A nickel is the United States’ five-cent coin.
- Value: 5 cents.
- Composition: Primarily a cupronickel alloy, consisting of 75% copper and 25% nickel. This composition has been standard since 1866, with a brief change during World War II.
- Appearance: Its distinct silvery color comes from the nickel content.
- Design: The obverse (heads) features a portrait of Thomas Jefferson, while the reverse (tails) shows his home, Monticello.
The history of the nickel coin dates back to the 19th century.
- Before the “Nickel”: The first five-cent piece was actually a silver coin called a “half dime”.
- Introduction of the Shield Nickel: In 1866, the U.S. Mint introduced a five-cent coin made of copper and nickel due to the hoarding of silver during the Civil War, [according to Littleton Coin].
- Design Changes: Over the years, the nickel has featured various designs, including the Shield nickel, the Liberty Head nickel, and the Buffalo nickel, before the current Jefferson nickel design was adopted in 1938.
- Wartime Nickels: From 1942 to 1945, during World War II, a special version called the “war nickel” was produced, using a silver alloy to conserve nickel for the war effort. These are identifiable by a large mint mark (P, D, or S) above Monticello.
The coin got its name from the metal nickel, which makes up 25% of its composition, according to [Cohen Recycling] . The word “nickel” itself comes from the German “Kupfernickel,” meaning “copper demon,” as early miners mistakenly thought nickel ore was copper.
- Despite its name, the majority of a nickel’s composition is copper.
- The nickel is the only U.S. coin still named for its metal content.
- The modern nickel has remained remarkably consistent in its composition for over 150 years.
- In recent years, the cost of producing a nickel has sometimes exceeded its face value.
Is a nickel 5 cents or 10?
Good point! The nickel is the United States’ five-cent coin. The person on the obverse (heads) of the nickel is Thomas Jefferson, our 3rd president. He’s been on the nickel since 1938, although the current portrait dates to 2006.
Is a nickel a penny or a dime?
Good point! A penny is worth 1 cent. A nickel is worth 5 cents. A dime is worth 10 cents. A quarter is worth 25 cents.