Proofcoinsinc Nickel

The term "nickel" was originally used to describe the Indian Head cent from 1859-1864 which was made from copper and nickel. During the Civil War these coins were called nickels or "nicks". Then the name was given to a new coin. In 1865 the nickel was used to refer to the new three cent coin. Then in 1866 the new Shield Nickel took the stage. The Shield Nickel was the first five-cent piece made in the Uited states, and was designed by James B. Longacre.

The common nickel that has been used in the United States has gone through four major changes. The First coin as above stated was the Shield Nickel. The second variation was the Liberty Head V Nickel. This nickel originally was missing the word "cents", but was later applied. The third was the Indian Head/Buffalo Nickel. This design is said to be among the best designs that have ever been put on American Coins. It has been reproduced on silver rounds and other currency.

The fourth, and current design, is the Jefferson Nickel. The nickel is now by far the most common nickel in circulation. It has run almost completely unchanged from 1938 to 2003 with the Monticello reverse.. For 2004 and 2005 the Lewis and Clark Nickels were realeased that had two different design per year on the reverse. In 2006 it returned to the Monticello design and has continued until present.

An interesting side not to the Jefferson Nickel are the 1942-1945 "wartime" nickels. These coins are 56% copper, 35% silver, and 9% maganese. The only other coins to contain maganese are the Sacagawea and Presidential dollars. These coins have a slightly darker appearance, probably do to contact with sulfur during circulation. The largest mint markers to ever be put on a U,S. coin can also be found on these nickels. The large P,D, or S were put above the dome of the Monticello design.

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