"Nickels" containing silver nickel were minted from late 1942 till the end of 1945.
Nickel was needed for the war effort so during 1942 it was removed from the nickel. The War Nickel composition was 56% copper, 35% silver and 9% manganese. This transition took place during the mintage year so there are many 1942 nickels without silver in them. The mint mark for each mint was made larger and placed on the reverse side of the coin above Monticello to show the change in composition. The letter "P" was used for Philadelphia issues for the first time on any 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.
At the end of 1945, nickel was again available for coinage and the composition returned to 75% copper and 25% nickel. Mint marks were moved back to the then-customary position to the right of Monticello, and the use of a P for Philadelphia was stopped until 1980.
Regardless of popular misconceptions, NO other US nickels contain any silver; they're all composed of an alloy of 75% copper and 25% nickel. The only other US five-cent coin that ever contained silver was an obsolete denomination called a half-dime that was discontinued in 1873.
The only time US nickels were silver was from 1942-1945. They contain 40% silver. They have a metal value of around 2 dollars.
1942 to 1945
The only US nickels that contain any silver were minted in late 1942 through 1945. These "War Nickels" are identified by a large mintmark above the dome of Monticello.
None. Silver was used in dimes, quarters, and half dollars but not nickels. Urban legends and internet rumors to the contrary, the only US nickels that ever contained silver were the special "war nickels" struck during WWII when nickel was a strategic metal. ALL other US nickels have been made of the same alloy of 75% copper and 25% nickel.
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.
None of the new US nickels are silver.
No, the only US nickels to have silver are the "War Nickels" from 1942 to 1945
Sorry, no such coin as a "US Harris Liberty Nickel" The ONLY US nickels to have silver in them are the Jefferson "War Nickels" from late 1942 through 1945 and those were 35% silver.
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.
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.
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.
The only time US nickels were silver was from 1942-1945. They contain 40% silver. They have a metal value of around 2 dollars.
1942 to 1945
Nickels minted in 1953 do not contain silver. Starting in 1946, nickels were made from a composition of 75% copper and 25% nickel. Silver was not used in the production of nickels after 1942.
No, US nickels are not made from silver. They are made from a combination of copper (75%) and nickel (25%). Silver was used in the composition of older US coins, but it is not used in the production of current nickels.
The only US nickels that contain any silver were minted in late 1942 through 1945. These "War Nickels" are identified by a large mintmark above the dome of Monticello.
None, because all buffalo nickels are made of the same 75% copper / 25% nickel alloy as current US nickels. The only US nickels that ever contained any silver were special "war nickels" made during 1942-45.