Please don't assume that because a US coin was minted before 1965 it has to contain silver. That was the case only for higher-denomination coins like dimes and quarters. All US nickels except those minted during WWII have been made of an alloy of 25% nickel and 75% copper.
The only exception to this happened during WWII when nickel metal was needed for the war effort. From October 1942 to December 1945 special "war nickels" were minted. These coins are 56% copper, 35% silver and 9% manganese, and can be identified by a somewhat darker color and a large mintmark letter over the dome of Monticello. internet rumors to the contrary, these are the only US nickels that ever contained any 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.
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.
Please don't assume that every US coin minted before 1965 contains silver. US nickels made from 1866 to mid-1942 and from 1946 to the present are made of a copper-nickel alloy. There's more information at the Related Question.
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.
Nickels are made of 75% copper and only 25% nickel, including nearly all of those made before 1964. Silver was only used in dimes, quarters, and half dollars at that time, not nickels. "war nickels" minted during 1942-1945 were made of silver, copper, and manganese because nickel was a strategic metal. These are the only nickels that ever contained silver. Urban legends and internet rumors to the contrary, all other nickels are made of the same 75% copper / 25% nickel alloy.
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.
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.
You can melt them but you won't get any silver. All US nickels except special "war nickels" made during 1942-45 are struck in the same alloy of 25% nickel and 75% copper.
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
Please don't assume that every US coin minted before 1965 contains silver. US nickels made from 1866 to mid-1942 and from 1946 to the present are made of a copper-nickel alloy. There's more information at the Related Question.
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.
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.
No, the only US nickels to have silver are the "War Nickels" from 1942 to 1945
2014 US nickels, like most US nickels, are made of an alloy of 25% nickel and 75% copper. 2014 Canadian nickels are made of an alloy of 94.5% steel and 3.5% copper, plated with 2% nickel.
Nickels are made of 75% copper and only 25% nickel, including nearly all of those made before 1964. Silver was only used in dimes, quarters, and half dollars at that time, not nickels. "war nickels" minted during 1942-1945 were made of silver, copper, and manganese because nickel was a strategic metal. These are the only nickels that ever contained silver. Urban legends and internet rumors to the contrary, all other nickels are made of the same 75% copper / 25% nickel alloy.
No, US nickels do not contain silver. They are made from a combination of copper and nickel, with a composition of 75% copper and 25% nickel.
In the United States, coins minted before 1965 typically contain silver, not 1942. The standard composition of dimes, quarters, and half-dollars included silver before 1965.Coins minted for circulation after 1964 in the US have not had silver content.