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Except during WWII, all US nickels have been made from an alloy of 25% nickel and 75% copper.

It's a common misconception that pre-1965 nickels were made of 90% silver just like dimes, quarters, and half dollars. If you think about it for a few seconds, though, nickels are twice as big as dimes so a nickel made of 90% silver would have actually been worth 20 cents!

From late 1942 through 1945, special "war nickels" were made from an alloy of 56% copper, 35% silver, and 9% manganese because nickel metal was needed for the war effort. They can be identified by a large mint mark letter over the dome of Monticello on the back.

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What years are us quarters nickels and dimes made of silver?

All U.S. dimes and quarters dated before 1965 are 90% silver. The only nickels to ever contain silver are dated 1942-1945. These coins are easily identified by the large mint mark (P, D, or S) over Monticello's dome.


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 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.


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%


Do 1965 us coins have silver in them?

The only 1965-dated U.S. coins that contain silver are half dollars. They're only 40% silver, as opposed to 90% for dimes, quarters, and halves dated 1964 and earlier. Nickels are made of copper and nickel, not silver. The only nickels that contain any silver at all are the famous "war nickels" from 1942-45. They can be identified by a large mint mark on the back. They contain about 35% silver.

Related Questions

Before 1965 American dimes and quarters were made of?

Before 1965 American Nickels and Quarters were made of Silver (Ag)


What years are us quarters nickels and dimes made of silver?

All U.S. dimes and quarters dated before 1965 are 90% silver. The only nickels to ever contain silver are dated 1942-1945. These coins are easily identified by the large mint mark (P, D, or S) over Monticello's dome.


Are pre-1965 nickels all silver?

Pre-1965 nickels are made of the same copper/nickel blend as modern nickels. The only nickels that contain any silver are those minted during WWII.


Is a 1965 nickel made of silver?

No, a 1965 nickel is not made of silver. Nickels minted in 1965 are composed of a copper-nickel alloy, consisting of 75% copper and 25% nickel. Silver nickels were produced from 1942 to 1945 during World War II due to a shortage of nickel for the war effort.


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.


Are Jefferson nickels before 1964 made of silver?

No.


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.


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 year nickel should you keep?

Nickels minted before 1965 are typically made of 35% silver and can be valuable to collectors. Look for nickels from 1942 to 1945, as they are made of 35% silver due to the shortage during World War II. Additionally, any rare or error nickels can also be valuable.


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 a 1952 silver nickel?

It's a very common mistake people make that all nickels made before 1965 are silver. The only nickels to have any silver are the "War Nickels" struck from late 1942 through 1945. A 1952 nickel is not rare. They are still found in circulation. Unless it's uncirculated, the coin is face value.


Are the nickels in 1930 made of silver?

No, the only US nickels to have silver are the "War Nickels" from 1942 to 1945