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The Metal Composition of a Common Nickel Coin

From its first minting in 1866, the U.S. nickel has undergone several design changes, but the composition has largely remained the same. The nation's third president, Thomas Jefferson, has been featured in profile on the front of the five-cent piece since 1938.

Composition
- The nickel comprises 75 percent copper and 25 percent nickel, making its name a bit of a misnomer. From 1942-1945, when nickel became a valuable metal during the World War II effort, the composition changed to 56 percent copper, 35 percent silver and 9 percent manganese. These coins are prized by collectors for their silver content.
Dimensions
- The nickel weighs 5 grams and has a diameter of 21 mm. It has a plain edge, unlike the reeded edge of most American coinage.
History
- The first design was known as the shield nickel because it featured a large shield on the front. Other designs included Lady Liberty and a Native American/buffalo combination. The nickel has been struck at U.S. Mints in Philadelphia, Denver and San Francisco. The U.S. Mint struck 86.64 million nickels in 2009, and, as of August, 192.24 million in 2010.

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