The only US nickels that ever contained silver were the famous "war nickels" minted from mid-1942 to 1945. These coins were struck in an alloy of 35% silver, 56% copper, and 9% manganese because nickel was needed for the war effort.
In average condition these coins are worth around $1.00 to $1.50, mostly for their silver content. For more specific values, please see the Related Questions for each date.
Other old nickels
Many people assume that because dimes, quarters, and half dollars were made of silver before 1965, nickels were as well. In fact all other dates of nickels are made of an alloy of 75% copper and 25% nickel. If you think about it for a while, a nickel is over twice the size of a dime so if it had been mostly silver it would have been worth much more than a dime, rather than just 5 cents.
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.
No. The U.S. nickel is made from, ironically, nickel and copper. (That's how it got the name.) The only nickels that ever contained silver were the famous "war nickels" minted during WWII when nickel was a strategic metal. All other nickels are made of an alloy of 75% copper and 25% nickel.
You can melt them but you won't get any silver. All US nickels except special "war nickels" made during 1942-45 are struck in the same alloy of 25% nickel and 75% copper.
No. The 1953 US nickel is composed of 75% copper and 25% nickel.
No, Nickels are made from a mixture of 25% Nickel and 75% Copper.
No, the only US nickels to have silver are the "War Nickels" from 1942 to 1945
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. The U.S. nickel is made from, ironically, nickel and copper. (That's how it got the name.) The only nickels that ever contained silver were the famous "war nickels" minted during WWII when nickel was a strategic metal. All other nickels are made of an alloy of 75% copper and 25% nickel.
You can melt them but you won't get any silver. All US nickels except special "war nickels" made during 1942-45 are struck in the same alloy of 25% nickel and 75% copper.
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.
Please don't assume that all coins were made of silver before 1965. Only dimes, quarters, and halves were made of 90% silver at that time. All 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.
All U.S. dimes and quarters dated before 1965 are 90% silver. The only nickels to ever contain silver are dated 1942-1945. These coins are easily identified by the large mint mark (P, D, or S) over Monticello's dome.
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.
The only US nickels that contain any silver were minted in late 1942 through 1945. These "War Nickels" are identified by a large mintmark above the dome of Monticello.
No. The 1953 US nickel is composed of 75% copper and 25% nickel.