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The first US nickels were issued in 1866.

Before that, the 5¢ denomination was provided by a tiny (14 mm) coin called a half-dime that was minted from the same 90% silver alloy as dimes, quarters, halves, and dollars.

Nickel metal wasn't generally used in coins prior to the 1860s because it's so hard that it caused coin presses to wear out quickly. By that time improvements in Metallurgy let the Mint create dies were strong enough to tolerate nickel's hardness. The new 5¢ coins were made of an alloy of 25% nickel and 75% copper, the same composition used today for the denomination as well as the outer cladding of higher denominations since 1965.

Nickel 5¢ coins were popular because they're more convenient than the tiny half-dimes and lasted longer in circulation. Half-dimes were produced until 1873 when the denomination was eliminated as part of broader coinage reforms.

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Q: What year was the first US nickel made?
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Related questions

Is there a 1807 Louisiana nickel?

No, 1866 was the first year for a US nickel.


Who made the nickel?

The designer of the first US nickel was James B. Longacre.


What is the value of nickel made in 1776?

The first US nickel was made in 1866 and the first US coins were made in 1793, look at the coin again and post new question.


How much would a nickel be if it was made in 1861?

Priceless. The US nickel was first issued in 1866.


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No one has a picture of a 1803 NICKEL because they don't exist. The first US nickel was made in 1866.


How much is an American nickel made in 1803 worth?

Sorry, the first US nickel was made in 1866 please look at the coin again and post new question.


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The first US nickels were made in 1866. There were no official US coins of any denomination made until 1793.


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The first 5-cent US nickel was made in 1866, the 3-cent nickel in 1865, and the copper-nickel flying eagle 1-cent in 1856.


What year were full-nickel nickels no longer made?

The US has never made coins from pure nickel. Canadian nickels were made of 99.9% pure nickel from 1922 to 1999, except during wartime due to metal shortages.


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What is the value of an 1823 buffalo nickel?

The first US nickel was made in 1866, the first Buffalo was in 1913 so look at the coin again, post new question.


What is the US made out of?

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