Why is it called a "Nickel"?
Beginning around 1883 the "half dime" began being minted using a metal alloy called "Nickel", hence the name of the coin.
Source: http://www.todayifoundout.com
1792
The "Half Dime" as it was called then was one of the first coins struck by the newly formed U.S. Mint in 1792. The original Nickels featured the flowing hair design (similar to the penny?) on the obverse side.
1796 - 1805
During this time period the obverse side of the Nickel (Half Dime) featured the "draped bust"
1829 - 1837
The Half Dime featured the Capped Bust.
1837 - 1873
Featured seated Liberty
1866 - 1883
During this time period the "half dime" was called the "shield nickel"
1883 - 1913
The Liberty Head or "V" Nickel (The "V" is the roman numeral for "5", meaning 5 cents).
1913 - 1938
The Buffalo Nickel
THE OBVERSE
THOMAS JEFFERSON
From 1938 to 2004, the portrayal of Jefferson used was designed by Felix Schlag that the mint chose in through an open competition for the new Nickel design.
Schlag's design was modeled on the Jefferson bust sculpted by Jean-Antoine Houdon that is on display in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. The 2005 Nickel featured Jefferson facing right instead of left and the Jefferson bust was modeled on Joe Fitzgerald's sculpting. From 2006 to today, the front view of Jefferson is modeled on the portrait above by Rembrandt Peale. |
THE REVERSE
MONTICELLO
LOUISIANA PURCHASE & LEWIS & CLARK EXPEDITION
In 2004, to commemorate "Western expansion" that happened 200 years ago by President Jefferson, the mint created new designs for the reverse side of the nickel.
The Louisiana Purchase was commemorated by Norman E. Nemeth's adaption of an Indian Peace Medal. The second design, commemorating the Lewis and Clark Expedition, is a keelboat designed by Al Maletsky. |
BUFFALO & VIEW OF THE OCEAN
PHRASES
OBVERSE
"In God We Trust" - This is the U.S. motto
"Liberty"
"The Date" - this indicates the year the coin was minted
"Mint Mark" - "P" is Philadelphia (1980 to present?), "S" is San Francisco, "D" is Denver, "W" is West Point
"Liberty"
"The Date" - this indicates the year the coin was minted
"Mint Mark" - "P" is Philadelphia (1980 to present?), "S" is San Francisco, "D" is Denver, "W" is West Point
REVERSE
"United States of America" - the Nation the coin represents
"Monticello" - the name of the building sculpted on the reverse
"Five Cents" - the Value of the Coin
"E. Pluribus Unum" - a latin phrase that means "out of many, one".
"Monticello" - the name of the building sculpted on the reverse
"Five Cents" - the Value of the Coin
"E. Pluribus Unum" - a latin phrase that means "out of many, one".
MATERIALS
Despite the Constitutions instructions that only Silver and Gold coins are to be used as legal tender for settling United States debts, the Nickel has not had silver (nor gold for that matter) in its material composition since the World War II time period.
The current Nickel comprises of 25% Nickel and 75% Copper
During the World War II time period was comprised of 56% copper, 35% silver, and 9% manganese
More information on Nickels
YOUTUBE: (2-min) "All about coins for Kids / Nickel / Learn about the Nickel / Teaching Coins / Identifying Money Coins" by Wabi-Sabi Learning
YOUTUBE: (2-min) "Westward Journey Nickel Series / Lewis and Clark Nickel / Popular Coin series" by Coins for Amateurs
Collector coins that might have a value greater than 5 cents
YOUTUBE: (6-min) "Top Five Jefferson Nickels worth great Money in Circulated Condition - Key dates to look for" by Blue Ridge Silverhound
YOUTUBE: (4-min) "Hard to find coins! What is so special about the 2009 Nickel (and Dime)? How many coins were minted in 2009?"
YOUTUBE: (9-min) "Nickels worth money that you should know about" by JB Coins Inc
YOUTUBE: (9-min) "Super expensive Jefferson Nickel Coins" by Couch Coin Clips
YOUTUBE: (17-min) "Beginner's Guide to U.S. Nickels - Key Dates - Varieties - What is Valuable?" by Blue Ridge Silverhound
My collection of Nickels
Storage Boxes
To store your rolls of nickels you can invest in storage boxes. These storage boxes hold up to 50 coin rolls and can be ordered online.
Yours truly ordered mine from Coin Supply Express. The box itself cost about $7 and with shipping and handling fees to acquire the box and have it delivered cost just under $13. Since the box holds 50 nickel rolls, a financial total of $100, that means yours truly will have made an $87 profit on my investment (once the box has been filled up).
The nickel storage box is blue, the same color code as the coin rolls.
Yours truly ordered mine from Coin Supply Express. The box itself cost about $7 and with shipping and handling fees to acquire the box and have it delivered cost just under $13. Since the box holds 50 nickel rolls, a financial total of $100, that means yours truly will have made an $87 profit on my investment (once the box has been filled up).
The nickel storage box is blue, the same color code as the coin rolls.