint mark above the dome of Monticello. 1941 is not a rare date for Jefferson nickels. There's more information at the question "What is the value of a 1941 US nickel?".
No, they don't. US nickels are made of copper and nickel. The only ones that DO contain silver are war nickels, minted 1942-1945.
Sorry, no such coin as a "US Harris Liberty Nickel" The ONLY US nickels to have silver in them are the Jefferson "War Nickels" from late 1942 through 1945 and those were 35% silver.
No, you cannot melt 1964 US nickels for silver. From 1965 onward, US nickels have been composed of a copper-nickel alloy. The 1964 US nickel is made of 75% copper and 25% nickel, not silver.
No. The only nickels to contain silver are those minted 1942-45, though not all of them from '42 have silver. The way to tell is that all silver nickels have a large mint mark on the reverse, above Monticello.
None have any silver value. US nickels made from 1866 to mid-1942 and from 1946 to the present are made of a copper-nickel alloy, not silver.
8-22-11>>> The only US nickels to contain any silver are the "War-Nickels" that were struck in 35% silver from late 1942 through 1945 and can be identified by the large mintmarks above the dome of Monticello on the reverse. Please see the question "What is the value of a 1941 US nickel?" for more information.
No, there were no silver US nickels made in 1964. Prior to 1965, the composition of US nickels included 25% nickel and 75% copper. However, starting in 1965, the composition changed to a mixture of copper and nickel clad.
The years when US quarters, nickels, and dimes were made of silver are as follows: Quarters: Prior to 1965, quarters were made of 90% silver. Nickels: US nickels have never been made of silver. They have always been composed of a blend of copper and nickel. Dimes: Prior to 1965, dimes were made of 90% silver.
None, because all buffalo nickels are made of the same 75% copper / 25% nickel alloy as current US nickels. The only US nickels that ever contained any silver were special "war nickels" made during 1942-45.
None of the new US nickels are silver.