Special "war nickels" made from late 1942 to 1945 are the only US nickels that ever contained silver. All other US nickels are made of the same alloy, a mixture 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.
1964
Dimes and quarters, yes. Nickels, no. 1964 was the last year for silver dimes and quarters, and nickels only contained silver during WWII.
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.
1945 is the last year for the 35% war nickels. The composition was changed in late 1942 due to wartime metal shortages. ALL other US nickels, regardless of date, are made of an alloy of 25% nickel and 75% copper.
Check that coin again. The last year for silver 5-cent pieces (half dimes) in the U.S. was 1873. Then the only nickels to contain silver are dated 1942-1945 (war nickels).
1942 to 1945
No they are not silver, only the 1942 through 1945 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.
No it's not. 1945 was the last year. All the silver "War Nickels" (1942-1945) have large mintmarks on the reverse above the dome of Monticello.
The only US nickels that ever contained silver were special "war nickels" made from late 1942 to 1945. All US nickels from 1866 to the present are made of the same 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.
Nickels minted between about 1942 and 1945 were made with silver due to steel being used in the war effort. A little over half an ounce of silver was used in each one, making them worth about $1.60 each as of early this year.
The last year was 1938.
Nickels that year weren't made of silver. There was no change in metal composition in nickels in the 1960s. The only nickels that do contain silver are those minted between 1942 and '45. Anything post-war is only worth face value.