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That's essentially true for the 6 denominations currently being minted. Dimes, quarters, and half dollars dated up to 1964 and dollars dated up to 1935 were made of 90% silver. Cents were bronze and nickels were (and still are) made of copper-nickel.
The only exceptions were during WWII when metal shortages meant that pennies were made of zinc-plated steel in 1943, and nickels were made of an alloy of copper, silver, and manganese from mid-1942 to 1945.
If you go back farther in time, though, there were many other denominations of coins that were made of various metals:
- $1 coins were also struck in gold (1849-1889) as well as silver, although the two types were extremely different in sizes.
- $2.50, $3, $4, $5, $10, and $20 coins were made of gold
- Half cents were made of copper
- 2¢ pieces were made of bronze
- Some 3¢ pieces were made of copper-nickel
- Half dimes (the predecessor to nickels), some 3¢ pieces, and 20¢ pieces were made of 90% silver
What else can I help you with?
How much is a 1942 American nickel with P on it worth?
That's a silver war nickel from WWII, which contains 35% silver. It's worth about $2.
How do you know where a 1954 nickel is minted?
Jefferson nickels dated before 1964 have the mint mark on the back, directly to the right of Monticello (except for the silver "war" nickels, where the mint mark is larger and above Monticello).
What is the value of a 1946 silver US nickel?
Please don't assume that because a coin is old it must contain silver. All nickels except the famous "war nickels" from 1942-45 are made of the same metal, an alloy of copper and nickel. Silver was used in dimes, quarters, and halves up to 1964 but the lowly nickel wasn't worth enough to contain any silver even back then. There's more information at the question "What is the value of a 1946 US nickel?". No such (US) coin exists. 35% Silver nickels were only made from 1942-1945 with a large mintmark over the Monticello. All nickels before or since have been made out of 25% nickel and 75% copper.
How much silver is in coins prior to 1964?
All US silver coins minted for circulation since the late 1830s have consisted of 90% silver and 10% copper except for the Jefferson War Nickel which contained 35% silver.
How much silver is there in a 1900s v nickel?
The nickel was never made with silver, it is made with nickel, hence the name.
What is the percent of Nickel in a nickel coin?
All U.S. nickels (except for silver "war" nickels 1942-1945) are 75% copper and 25% nickel.
What is a war nickel?
It is an American nickel made of copper, silver and manganese during World War 2.
How much is a 1942 American nickel with P on it worth?
That's a silver war nickel from WWII, which contains 35% silver. It's worth about $2.
Will nickel-plated silver stick to a magnet?
Yes but try a Canadian nickel because american nickels a 75% copper
What is the value of a 1926 silver nickel?
Not silver. All U.S. nickels except those minted during WWII are made of 75% copper and 25% nickel. There are values at the Related Question link.
Does a 1940 US nickel contain silver?
No. All US nickels except special "war nickels" made during 1942-45 are struck in the same alloy of 25% nickel and 75% copper.
When did Jefferson first appear on the nickel?
Minting began in 1938 for this coin. The metal content has been the same for these coins except from 1942 - 1945 when they were made with a 35% silver content. Buffalo Nickels appeared before Jefferson Nickels. Before that the coin had a portrait of Miss Liberty, and prior to that an American ceremonial shield.
Is a buffalo nickel made of silver?
All buffalo nickels were struck in the same alloy of 75% copper / 25% nickel that has been used for all 5-cent pieces except the famous "war nickels" made during WW 2. The latter were made of silver, copper, and manganese because nickel was a strategic war metal. The term "nickel" was applied to the coin long before the buffalo design was adopted.
What is the Silver content of an American dime?
If it's dated 1964 or earlier, it contains 90% silver with 10% copper. If it's dated after 1964, it contains no silver.
What is the value of a 1973 silver US nickel?
The only nickels to contain any silver were the so-called "war nickels" minted from 1942 to 1945. Your nickel, and all others ever minted except for war nickels, is made of 75% copper and 25% nickel.
What are US nickels made of before 1968?
For US 5 cent coins,except for the War Nickels dated 1942-1945 that have 35% silver in them, all nickels from 1866 to 2010 are made from a copper nickel alloy of .750 copper and .250 nickel
What is the value of a 1965 silver nickel?
All nickels except "war nickels" from 1942-45 are made of copper-nickel, not silver. What you have is an ordinary coin worth 5 cents.
