I assume you are referring to the so-called "war nickels" and not half-dimes. From 1866 to 1942 all US nickels were made of copper-nickel alloy. Nickel was a strategic metal during WW2, so to reduce its use in coinage the composition of the 5-cent piece was changed in mid-1942 from to an alloy of silver, copper, and manganese. Only about 1/3 of the alloy was silver so technically there has never been a "silver nickel".
Some 1942 nickels were struck in the old composition and some in the silver alloy. From 1943 to 1945 the silver alloy was used for all nickels. Normal composition was resumed at the start of 1946 and continues to today.
The silver alloy coins bear a large mint mark above Monticello's dome, instead of a small mark to the side. The letter "P" was used for Philadelphia issues for the first time on any US coin.
When new, the coins looked very similar to their copper-nickel cousins, unlike the zinc-coated steel cents issued in 1943 that were often confused with dimes. However after a small amount of wear the silver and manganese components tarnished severely and the coins turned an unpleasant dark gray.
"Nickle"
Be careful of this common misspelling. The metal and the coin are NICKEL. A "nickle" is actually a small European bird (!)
stop using silver in nickels
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.
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.
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.
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.
stop using silver in nickels
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.
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.
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, the only US nickels to have silver are the "War Nickels" from 1942 to 1945
None of the new US nickels are silver.
No US nickels have ever been pure silver, the "war nickels" of 1942-1945 are 35% silver and are the only nickels to have any silver. Post new question.
War Nickels contain 35% silver or 0.05626oz of silver.
No, melting nickels will not produce silver as they are made primarily of nickel and copper. Silver is a distinct element with its own properties and cannot be obtained by melting nickels.
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.
No they do not, the ONLY nickels to have any silver are the "War Nickels" from late 1942 to 1946
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.