US nickels show a picture of Thomas Jefferson's home, Monticello, but they're not minted there. At that time there were 3 active mints: Philadelphia (no mint mark), Denver ("D"), and San Francisco ("S") although 1950 nickels weren't minted at the latter. Please see the question "What is the value of a 1950 US nickel?" for more information.
monticello
It's not 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. There's more information at the Related Question.
The nickel. Monticello was Thomas Jefferson's home so it nicely complements his image on the front of the coin. Of course, if you look at the nickel you'll see that the building has the name MONTICELLO right underneath the picture!
1951 is a common date. In average condition most are worth 10 to 30 cents. A 1951 nickel with an S mint mark next to Monticello would retail for about 50¢ if it was only slightly worn.
With no mint mark next to Monticello, or a "D", it's worth about a dime assuming average condition. If there's a small "S", it's worth about a quarter.
monticello
It's not 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. There's more information at the Related Question.
buffalo
The nickel. Monticello was Thomas Jefferson's home so it nicely complements his image on the front of the coin. Of course, if you look at the nickel you'll see that the building has the name MONTICELLO right underneath the picture!
That is known as a "war nickel" to save nickel for the war effort, the US government replaced some of the nickel in the nickel with silver. At the time of writing the silver content in them is around $1.70. The reason for the mintmark over the Monticello was that the idea was that people would know they contained silver.
It sounds as if your coin was altered after leaving the Mint.Also, no US nickel has a picture of the White House. As the name directly under the building indicates, it's an image of Thomas Jefferson's house Monticello.
Monticello
1951 is a common date. In average condition most are worth 10 to 30 cents. A 1951 nickel with an S mint mark next to Monticello would retail for about 50¢ if it was only slightly worn.
With no mint mark next to Monticello, or a "D", it's worth about a dime assuming average condition. If there's a small "S", it's worth about a quarter.
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?".
The US nickel (five cent coin) has an image of Jefferson's home, Monticello, on the back.
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.