What is a nickel made out of?

Answer 1

US nickels:

1866 to mid-1942, and 1946 to the present: An alloy of 25% nickel and 75% copper

mid-1942 to 1945: An alloy of 35% silver, 56% copper, and 9% manganese

Canadian nickels:

2000-present: 94.5% steel, 3.5% copper, 2% nickel plating

1982-1999: 75% copper, 25% nickel

1955-1981: 99.9% nickel

1951-1954: chrome-plated steel

1946-1950: 99.9% nickel

1944-1945: chrome-plated steel

1942-1943: 88% copper, 12% zinc ("tombac")

1922-1942: 99.9% nickel
75% Copper, 25% Nickel

Answer 2

Since the US coin was introduced in 1866, the composition has been 75% copper and 25% nickel, and it's the same to this day. The only exception is for nickels minted during WWII, which contain 35% silver with 56% copper and 9% manganese.

The situation is much different for Canadian nickels; the composition has changed many times over the years. From 1922 to 1981 the coin was made of almost-pure nickel, except during WWII when it was made of either a copper/zinc alloy called tombac or steel, and during the Korean War when steel was again used. From 1982 to 2000 it was made of the same cupronickel alloy as US nickels; in 2000 the composition was again changed to a steel/copper alloy although cupronickel coins were also occasionally minted as well.

Answer 3

US nickels, despite their name, are actually made of 75% copper and only 25% nickel.

They were minted of a metal similar to Civil War three-cent piece, replacing the silver half-dime. During World War II, when nickel was needed for ammunition, nickels were made of an alloy of 56% copper, 35% silver, and 9% manganese, and are now valuable because of that.

Canadian nickels were made almost entirely of nickel during much of the 20th century, and as a result could be picked up by a magnet. From 1982 to 1999, Canada adopted the cheaper US alloy, then switched again to plated steel in 2000.

Answer 4

The first US nickel (5 cent coin) was minted in 1866. The coin has been minted for circulation almost every year since then. The only exceptions were:

• 1877-78: proof coins only
• 1922, 1932-33: no nickels of any type were made due to bad economic times

The first Canadian nickel was minted in 1922. Before that the 5-cent piece was a small silver coin similar in size to an old US half dime. Canadian nickels were struck every year after that.

Answer 5

Nickels are made in the same way as nearly all coins:

• The process starts with a roll of metal "stock", made of an alloy of 25% nickel and 75% copper.
• First the stock is unrolled and fed into a large machine that punches out discs called blanks or planchets having a diameter slightly larger than that of the finished coin.
• Next the blanks are fed into an "upsetter" that squeezes them very slightly to form an upturned edge.
• The blanks are loaded into hoppers and fed into presses that use hard metal dies to form the front and back designs, a process called minting or striking.
• Finally the coins go through a quality-control inspection to weed out any major errors, after which they're put into bags for delivery to banks.

Answer 6

Except for nickels made during wartime, both US and Canadian nickels have always contained nickel.

• US nickels have almost always been composed of 75% copper and 25% nickel.
• Canadian nickels at various times have been made of 99.9% nickel, 75% copper and 25% nickel, or (currently) 94.5% steel and 3.5% copper with 2% nickel plating.

Wartime compositions (without nickel):

• US nickels were temporarily made of 35% silver, 56% copper, and 9% manganese during WWII
• Canadian nickels were made of either 88% copper and 12% zinc ("tombac") or chrome-plated steel during WWII. They were made of chrome-plated steel again during the Korean War.

Answer 7

Canadian nickels:

Here is the history of composition for Canadian 5 Cent pieces or "Nickels" as they are known today.

• 1858-1919 (0.925 Silver 0.075 Copper; these coins were not called nickels)
• 1920-1921 (0.80 Silver 0.20 Copper; not called nickels)
• 1922-1981 (0.999 Nickel)
• 1982-2006 Cupro-Nickel (0.25 nickel, 0.75 copper)
• 1999-present 94.5% steel, 3.5% copper, 2% nickel plating

There are some variations due to material shortages during war efforts, and commemorative issues:

• 1942 Tombac (88% copper, 12% zinc)
• 1943-1944 Commemorative Variation KM#40 Tombac (88% copper, 12% zinc)
• 1944-1945 Commemorative Variation KM#40a (Chrome Plated Steel)
• 1951 Commemorative Variation KM#48 (0.999 Nickel)
• 1951-1954 (Chrome Plated Steel)

US nickels:

US 5 cent-coins only had three different compositions.

• 1794-1873 (0.90 Silver 0.10 Copper; these coins were called half-dimes)

• 1866-1942 and 1946-present Cupro-Nickel (0.25 nickel, 0.75 copper)
• 1942-1945 56% copper, 35% silver, 9% manganese due to wartime shortages.

The 1942-45 "war nickels" are the only US 5-cent coins called nickels that contained silver. They can be identified by a large P, D, or S mint mark over the dome of Monticello.