Despite its popularity with the public the design had serious problems. It caused coining dies to break two or three times faster than expected, and the coins themselves tended to wear out very quickly in circulation. (That's why so many buffalo nickels no longer have dates.)
The Mint's artists and technicians made multiple adjustments to the design in an attempt to limit these wear issues but were only partially successful. As soon as the buffalo nickel design reached the statutory 25-year minimum for replacement without Congressional approval, the Mint introduced the Jefferson design.
Buffalo nickels were made from 1913 to 1938. 1938 buffalo nickels were only made at Denver, as a temporary measure until the new Jefferson design was ready.
Buffalo, or Indian head nickels, while having a widely praised design were very difficult for the mint to strike. The coins also were quite prone to having the date on them fade, even during light circulation. These problems made the mint switch to the Jefferson nickel starting in 1938.
Indian head (a/k/s buffalo) nickels were made from 1913 to 1938. 1938 coins were only made a Denver, as a temporary measure until the new Jefferson design was ready.
Nickels (5-cent coins) are still made. They are 75% copper and 25% nickel and cost more than 9 cents each to produce. The metal value in 2011 was about 7 cents. Shield nickels were made from 1866 to 1883. Liberty nickels were made beginning in 1883 and stopped in 1912. The Buffalo nickels were made beginning in 1913 and stopped in 1938. The "Jefferson profile" obverse coins were replaced with new versions in 2005 with another change in 2006.
1867
Buffalo nickels were made from 1913 to 1938. 1938 buffalo nickels were only made at Denver, as a temporary measure until the new Jefferson design was ready.
Buffalo, or Indian head nickels, while having a widely praised design were very difficult for the mint to strike. The coins also were quite prone to having the date on them fade, even during light circulation. These problems made the mint switch to the Jefferson nickel starting in 1938.
Indian head (a/k/s buffalo) nickels were made from 1913 to 1938. 1938 coins were only made a Denver, as a temporary measure until the new Jefferson design was ready.
Nickels (5-cent coins) are still made. They are 75% copper and 25% nickel and cost more than 9 cents each to produce. The metal value in 2011 was about 7 cents. Shield nickels were made from 1866 to 1883. Liberty nickels were made beginning in 1883 and stopped in 1912. The Buffalo nickels were made beginning in 1913 and stopped in 1938. The "Jefferson profile" obverse coins were replaced with new versions in 2005 with another change in 2006.
1867
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.
stop using silver in nickels
The only U.S. nickels to contain any silver are dated 1942-1945, and can be identified by the large mint mark above Monticello. All nickels before and after are the same nickel/copper blend still used today.
Because it costs more than a penny to produce a penny.
Got too old i don't know i'm just guessing
The US Mint could never have stopped making $2 bills because it never started. The Mint only makes coins. All paper money is produced by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. In any case $2 bills have never been discontinued. See the question "When did the US stop printing 2 dollar bills?" for more information.