Invest in American History. Most coins minted in the United States before 1965 were 90% silver and 10% copper. Silver at the time was a cost-effective way to produce coins that were both durable and attractive. All other U.S. denominations other than pennies and nickels at one time were struck using 90% silver.
Do pre 1964 nickels have silver?
A 1964 Nickel is not made of silver. The only nickels that are silver are the war nickels 1942–1945 which are comprised of 35% silver.
What does a silver nickel look like?
At first glance, these silver nickels are difficult to distinguish from their copper-nickel counterparts. They look like any other old nickel to most of us. You’ll see the same portrait of Thomas Jefferson on the obverse. Even the color is virtually identical.
What to look for in a nickel before 1965?
You should look for earlier-date nickels with mintmarks and key dates (e.g., 1950-D) and the very early Jeffersons. The rest of them don’t command much of a premium if any. Dimes, quarters and halves were 90% silver before 1965 so you should grab all pre-1965 dimes, quarters and halves.
What kind of nickels are made of silver?
– Silver War Nickels Nickels minted in the United States between 1942 and 1945 are made of 35% silver. These are commonly known as “silver war nickels.” Normally all other nickels are composed of 75% copper and 25% nickel.
When was the first silver nickel coin made?
Silver Nickels One of the more unusual Silver coins was the Jefferson Nickel of 1942 to 1945. Jefferson Nickels were first minted in 1938 and made of 75% Copper and 25% Nickel. However, in 1942, with World War II raging in Europe and the Pacific, Nickel became a critical war material.
When did they stop using silver in nickels?
All nickels produced from 1942 to 1945 use the 35% silver composition. On the reverse (tails) side of the coin, you’ll still find the familiar building known as Monticello, Jefferson’s famous estate that he supposedly designed himself.
