From mid-1942 to 1945 US nickels were made of an alloy of 35% silver, 56% copper, and 9% manganese because nickel metal was needed for the war effort.
All other US nickels minted from 1866 to mid-1942 and from 1946 to the present are made of an alloy of 75% copper and 25% nickel.
The U.S. stopped minting silver half-dimes in 1873, a few years after the introduction of the nickel. The only nickels that actually contain silver are "war" nickels minted 1942-1945.
Many people are confused by when US nickels contained silver. The only US nickels that contained any silver were special "war nickels" made from late 1942 to 1945. All other US nickels dating back to the coin's introduction in 1866 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.
1867
None. Silver was used in dimes, quarters, and half dollars but not nickels. Urban legends and internet rumors to the contrary, the only US nickels that ever contained silver were the special "war nickels" struck during WWII when nickel was a strategic metal. ALL other US nickels have been made of the same alloy of 75% copper and 25% nickel.
Silver was only used in nickels from 1942-1945 on coins with a large mintmark over the Monticello (some nickels in 1942 do not have the large mintmark and are of the standard composition), these coins are 35% silver. All other nickels are 75% copper and 25% nickel.
The U.S. stopped minting silver half-dimes in 1873, a few years after the introduction of the nickel. The only nickels that actually contain silver are "war" nickels minted 1942-1945.
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.
The content of US nickels includes approximately 25% nickel metal and about 75% copper metal. Nickels were originally made from mainly silver rather than copper or nickel.
Many people are confused by when US nickels contained silver. The only US nickels that contained any silver were special "war nickels" made from late 1942 to 1945. All other US nickels dating back to the coin's introduction in 1866 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.
No. Nickels are 25% nickel and 75% copper. (Source: US Mint)
Composition of US Nickels is 75% Copper and 25% Nickel
US nickels weigh 5 grams
2014 US nickels, like most US nickels, are made of an alloy of 25% nickel and 75% copper. 2014 Canadian nickels are made of an alloy of 94.5% steel and 3.5% copper, plated with 2% nickel.
1867
Nickels are composed of 75% copper and 25% nickel.
The US does not make square nickels.
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