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Except for special "war nickels" minted from late 1942 to 1945, all US nickels, regardless of date, are made of an alloy of 25% nickel and 75% copper.
War nickels were made of an alloy of 56% copper, 35% silver, and 9% manganese because nickel metal was needed for the war effort. They're identifiable by a large mint mark letter over the dome of Monticello on the back.
There's a lot of confusion about 1964 nickels because that was the last year higher denominations (dimes, quarters, and halves) were struck in 90% silver. The lowly nickel didn't change though. In fact, because it's struck in base metals the Mint churned out huge numbers of them in an effort to compensate for all the silver coins that were being withdrawn. For a while it was common to receive 10 or 15 nickels change because there weren't many higher-value coins in circulation.
What else can I help you with?
Can you melt 1964 US nickels for silver?
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.
Are any US dimes or nickels made from silver?
All US dimes dated 1964 and earlier are made of an alloy of 90% silver and 10% copper. The only nickels that ever contained silver were the famous "war nickels" minted during WWII when nickel was a strategic metal. These can be identified by a large mint mark letter (P, D, or S) over the dome of Monticello. All other nickels are made of an alloy of 75% copper and 25% nickel.
What is the value of Jefferson nickels dated 1964 and before?
That's a very broad question because there are about 90 different combinations of dates, mint marks, and major varieties. Most Jefferson nickels dated 1938 to 1963 are not worth a significant premium, but there are some exceptions:1938-D : $1 to $30 depending on condition1938-S : $1 to $251939-D : $2 to $80"War nickels" 1942 to 1945 : $2 to $151950-D : $5 to $20Except for those "war nickels" that contain about 1.5 gm of silver, ALL other US nickels regardless of date are made of an alloy of 25% nickel and 75% copper. The only 90% silver denominations made up to 1964 were dimes, quarters, and halves.
Are Nickels made from real silver?
No, Nickels are made from a mixture of 25% Nickel and 75% Copper.
Are US nickels and dimes made of silver?
US dimes were made of an alloy of 90% silver and 10% copper until 1964. Since then, all dimes are made of cupronickel-clad copper, and don't contain any precious metals. All US nickels except special "war nickels" made from late 1942 to 1945 are struck in an alloy of 25% nickel and 75% copper. War nickels were made of an alloy of 56% copper, 35% silver, and 9% manganese because nickel metal was needed for the war effort. These coins are distinguished by a large mint mark letter over the dome of Monticello on the back.
Are Jefferson nickels before 1964 made of silver?
No.
Are nickels before 1964?
I'm assuming the rest of the question is about the metal content. Nickels before 1964 have the same makeup as those made after '64. It was dimes, quarters, and halves that changed in 1965.
How much silver is in nickels minted before 1964?
Only the "War Nickels" of 1942 to 1945 were made with a silver content of 35%
What are US nickels made of before 1964?
Nickels are made of 75% copper and only 25% nickel, including nearly all of those made before 1964. Silver was only used in dimes, quarters, and half dollars at that time, not nickels. "war nickels" minted during 1942-1945 were made of silver, copper, and manganese because nickel was a strategic metal. These are the only nickels that ever contained silver. Urban legends and internet rumors to the contrary, all other nickels are made of the same 75% copper / 25% nickel alloy.
What is the last year silver nickels were made?
1964
Can you melt 1964 US nickels for silver?
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.
Was 1964 the last year they used silver in a nickel?
No, it was 1945, 1964 nickels are NOT silver. Only the 1942 through 1945 nickels (War Nickels) with large reverse mintmarks are 35% silver. ALL other US nickels regardless of date are made of an alloy of 25% nickel and 75% copper.
Were there any silver US nickels made in 1964?
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.
What were US nickels made of in 1964?
The same thing as now .750 copper & .250 nickel Regardless of popular misunderstandings, only silver coins were changed after 1964. Pennies and nickels (except for "war nickels") don't have silver so their composition stayed the same.
What years were Nickels made of pure silver?
Never. They're called nickels for a reason. The only U.S. nickels to contain any silver at all, at 35%, were "war" nickels dated 1942-1945. Nothing before or after was made of silver.
Before 1965 American dimes and quarters were made of?
Before 1965 American Nickels and Quarters were made of Silver (Ag)
Are any US dimes or nickels made from silver?
All US dimes dated 1964 and earlier are made of an alloy of 90% silver and 10% copper. The only nickels that ever contained silver were the famous "war nickels" minted during WWII when nickel was a strategic metal. These can be identified by a large mint mark letter (P, D, or S) over the dome of Monticello. All other nickels are made of an alloy of 75% copper and 25% nickel.
