The year that nickels stopped being made of silver was 1942. Prior to this, from the time of the nickel’s introduction in 1866, the coin had been composed of 75% copper and 25% nickel. However, during World War II, there was a shortage of nickel due to the high demand for the metal for the war effort. As a result, the composition of the nickel was changed to 56% copper, 35% silver, and 9% manganese in order to conserve nickel for the war effort.
This new composition, known as the “war nickel,” was used from 1942 to 1945. These nickels were distinctive in appearance, with a large mint mark above the Monticello image on the reverse side of the coin. The mint mark indicated which U.S. Mint facility had produced the coin. Additionally, the “war nickel” was slightly larger and heavier than previous nickels due to its silver content.
The switch to the “war nickel” composition was not without controversy. Some critics argued that the new composition would result in a loss of value for the coin, as it was no longer composed solely of nickel. However, others argued that the change was necessary in order to conserve resources for the war effort.
After the war ended in 1945, the U.S. Mint reverted to the pre-war composition of the nickel, which has remained in use to this day. The decision to return to the previous composition was largely driven by economic considerations. The price of nickel had fallen significantly after the war, making it more economical to produce nickels using the traditional composition of copper and nickel.
It’s worth noting that there have been other changes to the composition of the nickel over the years, though none as significant as the switch to the “war nickel” during World War II. In 1965, the U.S. Mint changed the composition of the dime and quarter to a copper-nickel clad, which is still in use today. This change was made in response to a shortage of silver caused by the rising demand for silver coins as a result of the increasing popularity of coin collecting.
In conclusion, the year that nickels stopped being silver was 1942, when the composition of the coin was changed to 56% copper, 35% silver, and 9% manganese in order to conserve nickel for the war effort. The “war nickel” was used from 1942 to 1945 and was slightly larger and heavier than previous nickels due to its silver content. After the war ended, the U.S. Mint reverted to the pre-war composition of the nickel, which has remained in use to this day.